Bodegas Exopto Rioja Bozeto de Exopto 2019
91 Wine Advocate | 92 James Suckling
The Garnacha-focused wine of Tom Puyaubert’s vineyard is called Bozeto de Exopto which translated from Latin means “sketch” or “draft”. As the name implies, it is their “beginning” wine. The blend is largely Garnacha (Yerga-Agudo) with Tempranillo (Abalos) and some Graciano (Yerga) all of which are naturally fermented and then aged for 6 months in concrete and 5,000L oak vats for 6 months before being bottled. This is truly a fantastic and easy-to-drink introduction to Rioja’s most prominent grape varieties!
$13.99
Description
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Vineyards: El Agudo in Monte Yerga (Rioja Baja) for Garnacha and Perquita (Rioja Alta) for Tempranillo in Abalos zone.
Variety: Garnacha 40%, Tempranillo 50%, Graciano 10%
Terroir: El Agudo has a rocky gravelly soil with sand below that and Perequita is Limestone and clay.
Winemaking: Aged for 6 months in either concrete or wood vats. Organically and naturally practicing.
"Exopto is Latin for “to long for” or “to desire greatly” and it is the dream of Frenchman Tom Puyaubert and his family to endeavor to craft and assemble wines where the whole adds up to more than the sum of their parts. Tom relocated from France to Rioja in 2000 after falling in love with the region and working for the French cooperage Saury as its Spain representative.
Rioja is a wine region that is a “tale of two worlds” and when Tom began Exopto, he wanted to do a project that produced wines within this historical context of Rioja – combining both worlds in a unique way. His idea is to remain true to the blending of the principle grape varieties and to do so from the best terroirs/villages for those varieties crossing sub-regions of Rioja.
The hallmark of these wines are their elegance, freshness and gentle concentration of fruit. The use of the blending concept showcasing one variety for each wine truly brings both of Rioja’s worlds together and for sure adds up to more than the simple sum of the parts." Polaner Selections
91 Wine Advocate – “The red 2019 Bozeto de Exopto is a blend of 50% Tempranillo from Ábalos with the Mediterranean touch of 40% Garnacha and 10% Graciano from Alfaro to add freshness. He wants the wine to express the Garnacha character, and it does but in a subtler way than if it was a varietal bottling. But all the grapes seem nicely integrated and complement each other. The wine fermented in a combination of stainless steel, concrete vats and used barriques, where it matured for six months. 2019 is a warmer, Mediterranean vintage, and the wine is soft and approachable, juicy and fruit driven. 75,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2019, earlier than in cooler years.”
92 James Suckling – “A creamy, full-bodied red with plum and berry character. Nice purity of fruit to this. It’s full-bodied and layered with polish and beauty. Lovely tannins here. Drink or hold.”
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