2021 Ramon Bilbao Rioja Vinedos de Altura

Ramon Bilbao is a renowned Spanish winery based in Rioja, known for producing high-quality wines that blend tradition with innovation. Established in 1924, the winery specializes in crafting elegant, complex wines, with a focus on Tempranillo grapes. Their top-tier wine, Mirto, is made from old vines in select vineyards and is produced only in exceptional years, reflecting the excellence and craftsmanship that define the Ramon Bilbao legacy.

The grapes come from two areas: Ábalos for Tempranillo and Tudelilla for Garnacha. The altitude of over 700 meters gives the fruit freshness and elegance. Ábalos: Sandy soils with decomposed limestone bedrock. Tudelilla: Poor, rocky soils.

Grapes are carefully selected, with maceration before fermentation to extract aromas and colours. The two varieties are fermented separately to capture their unique characteristics. Malolactic fermentation takes place in French oak vats with the wine on its lees, followed by 15 months of aging.

2020 harvest was a vintage of extremes. Late autumn and early winter were very mild. However, a frost in April reduced production. This vintage has been rated as ''Memorable''.