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93 Pt. Alfar Rioja Reserva 2018

$45.00

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  • Bodegas Valdelacierva used French oak vessels for malolactic fermentation and aging to balance the muscular fruit in their 2018 'Alfar' Rioja Reserva.
  • Its pure Tempranillo composition is evident from the spice-infused aromas and boisenberry reduction notes on the palate, while the care in cultivation and harvest comes through in the satisfying finish.
  • The source of the fruit comes from plots in Banos de Ebro on the border with Basque country and Brinas, roughly ten miles southwest. A network of rivers connects each terroir, both in terms of a common fluvial geology and the ancient commerce thoroughfares the waterways represented.

Member Rating: 91

Tech Notes Wine Details Wine Enthusiast James Suckling
Unit Size750.00 ML
VarietalTempranillo
Vintage2018
GrapeTempranillo
CountrySpain
AppellationRioja
RegionRioja
Alcohol Content14.00%
By Bodegas Valdelacierva
2018 Alfar Rioja Reserva

Wine Details
Founded in 1988, Bodegas Valdelacierva belongs to Hispanobodegas Group, which owns wineries in Spain's three most important appellations: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Rueda. Valdelacierva is located in the heart of the Rioja Alta (Navarrete), possessing 200 hectares of vineyards divided into small plots, with vines between 25 and 130 years old. The winery has a young and dynamic personality and is focused on making wines where the soil and Tempranillo variety are indisputable protagonists.

Vineyard Details
Vineyard: Plots in Brinas and Banos de Ebro
Terroir: Clay-calcareous with pebbles
Altitude: 550 meters
Vineyard Age: Over 50 years old
Yield: 5,000 kg/ha

Production
De-stemmed and non-crushed grapes vatted in conical deposits of small capacity. Fermentation is done at a controlled temperature of 24 to 26 degrees C for five to seven days. Post-fermentation maceration with an average of 12 days per deposit. Malolactic fermentation 225-liter new French oak barrels. Aging is carried over in the same new French oak barrels for 24 months before being rounded in bottle for 12 months.

Technical Details
Variety: Tempranillo
Vintage: 2018
Harvest: Hand-picked
Bottle Type: Bordeaux conical
Alcohol: 14.00%
Winemaker: Emma Villajos

Tasting Notes
Visual: Mature cherry color with garnet edging, high layer.
Nose: Intense, complex, and harmonious, highlighting wild blackberries over a mineral background. Toffee, cocoa, and French oak spice notes.
Palate: Well-structured, gentle, wide, and meaty, with a sustained and elegant ending with cocoa and toffee hints. Long and persistent finish.

Serving Temperature
14 to 16 degrees C.
[Information provided by W. Direct]
Valdelacierva 2018 Alfar Reserva Tempranillo (Rioja)
From: Rioja, Northern Spain, Spain
Rating: 93
Price: $45
Winery: Valdelacierva
Region: Northern Spain
Alcohol: 14%
Variety: Tempranillo
Wine Type: Red
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Issue Date: 9/1/2023
A nose of blackberry, raspberry and milk chocolate sets the stage for Mission fig, black-plum, espresso-bean, cocoa-powder and lavender flavors, with a hint of crumbled sage. Slightly muscular tannins stand their ground and then fade on the palate, replaced with a wash of pleasing acidity.
Reviewed By: Mike DeSimone
BODEGAS VALDELACIERVA RIOJA ALFAR RESERVA 2018
Friday, September 9, 2022
Country: Spain
Region: La Rioja
Vintage: 2018
Score: 91
Creamy nose with blackberries, mocha, sweet spices and hints of caramelized walnut and orange peel. This is an elegant expression of Rioja, teeming with juicy blackberry fruit and precise, silky tannins. Long, fresh and fluid. Drink now.