Pago de los Abuelos

Appellation: Bierzo

Region: Castile-Léon

Country: Spain

Color: Red

Varietal(s): Mencia

About The Producer

Pago de los Abuelos is the personal project of renowned winemaker Nacho Alverez. With a deep love for the land that he inherited from his grandparents, Nacho is committed to preserving the work of his ancestors - his superheroes “les abuelos.” The 6-hectare estate, based in Spain’s Bierzo’s wine region, is planted to the indigenous varietals Estaladiña, Godello, Grenache, Mencia, and Palomino. Nacho’s grandparents, Floripes and Guillermo, first planted the Barreiros vineyard in 1890. In 2015 Nacho took over the vineyard. It took him two years to restore the vineyards by terracing the land, as well as pruning and replanting some of the original Godello and Mencia vines. Nacho’s first vintage from this property was 2018.

Terroir & Vineyard Practices:

This special Mencia comes from the Barreieros vineyard that was planted by his grandparents Floripes and Guillermo in 1890. With a south orientation, the vines sit in slate soils at a 40% incline and take advantage of Atlantic and Mediterranean influences. Cultivated and harvested by hand, practicing dry farming with no irrigation. No pesticides or herbicides are used.

Tasting Notes

A very special, small production Mencia that comes from vineyards planted in 1890. The cherry red color is appealing to the eye. On the palate, it brims with black fruit and compote flavors that reveal great complexity. It has medium-length subtle tannins with a long, lingering finish. This is a wine that can easily age 10-20 years.

Vinification

The extreme incline of the slopes demands hand harvesting in boxes of 18 kilos. The grapes undergo open-top fermentation in stainless steel, followed by malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels. It is aged for 8 months in 225L new French oak barrels and then bottled on the estate.