Bodegas Bhilar Rioja "Phinca Lali” '18

Bodegas Bhilar is in Elvillar, in the Rioja Alavesa region, and is run by the husband-and-wife team of David Sampredro and Melanie Hickman. (Bhilar is the name of Elvillar in the Basque language.) They have worked organically and biodynamically since 1999, and focus on indigenous grapes. Since 2014, they have used horses to farm the vineyards. 

The 2018 “Phinca Lali” is made with 90% Tempranillo and 10% Viura from their oldest vineyard, Tajo, planted in 1910, with old bush vines grown in clay and limestone soils.
The grapes were destemmed by hand, with approximately 30% of the stems added to the fermentation vessels, which were open-top 500-liter oak barrels. Fermentation was carried out with native yeast. The wine is matured in oak barrels for three years.

Crazy wine, with a nose that almost has Syrah-like spice notes. Full-bodied, spice driven, and a candidate for future cellaring.