2015 Alberto Orte “Sierra de La Demanda”, Rioja, Spain

ABOUT THIS WINE

A pure, precise Rioja wine made from grapes grown in some of the highest elevation vineyards in Rioja, on north-facing slopes south of the Ebro. Old vines of Garnacha planted since 1930. Vines are tended in mineral soils of silica, which are rare in Rioja.

Harvest generally takes place during the first week of November. These vineyards are nearly always the last to be harvested in Rioja. After 48 hours of cold maceration and 28 days of whole cluster fermentation, the wine is aged in French oak barrels, out of which the first 6 months the wine is exposed to its own lees.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

In the foothills of the mountains near the southern banks of the Ebro river, Alberto Orte found some very special vines and vineyards to compose the wines of Sierra de la Demanda. From these north-facing old vine plantings, Alberto crafts Rioja wines of incomparable minerality and focus that hearken back to a much older and more traditional style of Rioja winemaking, emphasizing specificity of terroir, elegance and balance. Using some of the oldest, highest altitude vines in the region necessitates painstaking work, but yields remarkable results. In most vintages, this vineyard is among the last to be harvested in all of Spain, let alone Rioja, sometimes extending into November to achieve phenolic ripeness. This extreme hang time lends grace, profound depth and complexity to the Sierra de la Demanda wines. For the most part, vineyard owners in this area are farmers who sell their fruit to larger producers. Alberto Orte controls the fruit for Sierra de la Demanda from budbreak to bottling, showcasing the profound minerality and precision of this unique terroir.