A gorgeous fruit forward, modern Rioja with minimal oak use from the Rioja Alavesa region; the smallest of the Rioja sub-regions and comparable to Rioja Alta in terms of its high quality. The nose is pure and expressive of dark cherries and bramble fruit and the palate shows depth and purity with superb balance from fine chalky tannins and keen acidity. 

This is a dreamy, spicy and smooth Spanish Tempranillo from Bideona, a winery founded in 2018 in Rioja Alavesa. This is one of our best sellers and is made from impressively old vines, many of which were planted in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s and the result of the viticulture is incredible concentration

The wine was aged in an adventurously modern combination of French and American oak barrels, all older oak, for five months. 

The name Laderas means hills and refers to the sloping vineyards from which this smooth, softly fruited, deep red wine comes. Bodega Badiola owns 300 parcels of land on the slopes of Sierra Cantabria, in the villages of Villabuena de Alava, Leza, Samaniego, Laguardia, Navaridas and Baños del Ebro. 

The average vine age of is about 50 years and the vines are trained en vaso, referring to the sturdy bush vines, grown without trellising on limestone soils. All grapes are hand picked and the wine is aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels of second and third use, for five months. 

The Wine:

Tinto Joven; 96% Tempranillo, 2% Garnacha, and 2% Viura.
Rioja Alta, vineyards of Ábalos and San Vicente de la Sonsierra.
A blend of native varieties from our vineyards located in the Rioja Sonsierra region. The varieties combine to create a clear definition of a young, fresh, and fruity wine.

WINEMAKING:

Process: Carbonic maceration (whole bunch maceration). This allows us to transmit all the fruitiness of the grapes to this wine. Fermented at a controlled temperature (26º). The fermentation process proceeds normally and quickly. Natural stabilization and bottling.

The Producer:

Abeica is winery currently under the watch of the fourth generation - with the fifth already cutting their teeth. Do not for one second though assume that this historic connection bears the weight of conforming to brand Rioja.  During the 1990's the winery was successful at home and abroad. Growing year -on-year, buying in grapes from neighbouring properties to fuel their growth.  The four siblings, Isabel, Ricardo, Pachi and Raul decided to pull back from this and return to a true family project using only their own vines and their combined skills.  Vineyards are mainly clay-calcareous between 450-590 metres and enjoy the protection of the Sonsierra mountain range. Vintage employs the entire extended family to hand pick and bring in the harvest to the gravity-fed winery. Fermentation is generally whole bunch under carbonic maceration. There is a refreshing hands - off approach, letting nature do the work which leads to freshness across the range. It truly feels like Rioja with the light let in.

Bodegas Roda is completely new to New Zealand this year, 2023, and is also a fabulously modern expression of traditional Spanish grape varieties which express themselves in bold red fruit flavours here with the support structure of firm smooth tannins, spicy complex aromas and depth. The blend is 94% Tempranillo,  4% Garnacha and 2% Graciano, all grown on bush vines between 15 to 30 years of age.
Fermentation and ageing was in large French oak vats for 12 months. Stabilisation was natural with egg white used for fining. 

This is a great wine from relatively youthful vines in Spanish terms. It drinks well now and has fabulous structure to age further.

 José Luis Ripa is a fan of more 'serious' rosés (think Pibarnon, Trevallon, Tempier and the poster child of extended ageing Viña Tondonia).  His day job is commercial director at a well known winery in Haro, but in 2016 he managed to get hold of some old-vine fruit from the Najerilla Valley, a tributary of the Ebro, and made his first vintage of Ripa Rosado. The wine is mainly Garnacha with a touch of Tempranillo, the must is drawn-off slowly, then fermented and aged for 18-24 months in large oak vats, called bocoyes in Rioja. He only made 3,000 bottles in the first year, he's gradually increasing that, without losing the artisan vision of the project. After all, he has his wife María José López de Heredia to keep him focused!

A little deeper and probably more lactic than the 2019, but a little less exuberant. There are more dried herbs and minerals, with dried grapefruit and a touch of Aperol. Unique in style, which makes you think of a young Lopez de Heredia rosado (and you wouldn't be surprised if you find who makes this). Textured, full and harmonious despite higher alcohol. Cheerful and unassuming at the same time.

-James Suckling

A traditional Rioja. Full bodied. Rich, red fruit aromas with noticeable oak influence. Very fruit forward on the palate.

100% Tempranillo. 

From various vineyards around Rioja, on Chalky Clay, Ferrous Clay, & Alluvial soil's between 350m-550m elevation. 

Cold Macerated prior to fermentation, then fermented 15 days in Temperature controlled stainless steel fermenters with daily pump overs, & aged for 24 months in French & American Oak barrels racking every 6 months. 

Ruby red colour with signs of ageing. Aromas of vanilla, spice, leather and ripe fruit. Silky medium body with good length. A classic Rioja.

Established in 1901 in Haro, Bodegas Bilbaínas is a benchmark for traditional Rioja winemaking.

Vina Pomal, a Rioja icon, sees 18 months in oak.

Single estate, Tempranillo-led, matured in American oak for depth and spice.