‘Varietal de Ondarre’ Graciano (Rioja)

Producer Note
Bodegas Ondarre was founded in 1985, with the aim of creating wines which showcase the region’s distinct terroirs. Situated in the town of Viana overlooking the Rioja Valley in Rioja Oriental, Bodegas Ondarre is the only winery in the village of Viana. They have formed trusted relationships with the highest quality growers in the area, with whom they have been working since their inception. The Reservas are Bodegas Ondarre’s most acclaimed wines, which win top awards and critical approval every year. They attribute their success to hard work in the vineyards and their continual investment in the winery and barrel stock. They use both French and American oak casks to help them obtain the character in their wines. They also produce a few thousand cases of a single varietal Graciano - a real rarity due to the low yielding nature of this variety.

Vineyard
The vineyards are situated on Rioja Valley’s northern hills on south-facing slopes, at an altitude of 550 metres above sea level. The vines, which have an average age of 25 years, are planted in uneven terrain due to several streams that run down the mountains that mark the northern border of Rioja. The soils are generally poor in nutrients and very shallow, just 30 to 35 centimetres in depth, which encourage the vines to send their roots deeper in search of nutrients and water. The soils vary from plot to plot, but there is a prevalence of clay based soils with high iron and chalk content. The clay content retains water, which nourishes the vines during the warm summers and the iron content is an essential nutrient for photosynthesis.

Winemaking
The grapes were hand-harvested at optimum maturity and then fermented with selected yeasts in temperature controlled vats at 28°C. The wine was aged 50% in new French oak and 50% in medium grain Missouri oak for a total of 12 months.

Tasting Note
Aromas of ripe fruit are enhanced by subtle notes of balsamic, mint, aniseed and white pepper. Full bodied, with concentrated black fruits and savoury notes, this rich and robust wine has a long, satisfying finish.

Graciano 100%