The 2021 YJAR Proprietary Blend from Rioja, Spain, is a red wine that has garnered significant attention, particularly from esteemed wine critic James Suckling. This wine is a product of the La Bastida de Alava sub-region and is crafted by the producer YJAR. The wine is sealed with a cork and boasts a robust alcohol content of 14.5 percent.

James Suckling awarded this wine a perfect score of 100, highlighting its exceptional qualities. He describes the wine as having "crushed dark berries" that are beautifully complemented by "violets and underbrush with a gentle touch of tobacco." This combination creates a complex and inviting aroma that sets the stage for the tasting experience.

The palate of the 2021 YJAR is noted for its sophistication and "exceptional definition," with "polished tannins" that are seamlessly integrated into a "core of vibrant, restrained fruit." This indicates a wine that is well-balanced, with the tannins providing structure without overpowering the fruit flavors. Suckling emphasizes the wine's "linear freshness," a trait he attributes to the vintage, which adds a lively and refreshing quality.

Suckling also mentions the wine's depth and persistence, describing it as having an "incredibly stylish profile." He notes that it is "firm yet with an underlying tenderness," suggesting a wine that offers both power and elegance. According to Suckling, while the wine is "beautiful now," it also has the potential to evolve further, making it suitable for both immediate enjoyment and longer-term aging.

Overall, the 2021 YJAR Proprietary Blend is a standout wine from Rioja, offering a combination of depth, elegance, and aging potential, all of which are encapsulated in Suckling's glowing review.