Rioja “Pozo Alto” (Red) 2016

Terroir: Sandy clay-limestone, sandstone

Age of the vines: 90 years +

Vinification: Grapes are hand-harvested and destemmed // Natural yeast fermentation in vat // Ageing for 16 months in 228l French oak barrels.

According to records, Pozo Alto was registered in 1930 but it was most likely planted well before this time so the vines are about 90 years old. At the foot of the Sierra de Cantabria just outside the village of Leza, Pozo Alto has a sandy clay soil of decomposed limestone and sandstone. This site is planted mainly with Graciano with smaller amounts of Tempranillo and Garnacha – making it rather unique as Graciano fell out of favor after phylloxera. 2015 is the inaugural vintage of this wine but due to hail in August, 85% of the crop was lost resulting in only a couple of barrels. In the future and with normal yields, Pozo Alto will be aged in foudre and French oak demi-muids instead of barriques.