Altos R Pigeage Tempranillo 2017

Jean-Marc Sauboua (our Haut-Brion trained head winemaker) bought Altos in 2006 and has won over 180 Golds, a few Trophies, plus many high scores from critics. He works with the young Amaia Amestoy and Hector Gomez in the cellar, whose CV includes experience at Napa’s Château Montelena, Contino in Rioja and Villacreces in Ribera del Duero. They made this wine from old vine (80+ years) Tempranillo and Graciano, vinifying it using Burgundy’s pigeage method. This involves fermenting in open vats and plunging the skins into the liquid three times a day – hands-on winemaking that delivers great results. Barrel aged for 15 months in new French (80%) oak and bottled without filtration, the wine offers intense black fruit with vanilla complexity.