Albiker 2025

Albiker is produced by Bodegas Altún in Baños de Ebro, in the Rioja Alavesa, from forty-five hectares of estate vineyards averaging around forty years of age on clay-limestone soils under a moderate Atlantic climate. It is made from Tempranillo with a little of the white grape Viura, vinified by carbonic maceration, the traditional Rioja whole-bunch method in which fermentation begins inside each intact grape before the cap is broken. This intracellular fermentation extracts bright colour and fruit with very little tannin, and gives the fresh, lifted aromatics that define the style. The wine sees no oak, keeping the focus on primary fruit. The colour is a vivid youthful purple. The nose is fragrant and floral, leading with strawberry, raspberry and the characteristic hint of banana that carbonic maceration brings. The palate is light, juicy and approachable, with soft tannins and crisp acidity that make it an easy, gluggable red. Serve lightly chilled at 13 to 14 degrees. It is a flexible food wine, good with charcuterie, grilled pork, roast chicken and even meatier fish such as grilled salmon or tuna.