Quinta Milu La Bicicleta Rioja

Quinta Milú is young winemaker Germán R. Blanco's tiny operation in the small town of La Aguilera, in the province of Burgos. Blanco calls his estate a "micro winery" and eschews modern winemaking techniques and international varieties. From old Tempranillo vines, he makes wines aged in different types and sizes of casks and barrels. Quinta Milú is named for Germán's adorable baby boy, Lucas, whom they lovingly refer to as "Mi Lu" or Milú. "The Flying Bicycle" – La Bicicleta - is Germán Blanco's project in Rioja Baja. With the help of an old friend and fellow oenologist, Javier Collio, Germán sources fruit from certified organic vineyards in the Navarra part of the appellation. The vineyards are dry-farmed and have an average age of 35 years old, grown in a mix of clay and limestone.  The wine is made in a cellar in San Adrian, following the Milú philosophy: "happy wines made from happy grapes" is how he defines it. The grapes are de-stemmed and fermented in cold temperature from native yeasts. A slight maceration before the end of fermentation helps to make a delicate and fresh wine; no oak is used, and the wine stays in concrete tanks from 5 to 6 months. This is a fresh and accessible take on Tempranillo from Rioja.