Blanco Reserva, Rioja, 2018
A Reserva white from century-old Viura and Malvasía vines, fermented and matured for 12 months in French and Hungarian oak, showing white flowers, stone fruit, honey and a long mineral finish.
∙ combination of new and one-year-old barrels.
About this wine
Wine Style:
A rich, complex and structured Rioja Reserva white combining ripe fruit, refreshing acidity and elegant oak influence.
Tasting Notes:
Appearance:
⤍ Bright, intense golden yellow;
⤍ may show deeper golden reflections.
Nose:
⤍ White flowers, chamomile, citrus, peach and apricot, followed by honey, toasted nuts, subtle vanilla and elegant oak.
Palate:
⤍ Full, rounded, silky and structured, with ripe fruit balanced by lively acidity, a creamy texture and well-integrated oak.
Finish:
⤍ A long, intense finish with lingering honey, toasted nuts, gentle smoke and mineral notes.
Gastronomy:
Grilled oily fish, cod, lobster, scallops, seafood in cream sauce, chicken, pork, creamy pasta and moderately aged cheeses,
Vineyards:
Viura and Malvasía from old vineyards planted in 1903 and 1907, producing naturally low yields and concentrated fruit.
Maturation:
∙ Fermented and matured in oak for a total of 12 months
∙ part of the maturation is carried out on fine lees with bâtonnage to build volume and creamy texture.
Winemaking process:
Viura and Malvasía from Bodegas Alvia's century-old vineyards in Rioja Alta are hand-picked and fermented in oak barrels, then aged in French, American and Hungarian oak. As a white Rioja Reserva it must age at least two years, six months of them in barrel. The winery sits in Ventosa, on the Camino de Santiago pilgrim route.
Interesting notes:
∙ The name Livius references the ancient Roman historian Titus Livius.
∙ Its Roman coin-inspired label and Burgundy-shaped bottle reinforce its premium identity.
∙ Produced in limited quantities from century-old vines
∙ Received93 points from Decanter, 92 from Tim Atkin, 91 from James Suckling and 91 from Peñín.
Vinoteka's note
Bodegas Alvia was founded in 2003 on the Camino de Santiago in Ventosa, Rioja Alta, to rescue centenarian vineyards that growers were about to uproot; a carved shell on the winery wall marks 593 km to Santiago. The Livius white is 70 % Viura and 30 % Malvasía from vines planted in 1903 and 1907, fermented and aged for twelve months in new French and Hungarian oak with six months of lees stirring. Intense gold, with white flowers, citrus and honeyed notes, voluminous, unctuous and complex on the palate with elegant oak and a long finish. Serve at 10–12 °C with roast fish, poultry in cream sauce or aged cheese.
Written by the Vinoteka team from the producer's technical sheet.
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