Ondarre Gran Reserva Rioja 2018 Wine (75cl)

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Bodegas Ondarre, founded in 1985, is a distinguished Rioja winery based in the historic town of Viana, overlooking the Rioja Valley in Rioja Oriental. The estate is renowned for producing wines that reflect the region’s diverse terroirs, combining meticulous vineyard management with careful vinification. Ondarre has built long-standing relationships with local growers, sourcing only the highest quality grapes. Their Gran Reserva wines are critically acclaimed for their elegance, complexity, and classic Rioja character, benefiting from both French and American oak ageing. Vintage The 2018 vintage benefited from abundant winter and spring rainfall, ensuring healthy, well-hydrated vines at the start of the season. Ripening progressed steadily, resulting in wines with lower alcohol levels than previous vintages, a lively colour, intense fruit concentration, and exceptional finesse and balance. Vineyard The grapes for this Gran Reserva are sourced from old, low-yielding vineyards surrounding Viana, at elevations of 600–750 metres on slopes that climb toward the Sierra Mountains. The continental climate, with Mediterranean influences, combined with diverse soil types—including shallow sand, clay, and limestone over sedimentary bedrock—produces complex, concentrated fruit. The uneven terrain, nourished by mountain streams, ensures excellent drainage and encourages the Gobelet-trained vines to struggle slightly, enhancing flavour intensity. The average vine age is around 40 years.

Winemaking

Grapes were fermented with inoculated yeast at controlled temperatures of 25–28°C, with daily pump-overs and délestage (rack and return) to maximise colour, tannin, and flavour extraction. Malolactic fermentation occurred in new French and American oak casks. The wine aged on its lees for 28 months with regular racking to develop texture and complexity. Following bottling, the wine matured for a further 32 months, allowing it to reach classic Gran Reserva elegance. Bottles may deposit n