Olivier Rivière Pozo Alto 2019
100.27₣ (Exc. VAT bot. 75 cl.) / Switzerland
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The red 2019 Pozo Alto was produced with the grapes from an old plot in the village of Leza. The blend is 75% Graciano, 20% Tempranillo and 5% Garnacha with 14.3% alcohol and 5.6 grams of acidity. The destemmed grapes fermented with a three-week maceration, and the wine matured in 500-liter oak barrels for 12 months, followed by a further 26 months in 1,000-liter oak foudre. This is ripe, powerful and round, aromatic and expressive, in a much more powerful year (because of the character of the year), because the vinification and élevage were the same. The very high percentage of Graciano is very noticeable, making the wine very spicy, with lots of notes of freshly cracked black peppercorn. There's more natural concentration of the fruit, low yields, and Rivière was careful with the extraction. It has abundant but fine-grained tannins, plenty of energy and good balance. This should develop nicely in bottle. It's the most powerful vintage and the most powerful wine in the portfolio in 2019. Wait a bit. 1,300 bottles were filled in February 2022. He got rid of this vineyard (and sold Losares and Eusebio to Pago Carraovejas from Ribera del Duero), so 2020 will be the last vintage of this wine.
Features
Type of wine
Pairings
Style
Occasions
Winery
Size
Appellation
Alcohol
14.0%
Grapes
Serving
Between 16ºC and 18ºC
Winemaking
Fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats. Aged for 15 to 18 months in used 225 and 500 litre French oak barrels.
Description
Olivier Rivière Pozo Alto is one of the most unique wines of contemporary Rioja. Olivier Rivère, originally from France, came to Spain in 2004 to work with Telmo Rodríguez on the conversion of vineyards to biodynamics and soon became fascinated by the diversity of soils and varieties in the region. In 2006 he started his own project, moving away from the classic Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva categories. His philosophy is inspired by Burgundy: village, site and singular vineyard wines, with the terroir as the protagonist.
It currently works 25 hectares in La Rioja Alta, Baja and Alavesa, under organic and biodynamic practices. Fermentations are carried out with indigenous yeasts, macerations are gentle and the use of sulphur is limited to a minimum, only before bottling. The ageing process combines steel, cement, foudres and barrels, always seeking to preserve the identity of the origin.
Winemaking
Olivier Rivière Pozo Alto comes from a unique vineyard in Leza, at the foot of the Sierra de Cantabria, planted at an altitude of 600 metres. Its vines are over 90 years old and are mainly composed of Graciano -a rare variety in Rioja- together with small proportions of Tempranillo and Garnacha. The sandy clay, limestone and sandstone soils provide minerality and freshness. The grapes are harvested by hand, fermented naturally in concrete tanks and aged for 24 months in 600-litre French oak demi-muids.
Taste
Olivier Rivière Pozo Alto reveals an intense and precise expression. The nose is dominated by black fruits, sour cherry and wild blackberry, accompanied by violets, aromatic herbs and a delicate balsamic touch. The palate is vibrant and structured, with fresh acidity and firm but polished tannins, ensuring a long ageing potential. The finish is deep and persistent, with notes of fine spices, graphite and a saline echo that reflects the chalky imprint of the terroir. An authentic and refreshing Rioja, capable of combining power, elegance and mineral purity.
Shipping to Switzerland
50% discount on orders over 377.59₣*Estimated transit time: 6-7 working days.
| Bottles | Price | Over 377.59₣* |
|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | 22.80₣ | 11.40₣ (-11.40₣) |
| 7-12 | 28.23₣ | 14.11₣ (-14.11₣) |
| 13-18 | 34.83₣ | 17.42₣ (-17.42₣) |
| 19-24 | 43.80₣ | 21.90₣ (-21.90₣) |
| 25-30 | 49.09₣ | 24.54₣ (-24.54₣) |
| 31-36 | 54.75₣ | 27.38₣ (-27.38₣) |
| 37-42 | 58.53₣ | 29.26₣ (-29.26₣) |
| 43-48 | 60.42₣ | 30.21₣ (-30.21₣) |
| 49-54 | 66.08₣ | 33.04₣ (-33.04₣) |
| 55-60 | 71.74₣ | 35.87₣ (-35.87₣) |
| VAT not included | ||
** Shipments to Switzerland include transport costs, insurance and export costs (SAD in origin), but not customs duties (SAD at destination) and local taxes.
***At Gourmet Hunters wine prices are exempt from 21% VAT for all shipments to Switzerland. Once in your shopping cart select Switzerland as delivery address to enjoy your order tax free.
