La Virgen a.k.a Pagos de Viña Real
La Virgen a.k.a. Pagos de Viña Real is a 100% Tempranillo wine from Rioja Alavesa, made from grapes selected from a vineyard over 40 years old in Labastida. After fermentation with indigenous yeasts and 12 months of aging in French oak barrels, it presents itself as a complex wine, with notes of red and black fruit, spices, and a perfect balance between tannins and acidity.
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Characteristics of the vineyard
This wine comes from a single estate in the San Cristóbal plot in Labastida, a vineyard of more than 40 years old. The vineyard is called La Virgen, 2 hectares in the municipality of Labastida (Rioja Alavesa). It is a plot with clayey soil and pebbles on the surface. The vineyard is located on the slopes of Mount Toloño, protected from the north winds and is exposed to the south. Given the proximity to the mountains, the months of August and September are warm and bright during the day, with temperatures dropping at night so that ripening is slow, preserving the natural acidity of the grapes.
Winemaking characteristics
The grapes are selected in the vineyard and harvested in 20 kg boxes. A new selection is made in the winery and the semi-crushed grapes are fermented with indigenous yeasts in small tanks, controlling a temperature close to 28ºC and punching down daily.
The grape variety is 100% Tempranillo. Hot maceration is extended for a few days after fermentation and tastings determine the moment of devatting. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels where it remains with periodic batonnages until the moment of clarification and bottling.
The wine is aged for 12 months in barrels.
Harvest data
In general, the 2020 campaign presented a reduced harvest in some localities of the Rioja Alavesa region due to hail and water falling at certain times during flowering, but the resulting grapes entered the winery with exceptional quality and health, meeting the expectations for obtaining aromatic wines, with great freshness and very positive organoleptic qualities.
The La Virgen vineyard (Labastida) was harvested on October 4.
Tasting notes
Deep garnet color with violet hues
The nose is a wine with great intensity and a wide range of aromas. Notes of fresh red and black fruit such as berries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and a touch of licorice very typical of the Tempranillo variety. To all this we add very subtle aromas from its time in barrels such as spices, smoky notes, roasted and balsamic notes that add complexity.
Its entry in the mouth is smooth with a passage marked by a tannin that balances perfectly with the smoothness of the wine along with a point of acidity that gives it freshness and length.
Serving temperature 18ºC.
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