Malpaso

Malpaso is a distinguished and distinct wine. A wine which, poured into a glass, with medium density and a cherry colour, doesn't seem to presage the strong wine that's in store for us. However, before trying it out, let's first disclose some details about how it's made, always interesting, in order to get to know the philosophy that lies behind it.

Malpaso ferments with whole clusters and native yeasts in open oak casks, where the grapes are trodden by foot as in times gone by. It's a wine that's had the vines under prime consideration, with the intention being to show maximum respect to their fruit. The sandy soils of the vineyards, lying at an altitude of 400 metres, guarantee freshness, perfect maturity and elegance. The wine matures for a year in large-size (400 and 500-litre) French oak barrels, without their aromas being intrusive.

The wine. The first surprise is on the nose: it smells of elegance and complexity; black olives, orange peel, fresh fruit, chocolate, flowers and sand, and some touches of smoked bacon reminiscent of the Rhône. A cool, fresh palate, having a very fine mouthfeel, but with a characterful undertone and clear-cut aromas of stout. Lovely Garnacha-type hints appear in this profound and balsamic wine, a different wine, with a long and far from simple finish. We'll say it again: a distinguished and distinct wine.