Paso Las Manas, Rioja,

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. On the nose there is something a little wild and untrammelled about it, bursting with fruit but allied to real persistence, sweet earth, dried roses and lots of herbs. Very stony and saline with notes of sour cherries. Structurally it bears resemblance to a fine, aromatic La Morra Barolo with fabulous acidity. Just 4,000 bottles are produced.