Description
Labastida is a tiny village in Rioja Alavesa with a big reputation. That’s because Labastida is home to Las Beatas, a 100-point Rioja made by Telmo Rodríguez, one of Spain’s greatest winemakers.
Sadly, at £250 per bottle, Las Beatas is out of reach for most of us. But here’s the good news. Castillo Labastida and its vineyards lie in the same village and benefit from the same superb growing conditions.
Labastida is one of the coolest spots in Rioja and the grapes ripen so slowly that they are among the last in the region to be harvested – resulting in wines of great elegance and wonderful intensity.
What makes this even more exciting is the estate’s head winemaker, Javier Cereceda, trained with Telmo Rodríguez – as part of the team behind the legendary 100-point Las Beatas.
This Tempranillo is a young, silky Rioja, full of bright red berry fruit and easy charm. Delicious with or without food and best served cellar cool (just below room temperature) to emphasise its lovely freshness.
