Luberri Rioja "Biga" '15

Farmed by Florentino Martínez Monje, Luberri is located in Elciego, directly in the heart of Rioja Alavesa. Florentino farms old vines located principally between the villages of Elciego and Laguardia. A farmer at heart, Florentino was the original winemaker at Artadi before establishing his own winery in 1992. He made a name for himself and his estate by resurrecting the ancient, traditional style of semi-carbonic maceration of Rioja wine of Rioja.

Florentino is very hands-on at the winery, participating on all aspects of production, but his true love is working in the vineyards. All the plots are farmed with minimal treatment of the soils and vines. Individual vineyard sites are fermented and vinified seperately. By keeping yields low (around 34 to 45 hectoliters per hectare) Florentino extracts grapes with great concentration and flavor.

"Biga" is sourced from a single vineyard site of the same name, and 100% Tempranillo comes from here, with the vine age around 40 years-old.  The wine is fermented in tank, and then aged for 12 months in a combination of French and American oak. Luberri incorporates various stylistic traits found in Rioja yet with great focus on the vines and terroir.  

A great wine starts in the vineyards, and that is what is. being showcased in Luberri's wines. "Biga" shows bright, fresh fruit with spice, hints of vanilla and red licorice.  The palate is fresh and soft, rounded out by grippy tannins that hit mid-palate and create a brilliant finish.