Olivier Rivière Pozo Alto 2017
112.51₣ (Inc. VAT bot. 75 cl.) / Spain
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2017 was a tough vintage in Rioja; still, the red 2017 Pozo Alto was singing when I tasted it. The vineyard was hit hard by the spring frost, and the rest of the year was very dry. The wine is not as vertical as it was in previous years, and it's a reflection of the conditions of the harvest. The palate is a little wider, but the limestone core and the freshness of the place are still there. This is a triumph over the extremely adverse conditions of the year. He sorted the 100%-destemmed fruit and fermented the grapes with indigenous yeasts. It matured in a single 600-liter oak demi-muid for 24 months, and the longer élevage seems to have polished the wine and made it longer and narrower, which is good when you have more volume like in 2017. Unfortunately, due to the frost, there are only 800 bottles of this. It was bottled in January 2020.
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 Peninsular Spain
FREE shipping on orders over 184.52₣ or for 18 bottles or more in 6-bottle multiples (24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54 and 60 bottles)Estimated transit time: 2-3 working days.
| Bottles | Price | Over 184.52₣ |
|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | 6.37₣ | 0.00₣ (-6.37₣) |
| 7-12 | 6.37₣ | 0.00₣ (-6.37₣) |
| 13-17 | 11.90₣ | 0.00₣ (-11.90₣) |
| 18 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 19-23 | 14.67₣ | 0.00₣ (-14.67₣) |
| 24 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 25-29 | 18.27₣ | 0.00₣ (-18.27₣) |
| 30 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 31-35 | 21.13₣ | 0.00₣ (-21.13₣) |
| 36 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 37-41 | 24.82₣ | 0.00₣ (-24.82₣) |
| 42 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 43-47 | 26.66₣ | 0.00₣ (-26.66₣) |
| 48 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 49-53 | 31.28₣ | 0.00₣ (-31.28₣) |
| 54 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 55-59 | 33.12₣ | 0.00₣ (-33.12₣) |
| 60 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| VAT included | ||
