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Dominio del Challao, Rioja Tinto 'Virna', 2023

Red Wine from Rioja, Spain
$24.99
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Rioja for people who'd rather taste the vineyard than the barrel: an Argentine winemaker with a Burgundy and Cornas education, making village wine in Labastida from old vines. Manu Michelini was born in Mendoza's Uco Valley (Challao is a word in Huarpe, the region's ancient indigenous language) and trained under Chisa Bize, Pierre and Olivier Clape and Jean-Marc Roulot. By 28 he had already worked 30 straight harvests across both hemispheres. In Labastida, in Rioja Alavesa, he went into partnership with local Carlos Fernández. Virna is the estate's village wine. It comes from two organically farmed vineyards, Los Arenales and Las Lagunas, with vines about 60 years old on clay-limestone full of iron. Every plot faces the cooling Atlantic breezes, and in 2023 the team picked early to keep ripeness and alcohol in check. It's an easy way into one of Spain's more exciting young projects.

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More about Dominio del Challao

Argentine winemaker Manu Michelini, from Mendoza's Uco Valley, trained in Burgundy and the Rhône before landing in Labastida, in Rioja Alavesa. There he teamed up with local grower Carlos Fernández to farm about six hectares of high-elevation vineyards, organically and biodynamically, with old plantings like Las Silentes from 1945. The wines age in foudres in 12th-century caves under the village, where temperature and humidity stay constant. Tempranillo, Garnacha and old local varieties. Bold, unexpected, rewarding.

See all Dominio del Challao wines

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Grenache , Other White Grape , Red Blend , Tempranillo

  • Vintage

    2023

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Organic

  • Style

    Elegant

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Medium Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

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Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Lamb chops grilled over vine cuttings; patatas a la riojana with chorizo; roast pork shoulder with smoked paprika; jamón and aged Idiazábal.

Tasting Profile

Expect a fresh, vineyard-driven Rioja Alavesa: red cherry, raspberry and plum from Tempranillo and Grenache, lifted by a splash of white grapes, with savoury herb and earthy, mineral notes. It's typically medium-bodied, with bright acidity and fine, supple tannins, and finishes dry and clean. Think of a lighter, more Burgundian take on Rioja rather than the classic vanilla-oak style.

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