Óscar Tobía, 'Alma Tobía Único' Rosado, 2025, Rioja (DOCa)

'One-Liner'
Rosé with the ambition of a serious Rioja – vivid red fruit, flowers and spice given richness and texture by fermentation in French oak.

Tasting Note
Intense raspberry pink in the glass, with a wonderfully expressive nose of ripe strawberry, raspberry, cherry and redcurrant layered with rose, lavender and delicate aniseed notes. The palate is fresh yet unusually broad for a rosé, with juicy red fruit wrapped in a smooth, almost creamy texture from its time in barrel and on the lees. Subtle hints of toast, smoke and pastry sit neatly behind the fruit rather than overwhelming it. Bright acidity keeps the wine energetic, while a gentle savoury bitterness gives the finish extra definition. Long, rounded and highly distinctive, this is a rosado built for the table rather than simply the ice bucket.

Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Sub-Region: Rioja DOCa
Grape(s): 100% Tempranillo
ABV: 13.5%
Friendly: Sustainable

Awards & Critics' Scores
n/a

The Story
Alma Tobía Único sits right at the heart of Óscar Tobía’s reputation for doing things differently. When Tobía began his project in Rioja in 1994, innovation was part of the plan from the outset, and in 1996 the estate produced what it describes as Spain’s first barrel-fermented rosé. Alma Tobía carries that idea forward with a much more serious approach than the pale, fleeting style often associated with rosado: carefully selected juice is fermented in fine-grained French oak before spending further time on its lees, giving the wine depth, texture and savoury complexity while preserving its vivid red-fruit character. Production remains tiny, with the winery currently describing the 2025 as just 15 barrels, making this one of Rioja’s more individual and deliberately gastronomic rosés.

Perfect With... (click me for the recipe)
- Meat/fish: Catalan-style braised lamb with tomatoes, olives and rosemary
- Vegetarian: Manchego and quince tart
- Vegan: Salt-and-pepper tofu with charred tenderstem and lime