November 2024 Tinto Club
 
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Bodegas Bhilar 2018 Phinca
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Bodegas Bhilar is a small, family-run winery in Elvillar, Rioja Alavesa, led by David Sampedro and his wife, Melanie Hickman. They’re all about making wines that reflect their land, using only native grapes and biodynamic farming methods. David, who grew up in these vineyards, made a big shift in the late 1990s—he started farming organically and later switched to using horses instead of tractors to work the land.
Their “Phincas” wines come from a minimalist, off-the-grid winery built into the hillside, allowing natural temperature control with concrete fermentation tanks. Elvillar itself is unique for its rocky, limestone-rich soils and high-altitude vineyards, located against the Sierra Cantabria mountains. This terroir, combined with David’s hands-on approach, creates wines with real character, honoring the traditions and spirit of the region. Perfect for those who want a taste of Rioja's heart and soul.
El Vedao Garnacha 2018 is one of those wines that really reflects where it’s from. It’s pure Garnacha from just three small terraces in El Vedao, a little spot in Rioja Alavesa with a perfect microclimate for this grape. What I love about it is the way it exhibits the Garnacha’s softer, fresher side—there’s this pure, red-fruited brightness, almost like wild strawberries, with a touch of earthy, herbal complexity that give it that sought-after sense of place. It’s got this kind of lively, honest quality, as if you can taste the rocky, high-altitude soil and sun-soaked days. Opening this bottle gives you a rare chance to experience a 100% Garnacha from Elvillar—pure Garnacha planted 30 years ago. It’s the perfect choice when you’re looking for a Rioja that balances elegance with approachability, and it absolutely speaks to the land it comes from.
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Mas d'en Blei 2018, Poboleda Edicion Limitada, Garnacha PrioratRegular Price: $33.99
Club Price: $ 28.89
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Situated on the steep hillsides of the Siurana river valley, Mas D’en Blei is quietly making some truly excellent wine. Acquired in 2006, the Ferrús-Gauch family set out to make a figurative love letter to the region of Priorat. The estate is small, a mere 17 hectares, with the winery focused on farming small yields in order to ensure the highest quality of fruit. Her wines are both a study and celebration of the Priorat’s characteristic aspects: slate rich soils, coastal influence, and deliberate, ageworthy winemaking.
While we are on the topic, we would love to take this opportunity to talk about our favorite qualities of Priorat: Llicorella. Many wine experts point to llicorella as the reason Priorat Garnacha smells and tastes so different from other expressions of the grape. It is a volcanic, reddish-black slate soil found across the region, and has a couple of unique qualities that affect vines planted atop it. The first is simply drainage and lack of nutrients. Grape vines struggle to grow, and thus put more energy into smaller grape clusters rather than expanding foliage. The second is the mineral content. Llicorella is largely attributed by winemakers to be the reason that Priorat wine has such a distinct dark, oily, mineral note.
Mas D’en Blei’s 2018 Garnacha blend is no exception. Its quintessential Priorat qualities are the result of small-scale, deliberate viticulture. Hand harvested and fermented with only local yeasts, the winery only produces around 1,000 cases of this wine. It is a blend of 60% Garnacha, 30% Carignan, and 10% Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged for 12 months in French oak to add roundness and longevity, before resting an additional 12 months in bottle to allow the wine to settle and come into its own. Cherry and violet in color, look for notes of early summer brambly berries and garrigue. Accents of wood, smoke, and llicorella round out the tasting experience and add depth. Enjoy with richer rustic fare, such as duck confit, roast lamb, and vegetable stews.
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