1 items £44.00
Bodegas Bhilar Rioja Blanco 2024 is a wonderfully individual white Rioja for anyone looking beyond the region's more conventional styles. Predominantly Viura with 10% Garnacha Blanca, it combines lemon and orange peel with fresh orchard fruit, subtle spice and a gently creamy texture. Vibrant acidity and pronounced minerality keep it precise, energetic and beautifully balanced.
A brief fermentation on the skins gives the wine an intriguing hint of orange-wine character, while six months in French oak adds texture rather than overt oakiness. Made from biodynamically farmed vineyards around Elvillar, it is an expressive introduction to David Sampedro's distinctive approach to Rioja Alavesa.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Fresh and distinctive, with aromas of lemon and orange peel, orchard fruit and subtle floral notes accompanied by hints of spice and gentle creaminess.
Palate: Expressive and textured, with vibrant citrus and orange peel flavours supported by impressive acidity. A mineral backbone gives the wine precision, while partial malolactic fermentation and oak maturation introduce subtle creamy notes and additional depth without sacrificing freshness.
Finish: Long, fresh and mineral with lingering citrus peel, gentle spice and a finely textured, savoury character.
About
Bodegas Bhilar is the boutique Rioja Alavesa winery of David Sampedro and Melanie Hickman, based in Elvillar – Bhilar in the Basque language. Their philosophy centres on expressing individual vineyards and indigenous varieties through biodynamic viticulture and minimal intervention, producing wines with a strong connection to their origins.
Winemaking: The 2024 is made from 90% Viura and 10% Garnacha Blanca. The destemmed grapes begin natural alcoholic fermentation with their skins in concrete, introducing additional texture and aromatic complexity. After pressing, the wine is transferred to French oak barrels for six months of maturation, with around 50% undergoing malolactic fermentation to add a subtle creamy dimension while retaining its naturally bright acidity.
Vineyards: The fruit comes from younger biodynamically cultivated vineyard parcels around Elvillar in Rioja Alavesa. The vines grow in limestone-influenced soils and are dry farmed, with horses used for cultivation. The elevated, relatively cool vineyard environment helps preserve the excellent natural acidity that is such a distinctive feature of this wine.
Food Pairing
Excellent with baked or grilled fish, shellfish, grilled vegetables and Mediterranean dishes. Its combination of acidity, texture and subtle savoury complexity also makes it a particularly good partner for richer seafood, roast chicken and lightly creamy sauces.
We can ship your order to all UK mainland addresses, usually on a next day delivery.
Our shipping fee is typically £5.95 for a single item order, and a maximum of £7.50 for all other orders. Delivery fees are calculated during check-out.
If your delivery address is local, delivery is free, delivered on the same day you order. Alternatively, you can collect it from our shop.
Click here for cut off times and full details of our courier service.
It is an offence for a person under the age of 18 to buy or attempt to buy alcohol. By making a purchase, you acknowledge that you are 18 years of age or over.