La Vicalanda Reserva 2021 represents the ultimate expression of the terroir of one of the most privileged areas in the D.O.Ca. Rioja: Haro. A premium red wine that was a pioneer of wines of "Alta Expresión" and that Bodegas Bilbaínas designs with a selection of its finest vineyards.
La Vicalanda Reserva 2021 is produced entirely with Tempranillo, based on a selection of the best grapes from the vineyards of Bodegas Bilbaínas. These are vines planted in vaso, with an average age over 30 years and yields of just 4,000 kg/ha. All work on these plots is carried out manually and under criteria of sustainable viticulture. It originates from a vintage rated Very Good by the Regulatory Council of the D.O.Ca. Rioja. However, in Rioja Alta, where the vineyards are located, the harvest was excellent.
The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in new Allier French oak barrels, where it subsequently aged for 18 months. After this maturation, it remained in bottle for at least another 24 months refining.
Bodegas Bilbaínas launched the La Vicalanda label in 1994 as its most modern and innovative venture, and already has an extensive track record. Its name derives from a small holding of 10.5 hectares. Today, this wine, a pioneer among the so-called Alta Expression wines, is produced from a meticulous selection of the winery's best plots.
Pairing
La Vicalanda Reserva is the ideal companion for the finest meat dishes, especially roast lamb. It is also a good match for cured or Parmesan cheeses, ham, game and venison, legume dishes, or meat-based rice dishes.
Service
The lack of stabilization treatments may result in natural sediment appearing in the bottle. We recommend decanting this wine before serving.
Serving temperature
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
100% Tempranillo
Type of barrel
Allier French oak barrels.
Type of bottle
Bordeaux
Barrel aging time
18 months
Capacity (cl)
75
Alcohol content (% vol.)
14.5
Vintage
Gentle harvest, with healthy fruit and high quality in the Upper Rioja area, which has produced wines with long ageing potential.
Winemaking
At harvest time a careful selection in the vineyard is carried out to bring only those grapes with optimal ripening conditions to the cellar. Harvest is done manually in 15kg boxes, which are kept cold (4°C) for 24 hours before manual selection. After this selection only the best berries are macerated cold prior to the start of alcoholic fermentation. Alcoholic fermentation takes place for 10 days at 28°C, after which maceration with the skins for at least a further 2 weeks is carried out. Malolactic fermentation occurs in French oak barrels.
Both alcoholic and malolactic fermentations occur spontaneously thanks to the activity of the indigenous microflora from the viñedos.
Aging
The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in barrels, where it subsequently aged for 18 months. Barrels of French Allier oak were used, new at a minimum of 50%. During this time, the wine was racked several times to clarify it naturally and avoid subsequent treatments. The wine has a minimum bottle ageing of 24 months.
Viticulture
The winery selects the best grapes from its plots Cuervo 4, Vicuana and Zaco. These vineyards are planted in the traditional Rioja “vaso” system. They have an average age of over 30 years and yields of 4,000 kg/ha. All work on these plots is carried out manually, therefore they employ highly qualified staff. For grape production, they opt to practise sustainable viticulture with the environment, without the use of pesticides, insecticides or herbicides.
View
Intense garnet with purplish tones.
Nose
Elegant and intense. A very deep aroma. Black fruits, violets and roasted notes with a balsamic and mineral backdrop.
Mouth
It is a very full-bodied, powerful and structured wine. A velvety entry and a palate that is very well balanced. It has great body and a long finish.
Located in the famous wine region of the Barrio de la Estación in Haro, Bodegas Bilbaínas is one of the historic and benchmark wineries in Rioja. Its origins date back to 1859, when the Bordeaux house Savignon Frères et Cie, fleeing the phylloxera plague, settled in Haro to produce and export wine to France. In 1901, a group of entrepreneurs from Bilbao acquired the facilities, also building a new and monumental winery with underground cellars. Thus, the Bodegas Bilbaínas company was definitively established.
In a short time, its wines gained a strong reputation. So much so that in 1925, this house was honored with the title of Supplier to the Royal Household and Heritage. In 1997, the winery became part of the Grupo Codorníu, undergoing a profound renovation of its facilities and vineyards, as well as a modernization of its wine styles.
Today, Bodegas Bilbaínas boasts an exceptionally extensive estate-owned vineyard in La Rioja: 250 hectares spread across the Haro region, within the subzone of Rioja Alta; and it has enviably solid brands that encompass different styles: from the most classic Viña Pomal, to La Vicalanda (Alta Expresión) and the more modern and youthful Viña Zaco.
