The red wines of Spain's Rioja region are known for their depth and complexity paired with approachability, making them appealing to everyone on the wine-loving spectrum, from novice to aficionado.

Today's offer is a pure expression of tempranillo sourced from the hillside vineyards of Rioja Alavesa, the Basque part and highest subzone of the Rioja D.O.Ca. Rioja Alavesa is one of the greatest wine terroirs in Spain, combining altitude, a high percentage of limestone in the soils, and a predominance of old vineyards. The wines display great freshness, elegance, and depth of flavor. Grapes for the Chatxo are sourced from 300 parcels of extraordinary and sustainably farmed vineyards on the slopes of the Sierra Cantabria, mainly in the villages of Villabuena de Alava, Leza, Samaniego, Laguardia, Navaridas and Baños del Ebro. The wine is produced by Bodegas Badiola - a new winery established by the Master of Wine duo Gorka Izagirre and Sam Harrop. (adapted from winery notes)

The Chatxo was stainless steel fermented in order to showcase the wine's complex fruit and terroir-driven characters. Medium-to-full-bodied, it has aromas and flavors of brambly red cherries. The palate is silky and layered with accents of savory herbs, wet stone, and balancing acidity. The finish is long and smooth.   

Check out the press!
90 points, Wine Enthusiast Magazine:
"Medium-cherry colored, this wine has a bouquet of blackberry and violet talc. It is rather soft and lightweight for a Rioja red, offering polished tannins and black-cherry, raspberry, white-chocolate, lavender, and eucalyptus flavors with a touch of thyme in the smooth finish." (4/1/24)

ABV: 13.5%