Graciano ‘Lagrimas de Bhilar’

Country: Spain Region: Rioja

Varietal: Graciano

Vintage: 2021 Colour: Red Style: Dry

Producer: Bodegas Bhilar

Description:

David Sampedro and his wife, Melanie Hickman own and run
this 9.5 ha biodynamic estate around the village of Elvillar in
the Rioja Alavesa where limestone soils meander through
three valleys that run between the Sierra Cantabria
mountains and the River Ebro. 3.5 ha of their property is
made up of single vineyard sites, elaborated under the banner
‘Struggling Vines’. They also exploit some small plots of
Rufete on the granite and slate soils of the Sierra Francia in
the province of Salamanca as well as another project in
Navarra. Their mission is to rescue plots of old vines, work
them manually and with all the soil work being done with the
use of a horse. Their winery is solar powered and is partly
built underground with cement fermentation tanks to help
control temperatures. Ageing takes place for the top wines in
French oak 500 and 600 litre casks

Harvest and Production: Fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats where it is matured for six months with lees before bottling. A rare opportunity to taste 100%
Graciano from the cool climate region of Rioja Alavesa

Tasting Note

Pure with contained ripeness, freshness and varietal aromas such as black
pepper and flowers, and it is bright colored, clean and has a gentle
mouthfeel with fine tannins.

Food Matching

Cheese, Lamb, stews