Bideona Vino de Pueblo Villabuena (V1BN4)

Villabuena makes some of our favourite wines, which tend to be a perfect example of the ideal, middle-weight, highly drinkable, yet extremely age-worthy Rioja Alavesa.

Vineyard parcels are on hillsides, around 500 m above sea level, and well protected by the Sierra Cantabria. Ripening is later than in Laguardia but earlier than in Leza, giving the most beautiful balance between freshness, elegance and good fruit concentration. Bideona Villabuena shows precise and pure berry aromas, finely grained tannins and an amazing flow on the palate, even when young.

Vinification

All fruit is estate grown organically, with the majority of the clone being Mendoza. All our Chardonnay is hand harvested and whole-bunch pressed,
but they are lightly crushed first, this allows the juice to be extracted at very low pressures. Each parcel of fruit is kept separate and vinified and aged
individually. The juice is allowed to oxidise pre-ferment which makes the final wine more vibrant, long-lived and intensely flavoured as finished wine.
All parcels take most of the lees from pressing to barrel for wild fermentation and are aged in French oak with 25% being new. To keep the structure of
this wine, we allowed only 50% of the barrels to go through spontaneous malolactic fermentation, with no battonage. The total time in barrel is about
10 months before being combined into one blend in mid-February, The wine stays in stainless steel tank for 6 months on lees which allows for the acid
to become precisely defined and adds texture - then finished with no fining and only gentle filtration.

Wine
Green gold with silver flecks.
Aromas of grapefruit, orange zest, grilled white stonefruits, chared applewood with underlying peach blossom and oystershell.
Fresh citrus dominates with crunchy nectarine, crystalized pineapple, sweet baking spice and a saline minerality in support. A fine acid structure is
coated with a silky texture to give a long complex finish.

Country / Region
France / Languedoc / IGP Pays d’Hérault designation .

Intense and deep red color

Nose
Aromatic complexity combining notes of red fruits and spices.

Palate:
Supple, fruity attack. Beautiful, melted tannins.

Finish:
A wine of great length, smooth and slightly rustic, marked by the “Terroir”.

Terroir
Terroir of Villeveyrac.

Soils
Vineyards on Jurassic limestone hillsides, arid and dry. Rich in bauxite.

Grape varieties:
60% Grenache, 40% Syrah.

Vinification
100% destemming. Traditional vinification. Maceration 10-12 days between 25 and 30°C.

Aging
Between 5 and 6 months in stainless steel vats.

Yield
50 hl/ha on average.

Drink within 3 years.

A textural style Sauvignon that is layered and complex, with a racy mineral backbone, thanks to the alluvial gravels of the Martinborough terrace and the unique growing conditions of Martinborough.

W I N E M A K E R S   N O T E 

From the exceptional 2024 vintage this is our first release of Sauvignon Blanc under the Escarpment label. Fermentation was conducted in a range of stainless-steel tanks, along with 20% in French Oak puncheons, 2% of the blend in new oak and a small portion fermented on skins. A mix of indigenous and inoculated yeast were used. Aged for 6 months before bottling.  This is a Sauvignon that showcases sophistication and texture, along with a limey/mineral backbone that gives great length and purity, and a moreish finish that will have you reaching for another glass.

T A S T I N G 

Gooseberry, nettle and guava are accompanied by lifted white floral notes, with the fruit sitting in the tropical spectrum. The palate is hinged together by textural elements that are balanced by restrained, but intense, fruit weight. There is a lovely seam of limey acidity that brings drive and offers a long lingering finish to the wine. It showcases the minerality and purity we get in white wines grown on the alluvial gravels.

Jean Foillard is one of Beaujolais’ most renowned producers and he makes this wine from a single vineyard in the famous Cote du Puy sub-region. Foillard’s wines are extremely complex and deep for an area known for light, juicy reds. 

Hand harvested without destemming, cold carbonic maceration (4 to 7 ºC), alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts for 3-4 weeks, no sulphur added then 6 to 9 months in old oak.

O Luar do Sil means: “The Reflection of the Moon on the river Sil” and the vineyards are located in the steep sided valley of the Sil river. This is 100% Godello and the grapes were harvested from two plots of granite soil near the Codos de Larouco.

Grapes are harvested by hand in the middle of September using 15kg crates. After destemming, they undergo a cold maceration below 8ºc to obtain the maximum expression of fruit. They are then pressed at low pressure and racked to remove the gross lees. The must is fermented using selected yeast for 14 days at a controlled temperature in stainless steel vats. After fermentation, the wine is kept of the fine lees for 6 months to gain richness, body and aromatic power, using batonage to redistribute the fine lees, after which it is naturally clarified.

Tasting Notes - A clean, bright colour with a glycerin rim in the glass. Subtly complex on the nose with white and wild flower notes. On the palate it shows great balance between fresh, green fruit and the ripeness of fine lees. Agreeable, complex and delicate with a predominating fruit and mineral sensation.

Gorgeous fruit forward Beaujolais from the son of legendary winemaker Jean Foillard based in Morgon. Here Alex follows in his father's footsteps with some of his tried and tested techniques; whole-cluster fermentation with natural yeasts, no fining or filtration, and no additives of any kind save for a minute sulphur dose at bottling. Very aromatic and textural, super clean and fruity.

Tornatore’s Etna Rosso is a medium-bodied Sicilian wine with beautiful personality, aromas of wild berries, black cherries and spices, and a full, savory and juicy mouthfeel. It matures for about 12 months in large barrels and is characterized by excellent value for money.

VARIETY: Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio.

ETNA PRODUCTION AREA: northern slope in the municipality of Castiglione di Sicilia

GROWTH SYSTEM: Counter-espalier

PRUNING SYSTEM: Spurred Cordon

YIELD PER HECTARE: 70 qli

TIME OF HARVEST: 2nd and 3rd decade of October

AGING: About 6 months in large wooden barrels and about 3 months in bottle

Vinification
Grapes harvested by hand in small crates are brought quickly to the winery and undergo manual selection on a belt. De-stemmed and not totally crushed, they are sent to concrete tanks, where they macerate for about 10/12 days at a temperature of 22/25°C. Once fermentation is finished, the grapes are left to macerate for a few more days after which they are racked and pressed using a traditional vertical press.

Organoleptic Characteristics
Light ruby red with faint purplish reflections they, typical of the variety that is not very rich in color. Hints of small red fruits, morello cherry, black cherry are evident on the nose. The palate is distinguished by its typical balanced tannicity and surprising fullness, savoriness and length.

The Ovello site has more clay, and the resulting wines are plump and fruit forward meaning they often drink earlier, as well as being super age worthy too. Classic ripe cherry notes that develop autumnal qualities and  more of the tar and spice that Barbaresco is famous for with age.

Ovello is one of the great red wines of Italy and is made entirely from the great structured red grape, Nebbiolo; exceptional in taste, complexity and its ability to age for at least a decade, evolving into a silky delicious wine over this time. It's made by the Produttori del Barbaresco. This highly respected winery cooperative was founded in 1958 and now has 51 members who collectively own approximately 100 hectares of the entire appellation, which means they own approximately a seventh of the appellation. The single vineyard wines, such as this one, are only made in highly rated vintages (all of the grapes go into a blend in other years) and released after four years maturation in the riserva programme.

All single vineyard cru wines from Produttori del Barbaresco are fermented at 30°C and given 32 days of skin contact time before being pressed in large oak barrels for 36 months of matu

Montefico is one of the richer of the Cru wines from Produttori coming from a warm clay soil site. A deep and lush wine that is more forward in its youth but that will still profit from long cellar ageing.

Made entirely from the highly structured, exceptionally age worthy Nebbiolo grape in the small and outstanding wine area of Barbaresco by Produttori del Barbaresco. This highly respected winery cooperative was founded in 1958 and now has 51 members who collectively own approximately 100 hectares of the entire appellation, which means they own approximately a seventh of the appellation. The single vineyard wines, such as this one, are only made in highly rated vintages (all of the grapes go into a blend in other years) and released after four years maturation in the riserva programme. 

All single vineyard cru wines from Produttori del Barbaresco are fermented at 30°C and given 32 days of skin contact time before being pressed in large oak barrels for 36 months of maturation in wood followed by a further nine months aging in bottle, prior to release. 

Felton Road Block 6 Chardonnay is made from a north facing warm site which is biodynamically and organically certified in Bannockburn, Central Otago.

This vineyard produces grapes with a broad fruit expression which makes dry full bodied wines in an extremely commanding style. The wine spends 16 months in barrel and gains massive textural qualities from this long aging time, pre bottling.

It's a great white from the world's southernmost wine region. Drinks well now and can age.

Felton Road winemaker Blair Walter and owner Nigel Greening (who bought the winery in 2000) are a formidable team producing elegant, powerful southern Pinots from their estate vineyards, all now organically and biodynamically certified. 

As is so often the case with Calvert, what impresses most is the wine’s subtlety and precision; patience is rewarded as the site methodically reveals itself. Earthy, dark cherry and plum aromas expand outward, becoming delicately floral; rose and violet infused. The mineral, graphite-textured palate builds - ever so subtly - to a rich, leather-bound cocoa finish. A most urbane expression of this vineyard and its deep clay soils.

Commencing with meticulous site selection and vineyard design in 1991, Felton Road's story is one of refusal to compromise. A strict 100% estate policy with fully organic and biodynamic viticulture (BioGro and Demeter certified) ensures that our fruit arrives at the winery as pure as it can be, while our entire estate comes as close to true sustainability as is possible. A commitment to hands off winemaking: gravity flow; indigenous yeasts and malolactic; an avoidance of fining and filtration; all help preserve the wine's expression of its terroir. The result is Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir which accurately express the authenticity and complexity of our unique vineyards

Felton Road farms four properties totalling 34 ha in the Bannockburn subregion of Central Otago. Calvert Vineyard is located on Felton Road and is just 1km east of The Elms Vineyard and the winery. The soils at Calvert are deep heavy silts with a thin layer of loess topsoil. Meticulous summer management of a single vertical shoot positioned (VSP) canopy ensures even and early fruit maturity. Shoot thinning, shoot positioning, leaf plucking, bunch thinning and harvest are all carried out by hand to ensure optimum quality fruit. Cover crops are planted between rows to assist in vine balance and to improve soil health and general biodiversity.

After a wet September, spring commenced with good soil moisture and bud burst occurred at the normal time of early October. Temperatures hovered around average with December being warm and dry, enabling a successful flowering and fruit set. The dry conditions prevailed throughout January and February limiting berry size and setting the scene for fruit with elevated phenolic material and complexity. Judicious use of irrigation was required to maintain sufficient vine health throughout this sustained dry period. Temperatures never spiked and hovered around average enabling a slow and steady path to maturity. A distinctive feature of March 2024 was the cool night temperatures preserving acidity, freshness and precision of fruit character. Pinot Noir was harvested from 19 March to 9 April.

The unique gravity flow winery enabled the grapes to be gently destemmed directly into open-top fermenters without harsh pumping with approximately 25% retained as whole clusters. Long pre-fermentation soaks of 10 days prior to fermentation with indigenous yeasts and punched down by hand up to two times per day with a total time on skins of 25-28 days. Pressed off and barrels filled immediately by gravity to the underground barrel cellars. The wine spent 16 months in barrel (20% new French) with two rackings and no fining or filtration, before bottling in late-August 2025.

A nose of fresh plums and cherry blossoms allude to this wine’s central delicate fruit aromatics. The details are found by spending time with the wine, allowing it to open up and show the warmer side with vanilla and leather.

The palate is subtle but complex with finely-spread tannins. Open and calm at the front, acidity draws the wine inwards in the middle before it shifts its weight towards the back palate, where it closes in with a combination of fruit and oak flavours.

This is an intriguing wine that doesn’t readily give away its secrets. To define this wine requires time in order to get to know the complexities and layers that are in store.

WINEMAKING - We harvest all our fruit by hand into small tubs. The fruit is sorted the following day, cold, and is all destemmed into 900kg ferment vessels. We let the newly filled vessels acclimatise and warm so that a natural fermentation occurs. An occasional hand plunge helps to keep the ferments happy and homogenous. After between 14 and 20 days in the fermenting vessel, we pressed the wines and transferred them to large format barrels, 300 and 500 litres, for 12 months. 

TECHNICAL INFORMATION - Vineyard source(s): McCreanor Vineyard, 37 Princess Street, Martinborough, NZ Harvest dates: 23 March - 5 April      |      Harvest Brix: 21.5 - 23 Brix Alcohol by Volume: 13%     |     pH 3.7      |     TA: 5.7 g/l

Tasting Notes
Lime blossom, orange rind, white lotus flower and schist mineral notes on the nose lead to a spicy tightly textured palate expressing gorgeous poise, drive and balance.
About the Wine
An estate grown, single block selection made from grapes grown at our Two Paddocks’ Red Bank Vineyard in Alexandra, Central Otago, our Dry Riesling is a thought provoking expression of this location. A balance of acidity and dryness means it’s a perfect fit for food matches - the perfect counter-balance to a creamy pasta dish like a cabonara, the fresh saltiness of Oysters kilpatrick and holds its own against vibrant and spicy Asian dishes.

Vintage Comments
A mild, wet 2022 winter meant soils held a lot of water going into the spring and inter-row companion crops including clover, phacelia and barley got off to a strong start. Early spring was very cold and then as spring warmed up in November shoot growth was strong. Flowering started the first week in December and fruit set was considered good on most blocks. Mid-summer heat was high and growing degree days were above 2022 and on par with 2019 by the end of the season.

Picking dates were moving forward until the second half of March when the heat ran out and the final ripening was slow and cool. Harvest started on the 27th of March at Red Bank Vineyard and finished on the 21st of April at The First Paddock, Gibbston. Cropping levels were just short of the optimum 2022 crop.

VINEYARD MANAGEMENT - Crafted from a tiny half-hectare block of clone 110 at Two Paddocks Red Bank Vineyard at Earnscleugh, Central Otago, which consistently produces the ripest and most intense Riesling on the estate. All grapes are grown using organic principles, hand harvested and fermented in stainless steel.

The soils in this block are well draining schist loam and the vines tend to thrive. Additionally, the hot day time temperatures that Alexandra experiences over summer encourages riper stone fruit flavours, until late afternoon when the ‘Roxburgh Doctor’ wind arrives and causes a dramatic drop in temperature and hence the significantly cooler nights that the region is known for.

WINE MAKERS NOTE: Whole bunch pressed and then a light racking before fermentation. An indigenous fermentation which took 5 weeks at between 14-21 degrees Celsius. The wine was then held on light lees until it was racked and filtered for clarity and stabilisation prior to bottling.