Bhilar tinto

Vignoble : Les raisins proviennent de Juan Carlos Uribe, un viticulteur dont les vignobles sont situés à Elvillar. Sur les conseils de David, il a transformé son vignoble et adopté la philosophie de la viticulture durable utilisée chez Bodegas Bhilar en convertissant les vignobles à l’agriculture biodynamique.
Mais ce n’est pas comme ça que tout a commencé. En 2011, le premier millésime de la cuvée Bhilar provenait de trois viticulteurs. David leur a demandé d’ajuster leur agriculture pour refléter ses valeurs et au moins tenter une agriculture durable. Il est vite apparu qu’il n’est pas facile de changer des pratiques bien ancrées, mais pour Juan Carlos, ces changements étaient une bouffée d’air frais.

Juan Carlos cultive 6,5 hectares de vignes pour les vins de la gamme village de Bodegas Bhilar. Il cultive 6 parcelles différentes à Elvillar:
Valmayor, Palos Corrales, La Revilla, Las Naves (à distance de marche du domaine), El Vedao et La Hoya.

Âge des vignes : De 18 à 45 ans. Toutes les parcelles ont été plantées par Juan Carlos, à l’exception de La Hoya qui a été plantée par son beau-père.

Appellation : DOCa Rioja (sous-région: Rioja Alavesa)

Cépages : 85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, 5% Viura

Vendanges et vinification : Les raisins sont égrappés et placés dans des cuves en béton où la fermentation commence naturellement grâce à l’action des levures indigènes. Le vin est élevé en fûts de chêne de 225 et 500 litres pendant 18 mois.

Critiques :

Millésime 2018

• The village red 2018 Bhilar was a bit shy and serious after the explosive Graciano, but this vintage has an extra touch of nuance, complexity and freshness that comes through as serious and elegant while remaining easy to drink. The palate is juicy and medium-bodied, the tannins chalky and very fine.
  91 pts — Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate (Nov.2, 2020)

Millésime 2017

• David Sampedro’s basic red is made with fruit from rented vineyards, but is true to his minimal intervention philosophy, with 50% whole bunches, plenty of colour, perfume and spice and barely a whisper of oak. Refreshing and light on its feet, with real charm. Drink 2020-24.
  92/100 Tim Atkin, Rioja Report 2020
• The red village 2017 Bhilar was produced with 60% of their own grapes and 40% purchased from local growers. It spent 18 months in oak vats and barriques. It has an expressive nose and is very fruit-driven, with the oak really well-integrated with the fruit. There are notes of ripe berries and herbs with a spicy twist. The palate is medium to full-bodied with chalky, fine-grained tannins. This has to be the best vintage for this bottling so far.
  20,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2019. Drink 2019 – 2021.
  90+ pts — Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate #243 (June 2019)

Millésime 2015

• Year in year out, this is a blend of Tempranillo with 10% Garnacha and 5% Viura, all sourced from David Sampedro’s home territory of Elvillar and fermented with 50% stems. Lavender, wild herbs and wood smoke aromas lead you into a complex, spicy, red fruited palate with more tannin than you think at first. Drink 2019-23.
  93/100 Tim Atkin, Rioja Report 2018
• The entry-level red, the 2015 Bhilar is all from vineyards in Elvillar and sourced from one grape grower. It’s mostly Tempranillo with some Garnacha and Viura from vineyards ranging between 15 and 45 years of age. The destemmed grapes fermented in concrete vats with indigenous yeasts, and the wine matured in 225- and 500-liter oak barrels for 18 months. The oak is very integrated and neatly folded into the fruit, which is ripe (without excess), reflecting a warm and ripe year, nicely balanced with some peachy aromas. The palate is medium-bodied and reveals fine-grained tannins. Very pleasant. 15,000 bottles were filled in January 2017. Drink 2018 – 2021.
  90 pts — Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate #235 (Feb. 2018)

Millésime 2014

• Plots is a cuvée of Tempranillo with 10% Garnacha and 5% Viura for extra freshness, all purchased grapes. Elegant, spicy and understated, this is all about texture, aromatic red berry fruit and balance rather than oak. Refreshingly low in alcohol, as David Sampedro’s wines tend to be. Drink 2017-21.
  92/100 Tim Atkin, Rioja Report 2017