La Sorda DOC Rioja Alavesa Reserva 2011 (750ml)

A “guardavinas is a rustic hut built in the Rioja vineyards as a place to keep tools, shelter from a storm or eat lunch in the shade.  These atmospheric constructions also generate local legends and anecdotes…  (Label Art Work)

 

La Sorda DOC Rioja Alavesa Reserva 2011

 

A Reserva has to be a three year old wine, of which one should be spent in barrel.  This fine Reserva was actually kept for the whole three years in barrel!

 

Tasting Note

 

The first aromas to appear are those of bakery aromas and subtle hints of cinnamon and spice; gentle strawberry jam and raspberry flavours complement the oakiness.  On the palate it is juicy and has a fine acidity, leaving a final sensation of beautiful finesse.

 

Blend:  90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo

 

Alcohol:  14%

 

Type of Wine:  Dry Red Wine

 

Vintage:  2011  

 

Very cold but dry winter lead to a delayed shooting.  Summer was also fairly dry but not particularly warm until September when temperatures rose for a perfect ripening.

 

Harvest:  Second Week of October.

 

Wine-Making:  Grapes are destemmed but not crushed.  Fermented in stainless steel tanks at temperatures below 28ºC for 18 days.  Cap broken by using ‘delestage’

 

Ageing:  Aged in used American oak for 36 months and a further 12 months in bottle

 

Date of bottling:  March 2016

 

Total Production:  3,000 bottles of 75 cl

 

Denominación De Origen:  Rioja Alavesa

 

Town:  Lapuebla De Labarca

 

Winemaker:  Jesús Alvarez

 

Vineyard

 

Size:  25 hectares in 19 Pieces

 

Soil:  loose and silty

 

Training:  trellised and bush vines

 

Grapes:  Tempranillo, graciano and mazuelo

 

 

Vinergia

 

Vinergia was founded in 2005 with the aim of uniting the efforts of small and medium-sized Spanish wineries and distributors across the world.  By understanding the key elements of each grape variety, region and also the requirements and idiosyncrasies of each market, we have come to develop wines of excellent quality with great stories to tell.

 

La Sorda

 

Located in the village of Lapuebla de Labarca, perhaps the warmest area of Rioja Alavesa.

 

As with many small family wineries, Loli and Jesús Alvarez own several pieces of vineyard in and around their home village of Lapuebla de Labarca.  Each of these pieces of vineyard has its own curious history and each has its own name, which may have a geographical or social origin.  La Sorda means ‘the deaf woman’ and this small plot of vineyard once belonged to an aunt who was a little hard of hearing!