Bodegas Olmaza

Rioja

Location San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Rioja Alta (and Alavesa) - 40 Ha
Grapes Garnacha, Tempranillo Viura
Viticulture Sustainable
Producer The Gil Family
Website bodegasolmaza.com
Location San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Rioja Alta (and Alavesa) - 40 Ha
Grapes Garnacha, Tempranillo Viura
Viticulture Sustainable
Producer The Gil Family
Website bodegasolmaza.com

Jose Gil is the next generation to head up Bodegas Olmaza, a family tradition which spans back many generations. I met Jose through Jon Aseginolaza. On discussing how much we enjoyed Artuke’s wines, and how they were very much an influence on AyL, Jon mentioned a friend of his who was making great wines in the region, and whose family owned a small Bodegas in San Vicente de la Sonsierra in Alevesa. 
 
José's family farm 40 Ha of vines around the village and in the hills behind, as far north and as high as you can go in to the Alavesa. The building itself is in the centre of the village, but tucked away so is quite easy to miss.


The Olmaza Joven is a carbonic maceration of Tempranillo, Garncha and Viura and is just brilliant, being juicy, easy going and brightly toned, as well as having a solid structure and balanced finish. This wine has garnered much praise from 3rd parties and it is easy to see why.

The Crianza is produced from fruit grown in Alta. It is destemmed Tempranillo, Garnacha and a touch of Mazuelo which is fermented in concrete tank for 19 days. Elevage is in French and American oak barrels, which blend perfectly with the concentrated fruit.

We also have a tiny portion of their white, a blend of Viura, Tempranillo Blanco, Malvasia and Garnacha Blanco. It is fermented in stainless steel and aged on fine lees for 6 months.

Bodegas Olmaza Wines

Rioja Blanco 30% Garnacha 30% Viura 30% Malvasia 10% Tempranillo . From 40-80yo vines planted around San Vicente on the sandy soils. The fruit is hand harvested and pressed in a pneumatic press prior to ferment in stainless steel. It is bottled in early summer.
Tinto Joven Carbonica 50% Tempranillo 30% Garnacha 20% Viura. Selected fruit from the oldest vines of the bodegas are put whole bunch into cement tanks and fermented by carbonic maceration. Once 5% abv is reached the fruit is pressed and added to the free-run juice and left to age for 5mth in concrete. The resulting wine is a bright fruit forward and joyously delicious glass of what is actually quite a traditional style of RIoja Joven.
Autour Crianza 80% Tempranillo 20% Garnacha. Selected fruit from San Vicente (hence Alta) that is detemmed and macerated without crushing in oak vats. The fruit is pressed after 35 days with press and free run wine being blended and then raised in 80% french and 20% Americal oak for 18 months. This is a traditional style of Crianza, albeit concentrated and extremely complex, with umami note building from the blueberry and spice nose.
Rioja Blanco 30% Garnacha 30% Viura 30% Malvasia 10% Tempranillo . From 40-80yo vines planted around San Vicente on the sandy soils. The fruit is hand harvested and pressed in a pneumatic press prior to ferment in stainless steel. It is bottled in early summer.
Tinto Joven Carbonica 50% Tempranillo 30% Garnacha 20% Viura. Selected fruit from the oldest vines of the bodegas are put whole bunch into cement tanks and fermented by carbonic maceration. Once 5% abv is reached the fruit is pressed and added to the free-run juice and left to age for 5mth in concrete. The resulting wine is a bright fruit forward and joyously delicious glass of what is actually quite a traditional style of RIoja Joven.
Autour Crianza 80% Tempranillo 20% Garnacha. Selected fruit from San Vicente (hence Alta) that is detemmed and macerated without crushing in oak vats. The fruit is pressed after 35 days with press and free run wine being blended and then raised in 80% french and 20% Americal oak for 18 months. This is a traditional style of Crianza, albeit concentrated and extremely complex, with umami note building from the blueberry and spice nose.