Country: Spain Region: Rioja Varietal: Tempranillo Vintage: 2019 Colour: Red Style: Dry Producer: Bodegas Badiola Description: Badiola, founded in 2018, is a winery based in the heart of Rioja Alavesa. Badiola 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, Samaniego, Laguardia, Navaridas and Baños del Ebro, with each terroir producing wines with distinctive character. The vines are extremely old; many were planted in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s and they deliver concentrated juice with a clear identity. The winemaking philosophy is to obtain very pure, fresh and well-textured wines that reflect their origin. The grapes are from 50-year-old vines grown on hillside vineyards, hence the name ‘Laderas’ - meaning hillside. The Gobelet trained vines are planted in limestone soils, resulting in elegant wines that are fresh, precise and age worthy. Sustainable winemaking using minimal sprays of copper and sulphur when required. 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 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 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. Medium-bodied.