Phinca El Vedao

Vignoble : Issu de trois parcelles en terrasses orientées plein-sud, les vignes ont été plantées il y a plus de 30 ans à 500 m d’altitude.  L’altitude inférieure et les terrasses permettent une certaines protection du vignoble maximisant ainsi la santé phytosanitaire des vignes, leur floraison et le rendement de qualité.
« El Vedao » provient du nom de l’emplacement du vignoble près d’Elvillar. David appelle ce vin un « vinos de paraje », semblable à ce que l’on appelle en France un « lieu-dit ». Entretenu par leur ami Juan Carlos, ce vignoble est cultivé en biodynamie depuis plus de 6 ans.

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

Cépages : 100% garnacha

Récolte et production : Vendanges manuelles et transport en caisses de 10 kg.  La fermentation est effectuée dans une cuve en béton de 2 000 litres, puis le vin est élevé dans des fûts de chêne français usés (neutres) de 400 et 500 litres pendant 28 mois.

Critiques:

Millésime 2016

• The one pure Garnacha is the 2016 Phinca El Vedao, which has a dark profile, closer to the earthiness of Priorat than the light from Gredos. There are notes of leather, licorice, fountain pen ink and black fruit. There are some fine tannins remaining, but they have been mostly polished by the 30 months the wine spent in 400- and 500-liter oak barrels. It’s meaty and a bit chewy, with ripe fruit and a bitter twist in the finish. 3,060 bottles were filled in December 2019.
  92 pts — Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate (Nov.2, 2020)

Millésime 2015

• The one varietal Garnacha, a grape that’s not that common in the village of Elvillar, the 2015 Phinca El Vedao is from three plots on a south-facing slope at lower altitude, some 500 meters above sea level, where the grape sets and ripens properly. The wine matured in 400- and 500-liter oak barrels for almost two and a half years. It has an expressive Garnacha nose with berry fruit and a floral touch, more in the style of some wines from the north of Navarra than the ones from Aragón. It has the freshness and acidity often linked to the wines from Elvillar. It’s very balanced and complete and has very fine tannins, a chalky texture from the limestone soils and great balance. A step up over the first vintage. 2,070 bottles were filled in April 2018.
  93+ pts — Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate #243 (June 2019)
• El Vedao is a varietal Garnacha, made with fruit from three separate parcels in the village of Elvillar. Whole bunch fermentation adds some stemmy, spicy concentration to the wine, complementing the earthy, savoury, appealingly funky flavours of wild strawberry and the forest floor. Drink 2021-26
  93/100 Tim Atkin, Rioja Report 2020

Millésime 2014

• A new vineyard-designated red first produced in 2014 and named after a « paraje » (a quarter) in the village of Elvillar, the 2014 Phinca El Vedao is pure Garnacha from three terraces planted about 30 years ago at some 450 meters in altitude. It fermented in a 2,000-liter concrete vat and aged in four 500-liter oak barrels. It has the Garnacha perfume intermixed with faint balsamic and herbal aromas. It’s tasty and with a serious palate, with fine-grained tannins and an earthy touch. 1,296 bottles were filled in November 2017. Drink 2018 – 2022.
  91 pts — Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate #235 (Feb. 2018)