Bideona – Rioja Alavesa, Tempranillo de Laderas – 2021

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 lowyielding; 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.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
‘Laderas’ means hillside and this wine takes its name from the hillside vineyards on which the grapes are grown. The fruit is carefully selected from over 300 parcels that are 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 Gobelet trained 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 grapes were carefully sorted to select the highest quality fruit. Traditional fermentation took place with selected yeasts in 12,000 litre stainless steel tanks at moderate temperatures. Daily pump-overs took place to ensure extraction of flavours, colour and fine tannins. One third of the wine was aged in 225-litre and 300-litre French and American oak barrels of second and third use, for five months. The oak ageing imparts texture and length to the palate, without giving the wine an overt oak character. The balance was aged in stainless steel tanks on the fine lees, resulting in a wine which reflects the terroir of Rioja Alavesa.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
Pure and precise aromas of cherries and red berries are layered with herbal notes of thyme through to a textured palate. This wine shows excellent balance between fresh natural acidity, fruit concentration and firm, but fine-grained tannins.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Tempranillo Field Blend 100%.