classical quirky vino
‘Camino de la Frontera’ Blanco
A new partnership for Laura Lorenzo, working with vineyard owner Angel Mayor in Arribes del Duero (Castilla y Léon) on the Portuguese border.
A field blend of white varieties from a north-west facing plot on granitic sand and loam. The grapes are fully destemmed and macerated on the skins for 10 days before fermenting with native yeasts in old chestnut barrels. After 11 months in barrel, the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered, with a small amount of sulphur.
quick facts
APPELLATION: Arribes del Duero DO
VINTAGE: 2018
STYLE: white
GRAPES: malvasia, verdejo, puesta en cruz
FARMING: organic
FERMENTATION: chestnut
MATURATION: chestnut
FILTRATION: unfiltered
ALCOHOL: 13%
CASE SIZE: 6
'Portela do Vento' Blanco
The Atlantic influence of Galicia can be felt in this crystalline, savoury white with juicy peach and yellow apple notes and stony minerality.
Sourced from a parcel of young, south-east facing vines and another of older, north-east facing vines. After destemming the fruit, it spends 5 days on the skins in old French oak barrels and amphorae. After pressing, the wine is returned to these vessels for another 11 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with a small amount of sulphur.
quick facts
APPELLATION: Ribeira Sacra DO
VINTAGE: 2018
STYLE: white
GRAPES: palomino, doña blanca, colgadeiro, godello
FARMING: organic
FERMENTATION: oak, amphora
MATURATION: oak, amphora
FILTRATION: unfiltered
ALCOHOL: 12.5%
CASE SIZE: 6
'Camino de la Frontera' Tinto
A new partnership for Laura Lorenzo, working with vineyard owner Angel Mayor in Arribes del Duero (Castilla y Léon) on the Portuguese border. Juicy, floral and rustic (in a good way!).
A field blend of red varieties from a north-west facing plot on granitic sand and loam at 650m elevation. Vine age at least 100 years old. Partial whole cluster, with 11 days maceration on skins. Fermentation takes place in a mix of neutral French oak and chestnut vats, followed by 11 months ageing. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with a minimum dose of sulphur.
quick facts
APPELLATION: Arribe del Duero DO
VINTAGE: 2018
STYLE: red
GRAPES: juan garcía, tinta madrid, rufete
FARMING: organic
FERMENTATION: oak, chestnut
MATURATION: oak, chestnut
FILTRATION: unfiltered
ALCOHOL: 13.5%
CASE SIZE: 6
'Portela do Vento' Tinto
A field blend of primarily mencía with other Galician varieties, sourced from south-east and north-east facing parcels in Ribeira Sacra. Cool redcurrant, pomegranate, rose hip and soft leafy notes with vivacious acidity.
Fully destemmed fruit is macerated on the skins for 15 days in large French oak and chestnut barrels. Ageing in the same vessels for 11 months, followed by bottling without fining or filtration. Minimum doses of sulphur used.
quick facts
APPELLATION: Ribeira Sacra DO
VINTAGE: 2018
STYLE: red
GRAPES: mencía, alicante bouschet, merenzao, mouraton, gran negro
FARMING: organic
FERMENTATION: oak, chestnut
MATURATION: oak, chestnut
FILTRATION: unfiltered
ALCOHOL: 12%
CASE SIZE: 6
Daterra
Meaning ‘from the land’, Daterra is the work of winemaker Laura Lorenzo and her partner, Alvaro Dominguez. They have dedicated this project to the people whose lives have been spent working the hillside plots in the Quiroga-Bibei area of Ribeira Sacra, around the village of Manzaneda. This rugged and sparse landscape is dominated by granitic soils, and there is little industrialised agriculture due to the steep slopes. Laura has amassed 5 hectares over 25 different plots, with the aim of expressing the area’s breathtaking diversity. The parcels range in age from 40 to 120 years, and include varieties not seen elsewhere, even within Galicia, such as colgadeiro and mouraton. Some of the plots are owned by Laura, others she rents, and in these cases she credits the farmer on the label – a rare practice that underscores the collaborative, communal nature of the Daterra project. Her hands-off, agro-ecological efforts in the vineyards are mirrored by her non-interventionist cellar practices. All vinifications are spontaneous, with white wines given some skin contact also. She uses a mixture of steel tank, amphora, and oak and chestnut barrels to age the wines, and all are bottled unfined and unfiltered.
And this story would be all very well and good if the wines weren’t so totally incredible. We love the crystalline purity she has captured in each cuvée, the contrast of elegance and rusticity and the utter expressiveness of the terroir.
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