Badiola L4GD4 (Laguardia), Bideona, Rioja
Country: Spain Region: Rioja
Varietal: Tempranillo
Vintage: 2019 Colour: Red Style: Dry
Producer: Bodegas Badiola
Description:
The grapes come from carefully selected parcels around the charming village of Laguardia, in Rioja Alavesa. Laguardia is situated on average at 640 metres above sea level and is open to the Ebro Valley with exposed sites. The mesoclimate here results in earlier ripening than other villages and produces approachable wines that are elegant, light and perfumed. The bush vines are planted in limestone soils and are cultivated with respect for the environment, using minimal sprays of copper and sulphur only when required. The fruit is hand-harvested in 15 kilogram boxes to preserve the quality.
Current Denominación de Origen regulations in Rioja only permit the use of a village name on the label by the location of the winery (i.e. the building and not the vineyards) thus the wine from the Laguardia vineyards is marketed as L4GD4.
The grapes were manually sorted to maintain diversity and subtle variation in ripeness. Fermentation and malolactic conversion took place with selected yeasts in stainless steel tanks and concrete vats at moderate temperatures. Gentle daily pump-overs and maceration times were tailored to each individual tank based on tastings, with the aim of obtaining balance without over-extraction. The wine was made without excessive use of new oak or oxidative ageing. 42% was matured in first and second-use French barriques of 300 litres for eight months and the balance was aged in stainless steel tanks on its fine lees.
