Bodegas Fernández De Piérola (Rioja Alavesa)
Bodegas Fernández de Piérola Blanco, Rioja Alavesa - 2008 (White)
A very refreshing young white wine. It has a subtle aroma of the herby Viura fruit combined with light hints of new clean oak. Notes of butter coupled with fresh melons. A crisp, dry finish that is made complete by a perfectly placed acidity.
The quality of this white wine is outstanding, it is extremely pleasant and easy to drink, idyllic on a hot summers day. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Carlos Fernández De Piérola was invited to supply his wine to the Royal Spanish households.
"I'd put this on par with Placet from Alvaro Palacios as one of Rioja's flagship, new wave Viura wines."
John Radford
Blanco:
Grape Variety: 100% Viura
Vinification: Cold pellicular maceration of destemmed grapes. The must obtained after carefully being separated from the skins, is fermented over less in new casks, where it is left for several weeks to achieve suitable ageing.
Colour: Attractive light straw-yellow with lemony glints. Bright.
Aroma: Intense varietal notes of ripe fruit (green apples and citrusfruits) with toasty hints from the new wood. Well-assembled and balanced.
Mouth: Pleasant attack without excessively tart sensations. Light-bodied with a tasty, fresh mouthfeel. Enveloping. Intense finish with good persistence.
Serving Temperature: 12-13°C
Joven
Young Wines: Wines in their first or second year, which keep their primary freshness and fruitiness.
Bodegas Fernández de Piérola Crianza, Rioja Alavesa - 2006 (Red)
Welcome to the Spanish Royal households choice of Rioja. This wine is made from unblended Tempranillo aged in new American and French oak barrels. A beautifully rich, red ruby with an elegant fragrance of the Tempranillo grape offering enticing hints of fresh forest berries and vanilla giving a stewed fruit mouthfeel.
This wine has perfectly balanced notes of oak, fruit and tannin which is complemented by a powerful, long and rich finish. In countless tastings, informed critics have picked this out to be something special.
"Beautifully balanced... excellent, long rich finish."
John Radford
Crianza:
Grape Variety: 100% Tempranillo
Vinification: Fermentation of destemmed grapes in stainless steel tanks with a cooling system employing external jackets to maintain the temperature under 30°C. Maceration with skins for 30 days, with two daily overpumpings
Ageing: 18 months in new American oak casks and French oak casks. Racking every three months.
Colour: Intense, deep cherry red.
Aroma: Powerful nose, intense aromas of red fruit and wild berries (blackberries) with well-assembled hints of cedar and vanilla.
Mouth: Serious attack, meaty and well-balanced, with a good stewed fruit mouthfeel integrated into toasted wood and noble tannins. Powerful, long finish, with a notable personality.
Serving Temperature: 16-18°C
Crianza
Crianza Wines: Wines which are at least in their third year, having spent a minimum of one year in casks and a few months in the bottle. For white wines, the minimum cask ageing period is 6 months.
Bodegas Fernández de Piérola Reserva, Rioja Alavesa - 2003 (Red)
A much darker red, hints of dark ripe fruits entwined with a subtle presence of tobacco and leather.
This wine has a very classic oak fore-taste, with notes of sweet spices, it is incredibly complex and well structured, perfectly and passionately designed.
The wine complements more savoury foods, but it is also fulfilling and enjoyable alone. The undoubted quality of this wine is reflected in its listings by two of Spain's three Michelin starred restaurants.
"A excellent wine"
John Radford
Reserva:
Grape Variety: 100% Tempranillo. The grapes come from vineyards planted with old vines which, thanks to their low yields, produce high concentrations of polyphenols and colouring matter.
Vinification: Fermentation of destemmed grapes in stainless steel tanks with a cooling system employing external jackets to maintain the temperature under 30°C. Maceration with skins for 30 days, with two daily overpumpings
Ageing: 24 months in new American oak casks and french oak casks. Racking every three months. The wine is then bottled for final ageing to achieve the suitable refinement, roundness and aromatic development before being marketed. This process may take 2, 3, 4 or even more years, depending on the vintage.
Colour: Ruby-red developing towards tawny hues.
Aroma: Complex, powerful, nose with intense leather, balsamic and raisiny notes.
Mouth: In the mouth it stands out for its finesse and well-balanced sensations. Pleasant attack and elegant mouthfeel, with outstanding notes of overripe fruit, sweet spices and toasty hints well integrated into noble tannins. Well-developed, persistent finish.
Serving Temperature: 16-18°C
Reserva
Reserva Wines: Selected wines of the best vintages with an excellent potential that have been aged for a minimum of 3 years, with at least one year in casks. For white wines, the minimum ageing period is 2 years, with at least 6 months in casks.
Bodegas Fernández de Piérola Vitium Reserva Especial, Rioja Alavesa - 2003 (Red)
Vitium is the flag ship wine of Bodegas Fernández De Piérola, Rioja Alavesa and has a highly respected record in competitive tastings. This wine is made from the finest selected grapes from the oldest vineyards on the estate consisting of vines that are 83 to 106 years old.
Pure expression from 100% old vine Tempranillo, great depth of low-yield fruit, ripe, smooth, complex with hints of dark chocolate, not reliant on oak to impress, a truly grand wine in the modern classic style.
In order to allow this fruit to "speak for itself" , the winemaker keeps the oak ageing to around 15 months.
The critics are very clear about the qualities of this wine. Steven Spurrier, a highly experienced wine-taster elected Vitium as his Best Old World Red and his Connoisseur's Choice in Decanter magazine.
The UK's best known Spanish wine writer, John Radford awarded it five stars.
"Magnificent, complex, aromatic finish. Superb."
John Radford
Vitium Reserva Especial:
Grape Variety: 100% Tempranillo. The grapes come from vineyards planted with old vines which, thanks to their low yields, produce high concentrations of polyphenols and colouring matter.
Production: 9,500 bottles
Vinification: Made with a choice selection of grapes from our noblest vineyards, whose vines are better between 82 and 104 years old. The destemmed grapes were fermented in stainless steel tanks with a cooling system employing external jackets to maintain the temperature under 30°C. Maceration with skins for 30 days, with two daily overpumpings.
Oak ageing: This wine has spent 15 months in new barriques of French and American oak, with racking every six months. Vitium was bottled in June 2003, since then it has been gaining desired elegance and acquiring the intended roundness.
Colour: Deep, dark cherry red with a purple rim.
Aroma: Powerful nose, with aromas of ripe dark fruit iwth fine, well-assembled spicy cocoa and toasty nuances.
Mouth: Serious attack, meaty and well-balanced, with an intense fruity mouthfeel underscored by mineral notes. Perfectly polished tannins, unctuous and very round. Powerful, long finish, with a notable personality.
Serving Temperature: 16-18°C
Reserva
Reserva Wines: Selected wines of the best vintages with an excellent potential that have been aged for a minimum of 3 years, with at least one year in casks. For white wines, the minimum ageing period is 2 years, with at least 6 months in casks.
