Rioja Garnacha La Planta Magica Viñas Viejas 2019 – deAlto

After intensive sampling and tasting in the vineyard, the fruit to produce the Rioja Garnacha La Planta Magica Viñas Viejas deAlto is hand-picked into 12kg baskets to protect the bunches prior to arrival at the winery. Open, shallow, 5 ton fermenters are filled first by 25% whole bunches before the crushed fruit is added. 5 days of temperature controlled cold soak followed before the must was warmed and a spontaneous fermentation began. A brief maceration on skins post ferments helped to balance tannins prior to pressing and then ageing in a mix of 225l and 500l French oak barrels for up to 12 months.

La Planta Magica is named after the Mistletoe to be found in the almond trees that surround this old, bush trained Garnacha Vineyard. Close to the town of Aldeanueva in the Rioja Oriental, this small vineyard has beautifully balanced vines that yield very small quantities of fruit. Tiny berries and almost perfect acid enable us to hand pick ripe fruit with an analysis that allows for very low intervention winemaking. A remarkable vineyard just waiting to be rediscovered as one of the jewels of Rioja.

deAlto Rioja y Más pays tribute to all the Spanish world : the food, the people and of course the wine… Master of Wine Giles Cooke, has led the winemaking team to craft a range that illustrates the brilliant potential of Rioja, Navarra and La Mancha as well as the quality of fruit that these regions can deliver when respectful, sustainable techniques are maintained. Drawing on the revered, in-depth knowledge of Paul Shinnie and the technical skills of Marta Juega Rivera, these wines offer a tantalising taste of contemporary Spain. Over a decade’s worth of dedication, travel and experimentation have culminated in the creation of deAlto Rioja y Más. Responding to the need for a more sustainable future, the wineries harness the best vineyards to produce wines that are connected by a similar spirit of adventure, experimentation, creativity and commitment to sustainable wine production. The deAlto Rioja y Más portfolio is an incredible patchwork of vineyards, villages and micro-climates from around Spain.

deAlto, DOCa Rioja: Established in the Rioja Oriental sub-zone of Rioja, deAlto is an unconventional producer of brilliant wines including deAlto Tradicional, El Primero & La Planta Magica.
Aurkitu, DO Navarra: Aurkitu means to “discover” in Basque, and when they came upon these beautiful vineyards of the Baja Montaña in Navarra, they had stumbled upon one of the great treasures of Spain.
Campo Flores, La Mancha: Campo Flores celebrates not only the rich cultural tapestry of Southern Spain but also its ability to grow affordable fruit that is both delicious and organic.