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Bideona

2020

‘L4GD4’ Laguardia

Tinto   |   Rioja Alavesa - Spain
Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

Bideona’s village wine series is intended to showcase the differences in character among the great, historic wine villages of Rioja Alavesa. This series also highlights a senseless regulation of the Denominación de Origen, which allows the use of a village name by the location of the winery – the building – and not the vineyards. Despite having full traceability of each vineyard parcel, Bideona cannot legally use village names on the labels. As a clever workaround, they have substituted all village names with acronyms that they have registered as brands. Thus, ‘Laguardia’ becomes L4GD4. This Tempranillo field blend comes from old vineyards planted at 1,400 feet above sea level overlooking the Ebro Valley. Ripening tends to be the earliest among Bideona’s villages and the wines are the most elegant and perfumed in the village wine series. Laguardia is also the most approachable and gastronomic wine in this series, due to its lighter, velvety tannins and juiciness on the palate.

The grapes were hand harvested in small crates and then manually sorted on a sorting table before being de-stemmed. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations were carried out in stainless-steel tanks via a mix of indigenous yeast and a house cultured yeast strain. Gentle pump-overs were done to maximize personality without high extraction of color or tannins. The wine was pressed off the skins and was sent to a mix of stainless-steel, concrete, new oak, and used oak for 12 months of aging. It was bottled with a coarse filtration and very gentle sulfur addition. No fining.

Stats

  • Grapes: Tempranillo & other field blend varieties
  • Vineyard: Various plots within the Laguardia village
  • Vine Age: Average: 50-years-old
  • Soil Type: Calcareous clay
  • Viticulture: Practicing organic
  • Fermentation: Native & inoculated with house-cultured yeasts – stainless-steel (100% de-stemmed)
  • Aging: 12 months in a mix of stainless steel, concrete, bigger and smaller oak vessels (mostly used, some new)
  • Alcohol: 14%
  • pH: 3.68
  • Total Acidity: 4.9 g/L
  • Total SO2: 30 ppm
  • Total Production: 270 cases
  • UPC: 8437000693802

Tasting Notes

Laguardia is an approachable, gastronomic wine, due to its lighter, velvety tannins and juiciness on the palate. The aromatic profile is always lifted, delicate and floral – reminiscent of wild strawberries and violets. The finish is elegant and linear.

Press & Reviews

James Suckling

93

"Spiced strawberries and cherries with touches of hibiscus and minerals. Nimble and bright, with a medium body and fine chalky tannins. Lots of drinkability, but serious and long. Excellent fruit quality. Drink or hold."

- Zekun Shuai

Vinous

94

"The 2020 L4GD4 Viñas Viejas is 100% Tempranillo sourced from Laguardia, Rioja Alavesa. Aged in concrete vats and foudres, this cherry-red wine reveals ripe balsamic notes alongside herbs and black fruits. Dry and silky, with fine-grained tannins, it features a vibrant, refreshing core and a mouthwatering, energetic finish. This is a unique, flavorful, primary Rioja. Also of note, its clever, elusive name subtly alludes to the place without explicitly mentioning it, adhering to the labeling regulations in Rioja."

- Joaquín Hidalgo

Producer


Bideona

Region


Rioja Alavesa

Country


Spain

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