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.

Now owned by the renowned sherry producer Gonzalez Byass, Bodegas Beronia was created in 1973 by a wine and food club and is now considered a benchmark Rioja house.

A deep picota cherry red colour with a garnet edge, this wine is clean and bright. It is complex on the nose, with aromas of cherry and raspberry standing out, complemented by herbal notes - rosemary and thyme - and hints of cinnamon and tobacco. Very fresh and tantalising on the palate, this wine displays a plethora of flavours, the most prominent of which are the confected notes of vanilla and chocolate.

Beronia Reserva is made from a selection of the best grapes from the oldest Tempranillo vines, plus some Graciano y Mazuelo. After a spell undergoing cold pre-fermentation maceration and controlled fermentation with periodic pumping over to extract the desired colour and aromas, the wine spent 18 months in mixed French and American oak barrels to create the unmistakable 'Beronia Style'. Lastly the wine was left to rest in the bottle a further 18 months before being released to the market.

Atractive and intriguing on the nose it displays nutty aromas – roasted almonds, walnuts – followed by notes of plum primarily but also ripe fruit and a pleasant hint of white pepper, which all add complexity and freshness. Full bodied the palate, the wine displays balanced acidity. The flavours are mostly of ripe fruit, whilst the finish is sweet and smooth, bringing to mind cacao and roasted hazelnuts.

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.

"High summer temperatures define this vintage. After a mild winter with very little rainfall, spring began with a great deal of rain, which provided favourable conditions for the growth cycle of the vines. During the summer, they experienced very high temperatures and the absence of rain, which resulted in very healthy vines.

As a general result, this was a balanced year, where the final absence of rains led to a good concentration of grapes. This year is noted for a vintage with volume that can be enjoyed as a young wine."

Alc 14%

100% Graciano

Grapes were selected from the best plots to make this wine. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at a temperature of 25-28 °C, with automated pumpover control to ensure that aromatic and colour compounds were extracted.

Great aromatic complexity and intensity. Outstanding notes of red and dark berries, chocolate and cream, together with toasty and balsamic notes, all of these well-integrated by their passage through barrels.

Tasty in the mouth, well-structured and powerful. The tannins are noble and mature, and the wine has is full bodied, providing a very full mouthfeel. Jammy notes with toasty and cocoa hints.

 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

Grape Varieties: 100% Viura

Type: White Wine Crianza

Alcohol Content: 12.5% vol.

Serving Temperature: 14º - 16º

Production: 

Made 100% from Viura (Macabeo) grapes. The hand-harvested grapes are selected from old vines sourced from their own vineyards and are made in a very traditional winemaking style.

It has spent 4 years in oak barrels, been racked twice a year, been fined with fresh egg whites, been bottled unfiltered, and been followed by some ageing in bottle before being released.

Tasting Notes: 

Pale gold in colour. Aromatic and complex-scented nose of mature fruit, some dry honeycomb, and a citrus touch, floral and nutty with hints of oak. The palate is complex and developed, with good acidity that opens out very well and finishes dry.

Notes: With good ageing potential, it will drink well through 2027. It goes well with all kinds of fish, grilled seafood, and white meats, as well as with pasta dishes.

THE WINERY

The family-owned bodega López Heredia, one of Rioja’s oldest and most traditional establishments, was founded in 1913 by Rafael López de Heredia. Three generations later, the Lopez de Heredia family continue to devote themselves to producing exceptional and unique wines. Located in the heart of the Rioja Alta region, Viña Tondonia is a beautiful vineyard and one of the most spectacular in Haro, with over 100 hectares situated in a shell-like depression on the right bank of the river Ebro; the soil is alluvial clay with a high proportion of limestone. The grapes from Viña Tondonia are always used in making their highest-quality wine. 

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

Bodega Muga was founded in 1932 and remains in family hands today with 250 hectares in La Rioja Alta and long standing contracts with owners of another 150 hectares of vineyards spread among five main vineyards on clay and limestone soils with a wide variety of microclimates. 

The Muga wines are exciting and interesting Spanish blends of indigenous grapes with Tempranillo in the lead, supported by Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano for the reds. 

If you’re a fan of Spanish wine, try this gorgeous next level reserve out for size. 

The Muriel Family has been making wine since the early twentieth century and this brand forms the flagship offering.

Here we have 100% Tempranillo which to be labelled as a Crianza must age for at least 18 months with a minimum of six months in oak. This wine has actually spent a year in American oak and the flavour profile is testament to this, with beautifully integrated vanilla and coconut notes that combine effortlessly with the dark and red berry flavours. An elegant wine with plush tannins and a fullness of body as is befitting the style.

Drink now and over the next couple of years with poultry, veal and cured meats.