Description
Tentenublo Rioja Xerico 2018
Varietal: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Viura, Malvasia, and Jaén (Mencia)
Roberto Oliván and his wife, Leyre Ruiz, of Tentenublo make honoring tradition look radical. A fourth-generation winegrower, Roberto farms 10ha composed of 30 parcels of vines in and around his home village of Viñaspre in the Basque part of Rioja – the Rioja Alavesa. The vineyards of Viñaspre contain a traditional mix of local red and white grapes: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Malvasía Riojana, Jaén Blanca, Viura, and more, planted on some of Rioja’s most interesting terroirs. Viñaspre sits high in the rugged foothills abutting the Sierra de Cantabria mountain range and was historically an important village in the wine trade due to its location on the road to Bilbao. The vineyards profit from extra altitude (up to 700m) and compelling geology but are exposed to the winds, rains, and extreme conditions typical of mountain viticultural zones (‘Tentenublo’ is the local name for the ringing of bells meant to ward off hail storms). At Tentenublo, all parcels are farmed organically and vinified separately. The red wines always contain white grapes, which Roberto says adds a “chaotic” sensation to the center of the palate.
