Bodegas Bhilar Phinca Lali 2019

Cellar for up to 25 years. Decant for an hour or more before serving. Phinca Lali is an intense single vineyard red wine, opening up with full-bodied notes of plum, cranberry, and cherry, with underlying notes of chalky minerality, dried herbs, and tobacco. It was sourced from a 0.54 hectare plot in Rioja, where the vines grow in clay and limestone soils. It is composed of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Viura. Bodegas Bhilar is located in the town of Elvillar, in Rioja Alavesa, one of the higher altitude terroirs within Spain’s premier region. It was founded by the husband and wife duo of David Sampedro and Melanie Hickman, who have transformed the winery into a traditional, minimal-intervention enterprise. Since 2014, they have stopped using tractors, instead opting to use a horse and plough. It is voluminous and intense on the palate, which is marked by strong flavours of iron, tobacco smoke, spice, and ripe dark fruits that continue throughout the long finish. It contains firm tannins and bright acidity, making it suitable for longer term cellaring. Phinca Lali was aged in oak barrels for 36 months. This wine would be a fantastic partner for lamb stew, chorizo sausage, or sharp hard cheese.