8 products
8 products
- Red Wine
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Tempranillo
- Organic, Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- 750ml
- 14% alc./vol
About the Winery
Pago Aylés
Pago Aylés was founded by Federico Ramón, who in 2003 began his dream of classifying this unique land as the first Vino de Pago in the Aragon region. In the Spanish wine quality pyramid, the Pago stands as a top tier or grand cru winery. Just before Federico died, his dream came true in 2010, as Aylés became the 10th Vino de Pago in Spain.
Today his three children continue to produce wines from this special land. The vineyard site has a long history of winemaking, dating back to the 12th century by Spanish monks. Influenced by the River Huerva and the Monte San Pablo mountain, the soil is a mixture of clay, limestone and chalk – ideal for making high-quality wine. Caves, ravines and old river beds can be found all over the estate, which is brimming with wildlife.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
90 points - John Szabo, MS
Deeply coloured and sweet-smelling, very ripe and sappy red blend from Aylés (merlot, garnacha, tempranillo and cabernet sauvignon), with a solid dose of sweet wood spice and jammy black fruit in an almost new world, California-like expression. The palate is soft and plush, immediately satisfying and inviting with its vague impression of sweetness, and supple, creamy tannins and acids and solid concentration. The finish lingers on espresso-mocha notes, though not in exaggerated fashion. A bold and satisfying, widely appealing wine all in all for current enjoyment or short term hold - this is all about the ripe fruit. Tasted March 2022.
- Red Wine
- Graciano, Grenache, Tempranillo
- Sustainable
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 14.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Bodegas Exopto
Exopto is Latin for “to long for” or “to desire greatly” and it is the dream of Frenchman Tom Puyaubert and his family to endeavor to craft and assemble wines where the whole adds up to more than the sum of their parts. Tom relocated from France to Rioja in 2000 after falling in love with the region and working for the French cooperage Saury as its Spain representative.
When Tom began Exopto, he wanted to do a project that produced wines within this historical context of Rioja - combining both worlds in a unique way. His idea is to remain true to the blending of the principle grape varieties and to do so from the best terroirs/villages for those varieties crossing sub-regions of Rioja. Each wine though, has a majority of a different principle grape – showcasing that variety specifically within the context of a blend. The viticulture and winemaking model is that of the “vigneron” days – small plots of vines in the extremes, wild yeast fermentation in concrete or old oak vats and then aging in a way to showcase the fruit, minerality and terroir not the wood or aged flavours that people often associate with Rioja.
Press Reviews
Robert Parker
92 points
The very young red 2021 Bozeto de Exopto mixes Tempranillo from Ábalos and Mediterranean Garnacha from Alfaro (with 10% Graciano), and it seems very balanced, with good ripeness (14.5%), showing the Garnacha and the more austere Graciano with nice fruit and freshness. It's serious and has complexity and depth beyond its price point. It matured in a combination of concrete and oak containers for some six months. Excellent value in one of the finest vintages for this wine. 70,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2022.
Wine Align
91 points - John Szabo
A blend of garnacha, tempranillo and graciano grown at around 500m in the Sierra de Cantabria, this is aged exclusively in concrete and thus a long way from what many would consider the 'traditional' style of Rioja. I like the freshness and vibrancy allied at the same time to ripe, plush fruit spanning both the red and black spectrum. Tannins are supple and acids balanced and creamy, leading into a long, gently saline finish. Concentration and depth, as well as complexity overall, far exceed expectations in the category. Well made wine from an evidently superior vineyard, delicious now, or hold 3-4 years. Tasted January 2024.
91 points - Megha Jandhyala
This is a charming Rioja, a blend of garnacha, tempranillo, and a small amount of graciano. I like the bright, supple red fruit here and the pretty floral and savoury herbal notes. The palate is lively and supple, with fine-grained tannins and juicy acids. Fresh, streamlined, and with a sense of lightness that is appealing, this wine is ready to drink, though it can also be cellared for a couple of years. Tasted January 2024.
- Red Wine
- Tempranillo
- Sustainable
- Residual Sugar: 1.1 g/l
- 750ml
- 14.3% alc./vol
About the Winery
Bideona
Bideona owns or manages over 300 parcels of extraordinary vines in villages throughout the Rioja Alavesa, the coolest, smallest and most Atlantic sub-zone of Spain’s most famous wine region.
The vineyards of the Rioja Alavesa are defined by parcels of old bush vines planted on terraces or hillside slopes with a high percentage of limestone. Located in the foothills of the Sierra Cantabria, Bideona’s vines have an average age of 50 years and many were planted in the 1920s, 30s and 40s, before high-yielding clones became available.
Bideona puts the focus firmly on terroir by making each wine in its Vino de Pueblo range as a field blend of Tempranillo and other native varieties from plots in an individual village. Each is named with an acronym – L3Z4 for Leza, L4GD4 for Laguardia, S4MG0 for Samaniego and V1BN4 for Villabuena – owing to DOCa Rioja regulations that only allow village names to be marked if both the winery and the vineyard are in the same location.
“Bideona’s reason for existence is to make wines that show the personality of the Rioja Alavesa and its historic wine villages” states company co-founder and director, Andreas Kubach MW. “We have access to a wealth of diverse plant material in our parcels of old vines, which we believe contributes to the complexity of the wines as well as the differences between villages.”
Press Reviews
Wine Align
93 points - Michael Godel
L4GD4, one of four viñedos singulares or singular landscape explorations from Bideona from a range of tempranillo also known as Viños de Pueblo. This old vines example is Laguardia, literally “the guard” because of its defence position for what is a most endearing village. Ripens early, followed by that of the others in the line - Samaniego, Villabuena and Leza. The 2020 feels like a wine of more substance and depth than that of 2019 though without the same level of intensity. That said there is a seriousness, at times a brooding character and in the end a profundity that must be recognized. Has already done some travelling and maturing but there should be no reason to think it won’t drink well for another six or seven years. Drink 2024-2029. Tasted December 2024.
- Red Wine
- Tempranillo
- Sustainable
- Dry
- Residual Sugar: 1.1 g/l
- 750ml
- 14.3% alc./vol
About the Winery
Bideona
Bideona owns or manages over 300 parcels of extraordinary vines in villages throughout the Rioja Alavesa, the coolest, smallest and most Atlantic sub-zone of Spain’s most famous wine region.
The vineyards of the Rioja Alavesa are defined by parcels of old bush vines planted on terraces or hillside slopes with a high percentage of limestone. Located in the foothills of the Sierra Cantabria, Bideona’s vines have an average age of 50 years and many were planted in the 1920s, 30s and 40s, before high-yielding clones became available.
Bideona puts the focus firmly on terroir by making each wine in its Vino de Pueblo range as a field blend of Tempranillo and other native varieties from plots in an individual village. Each is named with an acronym – L3Z4 for Leza, L4GD4 for Laguardia, S4MG0 for Samaniego and V1BN4 for Villabuena – owing to DOCa Rioja regulations that only allow village names to be marked if both the winery and the vineyard are in the same location.
“Bideona’s reason for existence is to make wines that show the personality of the Rioja Alavesa and its historic wine villages” states company co-founder and director, Andreas Kubach MW. “We have access to a wealth of diverse plant material in our parcels of old vines, which we believe contributes to the complexity of the wines as well as the differences between villages.”
Press Reviews
Wine Align
94 points - John Szabo, MS
One of Bideona's 'single village' wines, in this case Villabuena, this is gorgeous wine, full stop. Hillside vineyards sit around 500 m above sea level, and ripening is later than in Laguardia but earlier than in Leza, a sort of Goldilocks zone for balance, concentration and freshness. Just less than half of the 2020 was aged in 300l barrels (one- quarter new) with the rest in tank, adding to the freshness and preserving the floral nature of 'mountain' tempranillo. I love the silky precision on the palate and the streak of savoury herbs that run through from start to long finish. Acids are perfectly ripe and crunchy, and the perfume lingers on and on. Delicious now, but no rush - hold easily into the '30s. Tasted December 2024.
92 points - Michael Godel
One of of Bodega Bideona's four Vinos de Pueblo (village- designated) series of wines, each with their own acronym. In this case VIBN4 to represent Villabeuna at an elevation in and around 500m. Considered a field blend but with mostly tempranillo and a 50-50 aging style, barrels and tanks for that integrated layering of micro-ox and equalling freshness. A village wine of sleek fruit and authentic flaws, meaning the human eye sorts the grapes, not a machine and character inevitably ensues. Luxe and ripe with a whisper of Villabeuna swarthiness though frescura outworks obscura for a dangerously clean and easy red to knock back. There is some grip, punch and circumstance, so be aware of the sober power of this wine. Will age gracefully for three-plus years. Drink 2024- 2027. Tasted June 2024.