2023 Sierra de Tolono La Dula Rioja Garnacha

96 pts
A high-altitude Rioja Garnacha fermented in clay amphora and matured in foudre.

Price:
Sale price$59.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
Rendering loop-subscriptions

Description

Sierra de Tolono is the project of Sandra Bravo, who returned to her native Rioja in 2012 after working harvests abroad. She farms high-altitude vineyards in Rioja Alavesa organically, works with minimal intervention in the cellar, and has been quietly building a reputation as one of the region's more interesting voices. Tim Atkin named her Young Winemaker of the Year in 2019.

La Dula comes from vineyards at over 650 metres in Rivas de Tereso. The fruit is fermented in 300-litre clay amphorae and matured across eight months in a combination of foudres and amphora. It comes in at 13.5% alcohol, which is notably low for Garnacha, and only 6,500 bottles are made.

Violet, rose, wild thyme, laurel and Mediterranean herbs on the nose, then sappy raspberry, black cherry and real minerality on a silky, agile palate. Fine-grained tannins, lively acidity and a long, precise finish.

Vinous describes it as "poised between the ethereal and the powerful" - it's a cracking Garnacha from a producer to watch.

96 points
"In the space of just six vintages, this superb Garnacha has developed a world-wide following."
- Tim Atkin (2025 Rioja Report)

96 points - "In the space of just six vintages, this superb Garnacha has developed a world-wide following. Sourced from vineyards over 650 metres in Rivas de Tereso, this is foudre fermented and clay amphora aged, with violet, laurel and wild thyme aromas, ample minerality, sculpted tannins and sappy raspberry and black cherry fruit flavours. 2026-32." - Tim Atkin (2025 Rioja Report)

93 points - "The 2023 Garnacha de Altura La Dula from Ribas de Tereso is open and expressive aromatically,
combining rose, soft violet, potpourri and Mediterranean herbs. Juicy and agile on the palate, it is driven by lively acidity and a silky flow. Very fine tannins provide energy and subtle grip without disturbing the texture. A Garnacha of pedigree, it is poised between the ethereal and the powerful, yet above all precise." - Vinous

93+ points - "The 2023 La Dula was produced with Garnacha from high-altitude vineyards in the village of Rivas de Tereso. It fermented in 300-liter clay amphorae and matured in foudres and amphorae for eight
months. It has contained ripeness, only 13.5% alcohol (low for Garnacha), a pH of 3.36 and 5.8 grams of acidity, coming through as medium-bodied, fine, elegant and balanced, juicy and with very fine tannins. It may not be too complex, but it's super tasty. 6,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2024." - The Wine Advocate

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type Red
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Grenache
Country Spain
Region Rioja
Reviewed By Vinous
The Wine Advocate
Critic Score 96
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
Closure Cork

Others also liked

Recently viewed

Common Questions

Delivery is free on orders of $199 or more.

For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.

We will dispatch your order the same or next business day.

Estimated delivery transit time varies depending on your location. Please review this page for specific estimates.

No sorry we do not have a store front and pickup is not available.

Yes, no problem. When placing your order select ‘Store at Different Drop and Delivery Later’ as your shipping method or reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order with additional instructions.

We stock three different sized gift boxes (single, three bottle and six), all are available for purchase for a flat rate of $8. They look great and make an awesome impression.

To add a gift box to your order, simply add at checkout. The special requests box is your friend, please give us as many details of what you are looking for and we will try our best, or get in contact to discuss it with you. 

If you want to bulk order gifts or if you have any trouble please email hello@differentdrop.com or call and we can try and help.

 

Our warehouse is automated so unless you tell us otherwise, we will ship your order. If you would like us to hold your order please reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order and we are happy to store your order for up to 6 months at no charge. You can review our heat policy here.

Yes, of course. We want Different Drop customers to always be getting the best price. You can see our price match policy here.

No, feel free to mix it up! There is no minimum requirement. You can order wines in any quantity or combination, 1 or 50+ bottles.

No, all prices are set at the full discounted dozen rate already.

Most wine retailers list at a single-bottle price and then discount 10–15% when you buy six or twelve. We've taken the opposite approach. Since the overwhelming majority of our orders are already 6 bottles or more, our list price is set for the case buyer from the start. There's no inflated single-bottle price to discount down from.

What that means for you:

- One price, same for everyone — no minimum to hit to unlock the best rate
- No mixed-six gymnastics to qualify for a discount
- Our single-bottle price is typically at or below a traditional retailer's by-the-dozen rate

Put simply: the box discount is already baked into the price.

**And if you find it cheaper elsewhere?** Let us know. If the same wine is available at a lower price at another retailer (including at their mixed-six or by-the-dozen rate) we're happy to match it.

If you can't add more wine to your cart it means we are low on stock of that wine. For example, if you are only able to 3 bottles and no more that means we only have 3 bottles left of that wine. If it's a must have, please contact us and we may be able to order more in for you.

Regular Enquiries

Urgent Enquiries

02 8376 8775