Granada - Bodega Barranco Oscuro Flashcards
Bodega Barranco Oscuro Bio
Manuel came to Sierra in 1979 to live and make a living from the land. From the beginning he did things his way, which caused a kind of revolution in this rural and isolated area used to mixed varietal vineyards producing large volumnes with high alcohol levels and no checks or balances. It was here at an altitude of 1,350m - the highest vineyards in mainland Europe - that Manuel pioneered single varietal plots, introduced tractoring and foreign quality varietals while recovering an ancient local varietal Vigiriega and showing that quality wines in this rough and tumble environment is possible.
Manuel spearheaded the creation of a private association of organic farmers until the early 90’s when the ConsejoRegulador de AgriculturaEcologica was created. For a time Manuel participated actively, eventually becoming certified organic, however things began to change and the former idealism of the early years was replaced by economic interests as large wine factories entered the scene. Organic became less about principles and more about bureaucracy, creating a gray zone for what the European Union considers “organic”.
Suffice it to say that at such an extreme altitude with a matching climate, Manuel barely utilizes the pesticides and herbicides he detests - once or twice a year if need be and if the year is particularly difficult, they accept the decreased production.
2010: Vino de España, Garnata
100% Garnacha
La Alpujarra, Andalucía, Spain
Named after the ancient village spelling of Granada and with its symbolic pomegranate depiction, this wine playfully circumvents the appellation legislation and makes it known you are still drinking a wine from the area. From two hectares planted between 1983-1989, spending 5-6 days on skins, fermenting for 20 days in stainless steel and aged for 18 months in old French oak barrels - light filtration.
2014: Vino de España, Varetuo
100% Tempranillo
These Tempranillo vines - locally known as Tinto Varetuo - were planted on 2ha in 1996, hand-harvested in mid-October; fermented whole-cluster in stainless steel and spend 4-5 days on the skins; 20 days spontaneous fermentation and aged for 12 months in old 500L French oak barrels; lightly filtered.
2011: Vino de España, Rubaiyat
100% Syrah
The name for this wine comes from title of the poems by Omar Khayyam, a Persian wiseman from the 11th century who was a polymath…who also wrote about the joy of life and wine. From one hectare of vineyards planted in 1996 planted on schist and clay, poor stony soils. Hand-harvested in mid-September, carefully selected; half de-stemmed, half whole-cluster, macerated between 4-5 days followed by 20 days spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel using with no temperature control. Aged on lees until bottled and aged in 225L and 500L French oak barrels for 12 months - light filtration.
2012: Vino de España, El Pino Rojo
100% Pinot Noir
From one hectare of vines planted in 1996, it’s said that southern Spain can be too warm a location for Pinot Noir, however the altitude provides a markedly cooler climate to properly ripen this sensitive varietal. The grapes are collected manually, whole-cluster, left on skins for 5-7 days; Aged 20 months in European oak barrels, this Pinot Noir is from different plots at altitudes between 1280 and 1350 meters; stony clay soils, shales, schists yield 1,800 liters per hectare using manual harvest. Natural wine without yeast, no sulfur dioxide, no inert gases and without changing temperature. It is large and complex, at once fruity with little tannins, light and easy to drink and love.
2014: Vino de España, Rosado Salmónido
100% Pinot Noir
From 1ha at high altitudes on mainly schist and poor stony soils. The grapes are hand-harvested in mid-September, de-stemmed with no maceration and directly pressed. Spontaneous fermentation takes place in stainless steel using indigenous yeasts and lasts 15-20 days, with no temperature control. The wine remains on the lees until bottled. Aged in old French oak barrels (500L) for 11 months. Not fined, lightly filtered at bottling.
2012: Vino de España, El Canto de Mirlo
100% Merlot
From vines planted in 1996 from less than .3 hectares, on mainly schist and poor stony soils at high altitudes (1350m above sea level) in the Sierra de la Contraviesa. The grapes are hand-harvested and undergo selection in the vineyards in the middle of September. Whole-cluster fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks after some light crushing; 5-7 days of maceration with fermentation lasting 20 days using wild yeasts without temperature control. The wine spends the entire time on lees until bottling. Aged in 225 liter French oak barrels for 24 months; light filtration before bottling.
The estate since the beginning has always worked organically but decides to forgo the certification due to the bureaucratic entanglements that this entails.
