Alto Las Pizarras | Moreno Wines

Wine Producer:

Bodegas y Vinedos del Jalon

Winemaking:

The grapes were harvested by hand, as soon as they reached optimum maturity in each parcel. They were collected, and transported to the winery in small cases, before being selected by hand on a selection table. Individual parcels were cold-soaked for 4 days, prior to fermentation, which was started using wild yeasts, before inoculation with cultured yeasts. Fermentation temperatures were between 25º and 28ºC, to preserve the character of the fruit. The wine was transferred in new French oak barrels of between 225 and 500 litres, to complete its Malolactic fermentation, and for 11 months ageing.

Wine Style:

Red

Wine Description:

Awards:

Alto Las Pizarras 2005: Wine Advocate 93 points (Mr. R. Parker)

Alto Las Pizarras 2005: Peñín Guide 91 points

Alto Las Pizarras 2005: Silver Medal “New Wine 2008”. May´08

Alto Las Pizarras 2006: Wine Advocate 91 points (Mr. R. Parker)

Winery Info:

Bodegas y Viñedos del Jalón S.A. is a group of three bodegas within the Denominación de Origen “Calatayud”, whose production is a reference point for this region of Aragón.

In April of 1999, the famous Monesterio de Piedra was the location for the foundation of a new company.

Bodegas y Viñedos del Jalón S.A., which was formed to be a driving force for the wines of Calatayud. The company was founded with investment from the major financial institutions and the Government of Aragón, through it’s Instituto Arogonés de Formento. Along with the three bodegas, these institutions control Bodegas y Viñedos del Jalón S.A.

The initial objectives of the new company was to continue the agricultural development of the region and to halt the decline of rural life and traditional production with the production of quality wines.

Bodegas y Viñedos del Jalón S.A. couldn’t achieve it’s objectives for the production of high quality wines without access to high quality vineyards. Fortunately, the three partner bodegas, San Isidro in Maluenda, Virgen del Mar y de la Cuesta in Munébrega and San Fabian in Mara, have between them approximately 2400 hectares in production.

Thanks to the efforts of hundreds of families of grape growers and to the huge advances in winemaking and technology, the wines of Bodegas y Viñedos del Jalón S.A. are continually improving and gaining recognition in the competitive international wine market.

Vineyard information:

Planting System: Planted “en vaso” with 2.5 metre spacing.

Areas of production: From the Denominación “Calatayud”, specifically the villages of Acered, Alarba and Castejón de Alarba, from vines of between 70 and 100 years old, and from mountainside slate vineyards, between 800 and 1,050 metres altitude. These slate vineyards give the wine a pronounced minerality and structure. Yields were limited to a maximum of 2,500 kilos per hectare (1 ton per acre).

Vintage: 2006. A cold and dry winter, gave way to a warm spring and summer, unaffected by hailstorms. The growing season was ideal, with wide diurnal variation and near-perfect conditions.

Food Pairing:

Ideally this wine needs some seriously good food to show at its ultimate best as it is powerful and full bodied. Ideal partners would be well flavoured well hung beef, game and strong cheeses.

Abv:

13.5%

Grape Variety:

100% Garnacha

Tasting Note:

Colour is deep red, with a bright rim. On the nose, vanilla and butterscotch from the oak, blend with the herbs and floral aromas of the Garnacha. The palate is round and powerful, with dark fruits and ample structure for ageing. It has a full bodied silky and supple texture with cerise and forect fruit flavours with a relativley soft smooth finish.