Bodegas Izadi, Rioja Reserva

 

Located in Rioja Alavesa, Izadi aims to produce wines that express the terruño  (read Terroir or vineyards) of vineyards close to the Sierra de Cantabria solely from varieties indigenous to Rioja. They own 72 hectares and have access to another 108 hectares through long-term contracts. All are located within a triangle formed by Villabuena, Samaniego, and Ábalos – hence the triangle on their labels.

Stylistically, they adhere to a middle ground between tradition and modernism, valuing the former’s elegance to the latter’s fruit-forward qualities. The Antón Family founded Izadi in 1987 after years of managing vineyards in Villabuena de Alaba and restaurants in Vitoria.

Izadi’s Rioja Reserva comes from 100% older-vine Tempranillo that thrives in the chalky, clay-limestone soils and in a microclimate influenced both by elevation and the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean. This provides the raw materials to craft a Rioja Reserva that retains a modern expression of fruit and sweet tannins on release but with the complexity to develop for decades.

FERMENTATION Hand harvested, destemmed and lightly crushed, natural yeast fermentation in stainless steel tanks

AGING 16 months in American (73%) and French (27%) barrels, 20% new, vegan

This is a beauty in the glass Garnet deep into the glass and a nice glycerin edge around the rim of the wine.  Nose is really cool.  Earthy, loam hen a strange thing my wife and I both smelled Bazooka bubble gum kinda sweet!  First taste is a bit pithy but in a good tannic kind of way then the fruitiness take over with red raspberries being forward. Very smooth and balanced finish.  Very well put together wine.  I can see why James Suckling has given this wine low 90’s the last three vintages.

Cost  $28.00

Cheers,

The Villages Wino

 

All wines available at Two Old Hags wine shop in Leesburg, unless otherwise stated