Escondite del Ardacho, Las Guillermas 2019

Wine description for Escondite del Ardacho Las Guillermas 2019 by Tentenublo

Colour & Appearance

Luminous cherry red in the glass, transparent and of medium intensity – a visual hint at the unconventional cuvée.

Nose

Surprisingly fresh and unorthodox for Rioja. Red fruits meet apple skin and bright citrus notes. The Viura makes itself distinctly known and lends the bouquet an almost white wine-like clarity and vibrancy, without the austere coolness of other parcel wines in the range.

Palate

Here the true nature of this wine reveals itself: a red wine with a white soul. The vibrant acidity of the Viura dominates the flavour profile and delivers enormous freshness. Fine tannins, slender body and taut structure characterise the wine. The focus is unmistakably on crispness and drinkability rather than concentration. In a blind tasting, one might sooner think of Galician wines than classic Rioja.

Finish

Straightforward and refreshing with lingering acidity play that enlivens the palate and immediately invites the next sip.

Terroir & Origin

Two neighbouring parcels in Rioja Alavesa at 400 metres altitude, together 0.62 hectares. One planted with Tempranillo, the other with Viura – both just under 70 years old.

Grape Variety & Vinification

60% Tempranillo, 40% Viura – harvested and fermented together, a rare practice in Rioja. Subsequently 9 months maturation in used wooden barrels, which give the wine structure without dominating it.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Perfect with salmorejo, fried anchovies, ceviche, lightly grilled fish or also with goat’s cheese. An ideal summer wine that complements light Mediterranean cuisine.

Special Features

Not your usual Rioja – Tentenublo breaks radically with convention. This co-fermentation of red and white wine is a bold statement for freshness and terroir expression rather than oak and concentration.