Livius Garnacha 2008, a really different wine, especially dedicated to the ‘Garnacha drinkers’ declared, different, very exclusive, as you will see below. This is a bet of Bodegas Alvia, in DOCa Rioja, who never ceases to surprise us, as it was last year with the 2006 Anthos wine that was released in 2018 as the first vintage.
Bodegas Alvia bets on this wine to give Garnacha a long aging, something that could be complicated by the peculiarities of this grape, and for this it opts for 16 months of new oak barrels from different backgrounds, French, American and Hungarian, decided to give him an 8-year bottle refinement, refining, adjusting the powerful contributions of the Garnacha grape with a slow aging. That is why it should not surprise you that this winery is currently marketing the 2008 vintage.
What is giving us an excellent wine, really unique and different, that manages to transmit in an incredible way the freshness of this grape with a perfectly combined aging. You could not say that we are talking about a 2008 wine as you have it in the glass and you start enjoyingfrom the first moment.
Aging is perceived very well, having a wine with a cherry color, quite intense, that leaves us a good layer without getting high at all. On the nose, it stands out for two things mainly, the incredible freshness and presence of fruit of all kinds; and on the other the perfect balance of the contributions of aging, which leave an elegant and subtle wine, with a good complexity. Fresh red fruit is very well perceived, contributions of black fruit with hints of ripe fruit. After aerating the glass, the contributions of the barrel appear, with very defined spicy touches of cinnamon, clove, with touches of noble woods and roasted aromas, cocoa, licorice…. What is noticeable is the great balance it presents in the nose. A freshness and elegance united as in few garnachas with aging that has tasted.
In the mouth two points in this Livius Garnacha 2008. A very fresh entry, it seems incredible that it is a wine with this aging and the long refinement in the bottle; lots of fruit (especially red), excellent acidity (which helps you to have a very good persistence and such a good guard). The palate joins the fruit with the contributions of aging, leaving a very balanced and perfectly structured wine. Spicy memories similar to those of the nose, toffee, tobacco, …, which leave a step with a good volume and silky and velvety sensations. An aftertaste that combines fruit and spices very well.
An excellent wine if we consider that it is a mono-varietal Garnacha Rioja with 16 months of aging and 8 years of refinement in the bottle. A delight of sensations this Livius Garnacha 2008 without a doubt, ideal for Garnacha lovers.
It’s ideal to be drunk in these moments already, but its special upbringing still gives it potential of guard without a doubt. At the moment, in my opinion, it is a wine that deserves 97 points.
José Luis del Campo
José Luis del Campo. Sumiller. Asesor online de bodegas. CEO en Socialmedia Network.