2015 Bodegas Bhilar, Phinca La Revilla Blanco, Rioja Alavesa
Parker 95 (2024); Tim Atkin MW 95 (2024)
| Standard Price | Membership Price | Mix 6 or more |
|---|---|---|
| £93.00 | £65.00 | £79.00 |
At a glance
- Grape
- Tempranillo blend
- Region
- Rioja, Spain
- Alcohol
- 14.00%
- Body
- Medium to full
- Acidity
- Medium
- Sweetness
- Dry
- Drink
- Medium (5-10 yrs)
- Pairs with
- Poultry, Seafood
Why this wine
White Rioja is one of the wine world's genuine blind spots, and old-vine Viura is capable of far more than its reputation allows. Textured, savoury and chalky rather than fresh and simple, with real capacity to age. An unusual bottle at this price, and deliberately so.
Our advantages:
Description
How it tastes
Distinctive and layered, with balsamic, chamomile, and savoury nuances leading to a textured, chalky palate and a beautifully balanced, lingering finish. Complex and layered with balsamic notes, chamomile, and savoury tones interwoven with hints of honey, nut, and herbs. Textured and beautifully balanced, showing depth and chalky minerality. Flavours of dried herbs, citrus peel, and honeyed spice unfold into a long, elegant finish.
The producer
Bodegas Bhilar is a boutique winery in Elvillar, Rioja Alavesa, run by husband-and-wife team David Sampedro and Melanie Hickman. Together they produce terroir-driven wines with soul, guided by a philosophy of sustainability and minimal intervention. The vineyards have been organically cultivated for over 20 years and biodynamically for 15, with horses replacing tractors in 2014 to preserve soil vitality. Certified *Demeter* since 2022, Bhilar's wines perfectly reflect the cool-climate personality of Rioja Alavesa. David, who grew up among these same vineyards, founded Bhilar to showcase unique wines that evoke a sense of place. In 2020, Tim Atkin MW named him Winemaker of the Year. The 2015 growing season was defined by consistently pleasant weather, allowing grapes to ripen fully by early October. Yields were low, resulting in fruit of exceptional health, concentration, and balance that translated into elegant, textural wines. The Viura grapes come from a single 0.68-hectare plot named *La Revilla*, planted in 1925 in Elvillar. Each vine is individually staked and biodynamically farmed, with cultivation by hand and ploughing by horse. The ancient clay and limestone soils impart exceptional structure and minerality, lending the wine its hallmark chalky texture. The site's unique microclimate, shaped by diverse slopes and exposures, creates remarkable aromatic complexity and balance. Grapes were destemmed and crushed by foot to initiate natural fermentation using indigenous yeasts from the skins. After pressing, the wine was aged for six years in used 225-litre French oak barrels that were not topped up and did not develop flor. This patient elevage resulted in a deeply expressive wine with savoury and oxidative complexity, remarkable texture, and tension.
Food and drinking
Good with poultry and seafood. Ready now, and will hold for a few years yet. Serve at 11–12°C.
Contains sulphites. Information correct to the best of our knowledge at time of publication and subject to change according to vintage.