Description

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
Bideona, founded in 2018, is a winery based in the heart of Rioja Alavesa, which offers a new perspective on Rioja wines: here, the emphasis is on site, rather than ageing. The vineyards are situated on the slopes of the Sierra Cantabria, predominantly surrounding the villages of Villabuena, Leza, Laguardia and Baños del Ebro, with each terroir producing wines with distinctive character. The vines are extremely old and low-yielding; many were planted in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, and they deliver concentrated juice with a clear identity. Vines are planted on hillsides in soils with a high percentage of limestone, a characteristic that sets Alavesa apart from the rest of Rioja, together with high altitude and vineyard age. The winemaking philosophy is to obtain very pure, fresh and well-textured wines that reflect their origin.

THE VINTAGE:
The 2021 vintage began with a cold winter and abundant rain. These rains continued during flowering, making fruit setting difficult and, in many cases, giving clusters of loose berries. The ripening season was warm and dry, with abundant water reserves from the previous months. The rains during the end of ripening divided the harvest into two distinct parts for those who decided to wait to harvest. The lower areas of Laguardia, Lapuebla and Elciego with water stress and earlier ripening produced approachable, elegant, fruity and fine wines. The areas closest to the Sierra Cantabria had slow and balanced maturation, offering wines with good balance and elegance.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
The grapes come from 300 small, carefully selected parcels, situated on the slopes of the Sierra Cantabria, in Rioja Alavesa. The average plot size is just 0.3 hectares, and the average age of the vineyard is approximately 50 years, but some of the vines are significantly older, producing low yields of concentrated juice. The bush vines are planted in limestone soils, resulting in elegant wines that are fresh, precise and age-worthy due to the balancing acidity. The vines are cultivated with respect for the environment, using minimal sprays of copper and sulphur when required. The fruit is hand-harvested in 15-kilogram boxes to preserve the quality.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
The Tempranillo grapes were carefully sorted to select the highest quality fruit. Fermentation took place with selected yeasts in 12,000 litre stainless steel tanks at moderate temperatures. Daily pump-overs took place to ensure the extraction of flavours, colour and fine tannins. 10% of the wine went through malolactic conversion in new French oak barrels of 300 litres, which resulted in a softer mouthfeel. 20% of the wine was aged for four months in French oak barrels of 300 litres of first, second and third use, while the balance was aged in stainless steel tanks for four months on the fine lees, adding purity of fruit to the blend.

OUR TASTING NOTE:
Pure and intense aromas of dark cherry and blackberry are complemented by violet and clove highlights. On the palate, the wonderful fruit concentration is balanced by fresh acidity, with characterful chalky tannins leading to a long, mineral finish.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Tempranillo 100%.