The Dinastia Vivanco range is divided into three levels: Vivanco, Dinastia Vivanco & Coleccion Vivanco
Vivanco
These are ‘Joven’ wines that are young, fresh, unoaked and not aged.
Vivanco Viura Malvasia Tempranillo Blanco, Rioja, 2010
Made from: 70% Viura, 20% Malvasia and 10% Tempranillo Blanco
Viura alone and unaoked is a very fresh and light wine, with lots of citrus flavours but not a very full taste. Blending in some Malvasia adds a touch of tropical fruit flavour as well as more acidity. The unique element here is the Tempranillo Blanco, a grape exclusive to Rioja, that gives more complexity, some more fruity flavours and also some floral aromas.
All these white grapes were sourced from the family’s best vineyards for white grapes. The Viura and Malvasia are from areas in Briones and Haro, while the White Tempranillo comes from a vineyard at high altitude in Rioja Baja near Tudelilla.
After a brief cold maceration of the whole grape (no more than 12 hours), the free run juice was fermented at a controlled temperature of between 12 and 15º C to retain all the expression and complexity of the varietals. After another brief period in contact with its fine lees, the wine was drained off and kept in fresh conditions in preparation for bottling.
Pale yellow colour, with green tints, clear and bright. The nose is expressive and intense, with aromas of citrus, green apple, white peach and grassy notes and followed by delicate floral aromas. The taste is fresh, with good, balanced acidity with some tropical fruit and citrus flavours and a good length.
For samples, stockists, or to buy the wine, contact: Bibendum Wine Ltd.
Vivanco Rosado, Rioja, 2009
Made from 85% Tempranillo and 15% Garnacha
This wine was made in the traditional “Sangrado” style, where the clear grape juice was left in contact with the skins for 12-24 hours at a low temperature of 8-10º C to gain colour. After this cool maceration, and once the required level of colour had been achieved, the free run juice was removed and fermented in a separate vat at a low temperature of 14-16º C to preserve the fresh aromas.
This wine is clear and bright, with a lively strawberry and redcurrant pink colour. On the nose this offers cherry and raspberry notes, a hint of strawberry and rose petals. On the palate, this wine is dry, fresh and rewarding, with a balance of fruit, acidity, alcohol and with a slight hint of liquorice on the finish. It is a good match for white meats, vegetable dishes, pasta or even cold cut meats, but is also fresh enough to be enjoyed on its own.
For samples, stockists, or to buy the wine, contact: Bibendum Wine Ltd.
Dinastia Vivanco
These are the core of the range and classic styles of Rioja wines.
Dinastia Vivanco Rioja Crianza, 2007
Made from 100% Tempranillo
The Tempranillo was macerated and fermented in large French oak vats, then the grapes were left in contact with the skins at a controlled temperature of no more than 28º C to extract the best varietal expression without extracting too much tannin.
The wine was then aged for 16 months in French and American oak barrels with regular racking and a minimum of 6 months ageing in bottle prior to release. This is much more than the minimum required for a Crianza, but it matches well with the greater concentration of the ripe Tempranillo that was selected.
Intense cherry red, this wine has aromas of parma violets and red fruit, vanilla and spice. This is a wine with a concentration of red fruit flavours from the ripe Tempranillo as well as well integrated spice, vanilla and a light ‘toastiness’, for a long, elegant finish.
For samples, stockists, or to buy the wine, contact: Bibendum Wine Ltd.
Dinastia Vivanco Rioja Reserva, 2005
Made from 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano
As for the Crianza, the Tempranillo is carefully selected as only the best wine will last the course of ageing required for a Reserva. In this case, 10% of Graciano was blended in to add more mature fruit flavours, more acidity and more tannin which will help it age gracefully.
After a brief cold maceration, this wine was further macerated and fermented in large French oak vats at a controlled temperature of no more than 30º C, with gentle pumping over the skins for around 20 days.
This wine was aged in 100% new oak barrels for a period of 24 months with racking every 6 months. Finally, the wine spent a further 2 years in oak vats and in bottle to improve the integration of the flavours before release.
Deep, dark cherry red colour with touches of brick red. Aromas of spicy oak, as well as mature black and red fruit; plum, cherry and damson. Some balsamic and eucalyptus notes. Good balance between the aromas from the extended maturation and the mature fruit. This wine has intensity and balance, soft, round tannins, and a long finish with hints of toast and liquorice.
For samples, stockists, or to buy the wine, contact: Bibendum Wine Ltd.
Coleccion Vivanco
Limited production wines that are unique expressions of the grapes of Rioja. These are unique wines, hand made in tiny quantities to showcase the best of each grape or terroir.
Coleccion Vivanco 4 Varietales, Rioja, 2007
Made from 70% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano, 10% Garnacha and 5% Mazuelo
Production: 14,045 bottles
This is a Pago (single vineyard estate) wine of great elegance and complexity from an original blend of the 4 traditional red varieties of Rioja: Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha & Mazuelo, grown in the stony soils of the Finca El Cantillo surrounding the Dinastia Vivanco winery in Briones. Each variety was hand picked, vinified and aged separately before the final assemblage and bottling.
Separate vinification for each of the 4 varieties sourced from a selection of parcels from the Finca El Cantillo vineyard. Each variety has an extended cold maceration then fermentation in large French oak vats using natural yeasts. The separate parcels were then matured for 24 months in new French oak barrels, remaining on their lees throughout with occasional bâtonage but without any racking. The final blend was then assembled and bottled without fining or filtration.
Deep garnet colour. Powerful and complex aromas of ripe red and black fruit, floral notes, graphite, toffee, chocolate, and a well integrated oak influence. The taste is fresh, intense and expressive, with soft tannins and a long finish with lots of smooth, ripe fruit.
For samples, stockists, or to buy the wine, contact: Bibendum Wine Ltd.
Coleccion Vivanco Parcelas de Garnacha, Rioja, 2008
Made from 100% Garnacha
Production: 2,512 bottles
This wine was a personal ambition of Rafael Vivanco’s; to offer the finest expression and fruit intensity of the traditional Rioja variety of Garnacha. Garnacha used to be the dominant grape variety in Rioja only 40 years ago, a mantle that has squarely been taken over by Tempranillo today. However, Garnacha can, if it comes from traditional clones, and is grown with low yields, produce stunning wines even in Rioja. To proce this Rafael sought out tiny, diverse but complementary vineyard parcels and terroirs from Villamediana and Tudelilla, higher altitude vineyards with more Mediterranean climates in Rioja Baja.
The grapes sourced from the Zorraquín and El Recuenco parcels were vinified separately. The fermentation took place in French oak vats that were filled using gravity and without the use of pumps. Cold maceration and fermentation over 26 days using natural yeasts. Malolactic fermentation took place in 90% French and 10% American oak casks that were gravity filled.
The wines then spent 18 months in new French and American oak, remaining on their lees throughout with occasional bâtonage but without racking. The wine was then bottled without fining or filtration to minimise any unnecessary intervention.
Deep red cherry colour, with a bright violet rim. Good varietal aromas of raspberry and other red fruit as well as toasted, jammy, minty and herbal notes. There is good acidity which gives it great freshness despite the depth of fruit flavours, and a long finish.
For samples, stockists, or to buy the wine, contact: Bibendum Wine Ltd.
Coleccion Vivanco Parcelas de Graciano, Rioja, 2006
Made from 100% Graciano
Production: 5,760 bottles
Come and discover the great qualities of this relatively unknown, indigenous Rioja variety, one that is hardly planted today. This wine is from two outstanding parcels from the Vivanco family vineyards in both Villamediana and Tudelilla where they could achieve full maturation and varietal expression. It was very important to find the highest vineyards possible to allow the fruit to mature fully, something that Graciano does not do easily, but also find cool nights that would allow the grape to retain its acidity. This wine features an intense, deep, dark purple colour, freshness, aromas of black fruits as well as a great concentration and power.
The grapes, sourced from the Zorraquín and El Cerrado parcels, were hand picked and the parcels fermented separately. Fermentation took place in French oak vats that were filled using gravity and without the use of pumps. Cold maceration and fermentation took 20 days using only natural yeasts.
Malolactic fermentation took place in new French oak casks, and the wine then spent a further 18 months in the same barrels, remaining on its lees throughout, with occasional bâtonage in the first few months, but without racking. The wine was then bottled without fining or filtration.
Deep, almost opaque violet-purple colour, with a bright garnet rim that clings to the glass. Intense and complex aromas of mulberry and other black fruits, with a sweet depth of cocoa and chocolate from the wood and some herbal, minty notes as well as violet, floral aromas. Well balanced in the mouth with lots of fruit, soft tannins and a long, persistent finish.
For samples, stockists, or to buy the wine, contact: Bibendum Wine Ltd.