This biodynamically certified, estate grown red Rioja comes from Bhilar’s youngest vines, averaging 30 years old, grown on limestone soils at altitudes ranging from 450-650 mts. It is a blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha and 5% Viura. The wine has brooding dark berry fruit with subtly integrated spicy oak flavours and fine tannins. It is medium to full bodied, smooth and fresh – a characterful and very well made red at a very fair price.
Enjoy with Jamon Iberico, lamb or grilled fish.
Approximately 830 cases were produced. Drink now – 2025
Rated 91pts by Tim Atkin MW
David Sampedro and his American wife Melanie Hickman are rapidly rising stars of the Rioja wine scene. They rescue small, very old parcels of vines in the small viticultural areas of Elvillar and Kripan in Rioja Alavesa, and bring them back to life through careful organic and biodynamic farming. They use no irrigation or machinery in their vineyards, just horses to plough between the vines, and their winery is 100% solar-powered and sustainable.
In the winery they do not believe in long barrel ageing as they don’t want to mask the fruit and character of each of their vineyards. The wines are matured in concrete tanks, fermented using local wild yeast, without temperature control so it is as natural as possible, then matured in French oak barrels and casks of different sizes for 10 months.
These are terroir-focussed, site specific wines made in small quantities as naturally as possible; the total antithesis to the traditional Riojan big brand, multi-vineyard, long oak-aged winemaking style.
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