Finca Allende Rioja Tinta 2009

£21.00

Ordinarily, Rioja is made up predominantly of Tempranillo, with a whack of Grenache adding some juicy, weighty fruit to Tempranillo’s manly, savoury flavours. But this 100% Tempranillo stunner, from the noted Finca Allende winery, shows just how well this grape can shine as a solo performer. Intense cherry in colour, it has fulsome blackberry, cranberry... Read More

Sold Out

Ordinarily, Rioja is made up predominantly of Tempranillo, with a whack of Grenache adding some juicy, weighty fruit to Tempranillo’s manly, savoury flavours. But this 100% Tempranillo stunner, from the noted Finca Allende winery, shows just how well this grape can shine as a solo performer. Intense cherry in colour, it has fulsome blackberry, cranberry and wild forest fruits over the notes of oak, which is perfectly integrated and reminiscent of cedar and tobacco. Essentially, this is a bit like John Lennon after The Beatles – it works well in the band, but shows a spectacular character and originality when left to its own devices.

Miguel Angel de Gregorio, the founder of and winemaker at Finca Allende said: “In 1986, when I arrived in Briones and I discovered the singular terroir I always dreamed of, I started buying small old vineyard plots and I tried to know and understand each terroir. We gradually found our model. In 1995, after overcoming difficulties that undoubtedly would have made someone less motivated that me give up, we were in position to wine make the first Allende. We came from a Rioja tradition, with a Bordeaux type idea of the terroir and little by little we have been creating our own way, our own style… The expressiveness of the terroir, very structured wines, very marked tannins with lots of mineral aromas (which were what the terroir of Briones given to us) and since then, we have continued along this line on an annual basis.”


"The soils are clayey and clayey-calcareous, with a constant substratum of calcareous gravels, reminiscent of an alluvial past which allows the development of the roots in depth and the extraction of mineral elements in depth and the high synthesis of phenolic components.
Altitudes fluctuate between 415-480m and the aspects are north and northeast, allowing an optimal ripeness. The average density is 3,600 vines per hectare (much higher than average of the area) and the pruning is made in Gobelet with three arms, though the young vines are disposed on a wire with Cordon pruning. The whole harvest is done by hand while they transport the grapes to the cellar in box of 20kg."


Whole bunches are destalked and not crushed in stainless steel tanks. Cold pre-fermentary maceration takes place at 5º C for six days. Fermentation is controlled at 28º C for 10 days, with three pumping overs a day. Total maceration with the skins lasts for 16 days. De-vatting is done by gravity and vertical press. Malolactic fermentation is done in stainless steel tanks and ageing is done for 14 months in French oak (Allier forest) barriques of 225 litres. Bottling takes place without fining or filtration.


This is a very modern style of Rioja; rich and ripe fruit are balanced by fresh acidity and fine tannin, making this a very polished wine indeed. Intense cherry in colour, with purple edges, on the nose there is a predominance of fruit aromas (blackberry, cranberry and wild forest fruits) over the notes of oak, which is perfectly integrated and reminds one of cedar and tobacco. In the mouth, it is serious and lively with intensity and great balance. An expansive palate combines fresh fruit and an elegant structure for a wine with a great ageing potential.

UK Mainland Addresses

(excludes Northern Ireland, the Scottish Highlands & Islands, and the Isles of Wight, Man and Scilly - please see below)

Service Price Additional Information

Standard

£4.95

FREE

Most Standard Delivery parcels arrive within 2 working days of placement of your order.

Free Standard Delivery is offered on all orders of £100 or more.
Next Day £6.95

If you place an order by 2pm (UK time), Monday - Thursday, it will be delivered the next working day* Excludes Bank Holidays. Orders placed between 2pm on Thursday and 2pm on Friday will be delivered on the following Monday and orders placed between 2pm Friday and 2pm Monday will be delivered on the following Tuesday.

Saturday £11.95
(all order values)

Orders must be placed online by 2pm Friday to be delivered on the Saturday of the same week, otherwise it is assumed the order is for the following Saturday. Available for most UK Mainland Postcodes.

Next Day Before 12noon £12.95
(all values)

Available for most UK Mainland Postcodes.Orders must be placed online by 2pm for delivery the next working day.

Next Day Before 10am £19.95
(all values)

Available for most UK Mainland Postcodes.Orders must be placed online by 2pm for delivery the next working day.

Remote Areas - Northern Ireland, the Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Wight, Isle of Man and The Scilly Isles

Delivery Service Price Additional Information

Standard

£9.95

We can only offer Standard Delivery to these parts of the UK and delivery times will vary locally. Typically, orders placed before 2pm should be received in 3 or 4 working days, although some of the most rural locations may take longer.** Free Standard Delivery to mainland UK addresses on orders over £100.