Bodegas Bhilar Bhilar Rioja Blanco 2021

Enjoy it now, or cellar for a few more years. No need to decant before serving.

This is a well-weighted white Spanish wine, sourced from multiple small plots within Rioja Alavesa. Fresh scents of citrus zest, white flowers, and orange peel are present from the beginning. It is a blend of grapes, composed of 90% Viura, also known as Macabeo, and 10% white Garnacha.

Founded by husband and wife duo David Sampedro and Melanie Hickman, Bodegas Bhilar is located in the town of Elvillar, in Rioja Alavesa. This is one of the highest altitude terroirs in Rioja, defined by its poor soils and low density of vines, which forces the best grapes possible out of the land. Since 2014, David and Melanie have taken a strong traditional approach to winemaking, even using a horse and plough to farm the fields, rather than a tractor.

Prior to bottling, this wine was aged in French oak barrels for 6 months, adding an oaky backbone and a creamy texture, due to malolactic fermentation. Notes of butter, lemon and orange rind, acacia flower, and sharp minerality appear on the palate. It is impressively acidic, leading into a long finish. It is an ideal wine for pairing with white meat, creamy pasta dishes, or soft to medium cheeses.