Luis A. Rodriguez Vazquez A Torna Dos Pasas 'Escolma' Tinto 2018

Country: Spain

Region: Ribiero

Type: Red Wine

Grape: Field Blend (Caiño Longo/Brancellao/Caiño Redondo/Ferrol) 

Luis Rodriguez is one of the most knowledgeable winegrowers in Galicia. He studied enology and philosophy in Madrid, took the time to visit many of Europe’s great wine regions, and even served as the president of the Ribeiro D.O. for many years. Over time, Luis has accumulated just under 6 hectares scattered over nearly 200 micro-plots primarily located in the town of Arnoia, a village with some of the steepest south-facing vineyards in Ribeiro.

This top cuvée is only produced in excellent vintages and is a field blend of the lowest-yielding old vines planted on steep south-facing granite hillsides. Farming is organic. Each of the many plots is harvested by hand, partially destemmed (30% is left whole cluster) and macerated on the skins for 3-4 weeks. Fermented with native yeasts in temperature controlled stainless steel vats, then aged in 300L new (10% or less) and used French oak barrels for 12 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, with only a small addition of sulfur. A Torna dos Pasas Escolma is aged for 3 years in bottle before release.

A complex and age-worthy, medium-bodied red with a balance between structured wild red fruit leather spices and earthy mineral flavors.