Paso Las Manas, Rioja, 2020

A new single vineyard on rocky, clay soils planted up in the mountains at 720m altitude; the highest vineyard in the range. The site comprises a combination of vines planted in 1990 and others, in fact the majority, planted as recently as 2013 and single staked to anchor the vines against the wind. Proof that stellar terroir can trump vine age. The elevation here adds a more floral component and offsets the richness of fruit. Where this cuvee can be a little wilder, the 2020 exhibits beautiful lavender and violet notes, plummy sweet berries and a really refined ripe quality of tannin. Lots to like here. Aged entirely in large 3500L oak vat for a year.