The Orben Rioja 2006 has good depth of ruby red colour, is perfumed and intense on the nose, with spiced cherry and plum fruit characters which follow through to the palate. Attractive, chunky structure with plenty of spicy new oak supporting the concentrated ripe fruit on the palate.

The Orben Rioja is best served with grilled and cured meats, game and cheeses.

The wines from Viña Izadi are like a breath of fresh air in the old world of Rioja. They have real intensity of fruit, the expression of which is unhindered by the sort of deviant flavours that are all too common in Rioja.

Izadi is based in Villabuena, a town of 300 inhabitants and 35 wineries in the Rioja Alavesa, the highest part of Rioja. The hillside winery was founded in 1987 (the precipitous slope allows for gravity assisted production) by Gonzalo Anton as a modern breakaway from the traditional style of wine.

Izadi source their fruit from 187 hectares of vineyard. All the vineyards are either owned or leased on long term contracts, so they have full control over production. The distinctive white calcareous vineyards are mostly planted with Tempranillo, but there is also some old vine Graciano and a few experimental varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon. All the vineyards have traditionally trained bush vines; a method which they believe gives better exposure of the grapes, something which in turn leads to better ripeness and softer, fuller wines. The vineyards are situated at an altitude of 600 metres above sea level, so warm days give way to cool nights (there is quite often a difference of 20 degrees between day and night temperatures).

The grapes are hand-harvested into small 10kg boxes. A first selection of the fruit is made in the vineyards and a second at the winery. Different parcels are vinified separately in order to give the winemakers more blending options at a later stage.

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