Matalospardos
In the heart of Valtuille de Abajo, on one of its main hills, lies the site of Mata Los Pardos, which gives this wine its name. The small, adjoining family plots sit on clay and sandy soils, one slope facing north-east and the other south-west.
The uniqueness of the site and its vines, over 80 years old, give rise to this special, limited-production wine.
- Grape
- 100% single-site Mencía, Valtuille de Abajo, El Bierzo
- Winemaking
- Traditional, 100% whole stems
- Ageing
- 12 months in French oak and 12 months in bottle
- Harvest
- By hand, selected in the vineyard
- Vine age
- Over 80 years
- Alcohol
- 13%
- 2018 vintage
- Bottled in January 2020, 1,409 bottles of 75 cl
The vineyard
Matalospardos comes from adjoining plots in the site that gives it its name, with clay-sandy soils facing south-west and north-east. The vineyard has belonged to the family for several generations: low-vigour vines with small, well-aired yields.
Harvest and winemaking
The grapes are harvested by hand in September, selected in the vineyard, in 20 kg crates so that whole bunches reach the winery. They are mostly Mencía, with a very small proportion of other traditional native varieties.
The bunches arrive at the winery with their ripe stems and are foot-trodden in a stainless steel tank in the traditional way. Fermentation takes place with native yeasts at ambient temperature, with daily pump-overs. After alcoholic fermentation, the wine is racked and decanted into barrels.
It is aged for 12 months in medium-toast French oak barrels, with several rackings and as little intervention as possible. It is then bottled and rests for a further 12 months in wooden racks: 24 months of ageing in total before release.
Tasting notes
- Cherry red with reddish-orange rim.
- An intense, very spicy Mencía with lactic notes.
- Complex and structured, with hints of wild berries and spice. Long, smooth and elegant finish.