Collection: Bideona Rioja - The Kiwi Connection
Bideona has been a favourite a Wine Direct for a while now with the ‘entry’ level wines always over delivering on value and character. However, up to now we haven’t been able to get our hands on their famed ‘Village Wines’. These wines are a classic examples of the Wine Direct ethos of supplying ‘wines with character, made by interesting people from fascinating parts of the world’.
The other cool thing about Bideona is that Kiwi Master of Wine Sam Harrop MW was one of the founders and below describes his approach to developing the style of the Village Wines wines:
"The wines of Bideona are wines with an intense character – a sense of place. All three are made from the same variety – Tempranillo and in the same manner, with moderate new oak influence, cool fermentation temperatures, moderate extraction. The aim - to express the wonderful vineyards and NO a winemaking ideology, these three wines are so different and so unique. Made to appreciate in youth and to continue to improve with age for 15-20 years, these are truly remarkable wines. It is our belief that the best vineyards of Alavesa have the potential to make some of the greatest red wines on the planet."
- Sam Harrop MW
Bideona owns or manages over 300 parcels of extraordinary vines in villages throughout the Rioja Alavesa, the coolest, smallest and most Atlantic sub-zone of Spain’s most famous wine region. The vineyards of the Rioja Alavesa are defined by parcels of old bush vines planted on terraces or hillside slopes with a high percentage of limestone. Located in the foothills of the Sierra Cantabria, Bideona’s vines have an average age of 50 years and many were planted in the 1920s, 30s and 40s, before high-yielding clones became available.
Bideona puts the focus firmly on terroir by making each wine in its Vino de Pueblo (Village Wine) range as a field blend of Tempranillo and other native varieties from plots in an individual village. Each is named with an acronym – L3Z4 for Leza, L4GD4 for Laguardia, S4MG0 for Samaniego and V1BN4 for Villabuena – owing to DOCa Rioja regulations that only allow village names to be marked if both the winery and the vineyard are in the same location. In Addition the designation Crianza or Reserva is deliberately omitted here, since the wine would have to be completely matured in barriques, which contradicts Bideona's terroir philosophy. Less wood equals more origin is the motto here.
96 POINTS: Vinous Media
94 POINTS: Guide Penin
94 POINTS: Wine Direct Tasting Team
Only 9,791 bottles produced.
“The 2020 S4MG0 Viñas Viejas is 100% Tempranillo sourced from Samaniego, Rioja Alavesa, produced by Bideona as part of their effort to highlight specific places and towns in Rioja. Aged in concrete and foudres, this wine has a dark garnet hue. It offers aromas of plums and blackberry, accompanied by hints of sour cherry, petit four and truffle. On the palate, it is dry, bold and rich, with a liqueur-like character and fine-grained tannins that linger. A delightful red, it represents a modern expression of Rioja. Its clever and elusive name subtly references the place without explicitly mentioning it, in compliance with the labeling regulations in Rioja.”
- Vinous Media
“Precise, focused and concentrated. These 3 different Village wines Bideona are on the cutting edge of contemporary wine winemaking, total focus on the site, no winemaking tricks, no intrusive oak, just a focus on old fine Tempranillo. This quality of wine from Bordeaux would cost hundreds of dollars. Get in while you can”
- Wine Direct Tasting Team
Transitioning to the higher slopes closest to the Sierra Cantabria, Samaniego produces some of the most sought-after wines of Rioja Alavesa.
ABV: 14.5%
94 POINTS: Vinous Media
94 POINTS: Guide Penin
95 POINTS: Wine Direct Tasting Team
Only 6,396 bottles produced.
"The 2020 VIBN4 Viñas Viejas is 100% Tempranillo sourced from Villabuena in Rioja Alavesa. This garnet-red wine with a purplish sheen aged in concrete and foudres. It presents nuanced aromas of blackberry and blueberry, accompanied by hints of violets and balsamic notes. On the palate, it is dry, intense and juicy, with an infusion-like mouthfeel supported by compact, fine-grained tannins. This expressive red lingers on the palate with its delineated flavors. Interestingly, its name subtly references the place without explicitly stating it, adhering to the labeling regulations in Rioja."
- Vinous Media
“Precise, focused and concentrated. These 3 different Village wines Bideona are on the cutting edge of contemporary wine winemaking, total focus on the site, no winemaking tricks, no intrusive oak, just a focus on old fine Tempranillo. This quality of wine from Bordeaux would cost hundreds of dollars. Get in while you can”
- Wine Direct Tasting Team
This cryptic name tries to explain that grapes are sourced from Leza in Rioja Alavesa -village wines in Rioja must come from the same location where the winery is based. It is also a great introduction to an off-the radar village like Leza. This is a serious, mineral (graphite) red with ripe fruit aromas (blackberries, blueberries) over a herbal background. Lovely palate, with more acidity than anticipated on the nose, sapid, fresh, well-defined and with a long finish.
ABV: 14%
90 POINTS: Vinous Media
93 POINTS: Wine Direct Tasting Team
"The 2020 Tinto Las Parcelas is 100% Tempranillo sourced from old vines in Rioja Alavesa. Fermented and aged in concrete vats and oak barrels, this dark garnet wine features black fruit notes layered with chocolate, cigar box and hints of smoke. Dry, rich and compact on the palate, a warm, round mouthfeel wraps around the chalky texture—a ripe and balanced expression of Rioja. Pure and intense aromas of dark cherry and blackberry are complemented by violet and clove highlights. On the palate the wonderful fruit concentration is balanced by fresh acidity, with characterful chalky tannins leading to a long, mineral finish."
- Vinous Media
Bideona owns or manages over 300 parcels of extraordinary vines in villages throughout the Rioja Alavesa, the coolest, smallest and most Atlantic sub-zone of Spain’s most famous wine region.
The grapes for the 'Las Parcelas' come from 300 carefully selected parcels, situated on the slopes of the Sierra Cantabria, in Rioja Alavesa. The average plot size is just 0.3 hectares and the average age of the vineyard is approximately 50 years, but some of the vines are significantly older, producing low yields of concentrated juice. Very serious wine!
ABV: 14%
94 POINTS: Vinous Media
93 POINTS: Guide Penin
96 POINTS: Wine Direct Tasting Team
Only 8,136 bottles produced.
"The 2020 L4GD4 Viñas Viejas is 100% Tempranillo sourced from Laguardia, Rioja Alavesa. Aged in concrete vats and foudres, this cherry-red wine reveals ripe balsamic notes alongside herbs and black fruits. Dry and silky, with fine-grained tannins, it features a vibrant, refreshing core and a mouthwatering, energetic finish. This is a unique, flavorful, primary Rioja. Also of note, its clever, elusive name subtly alludes to the place without explicitly mentioning it, adhering to the labeling regulations in Rioja."
- Vinous Media
The Laguardia Vinas Viejas is the most accessible Villages Rioja from Bideona. You simply have to love its captivating range of aromas of dark berries and violets with laser like focus and freshness. Lovely long finish.
“Precise, focused and concentrated. These 3 different Village wines Bideona are on the cutting edge of contemporary wine winemaking, total focus on the site, no winemaking tricks, no intrusive oak, just a focus on old fine Tempranillo. This quality of wine from Bordeaux would cost hundreds of dollars. Get in while you can”
- Wine Direct Tasting Team
ABV: 14%