Lecciones de Vuelo 2018

The Winemaker

As the name suggests “Flying Lessons”, exploring life and the vine without limits! Another single vineyard wine coming mostly from ungrafted vines of an average age of 140 years (therefore pre-phylloxera). The second guest guest for Lecciones de Vuelo was one of the founders of Zorzal Wines in Argentina: Matías Michelini: “Be realistic, ask for the impossible” is the sentence for this harvest 2018 with Matías. This second meeting for Flight Lessons was a lesson of friendship and humanity, as well as humility and respect that can’t be forgotten.

Navarra DO

Navarra is a wine region in northern Spain, known for its diverse and high-quality wines. It is situated in the Ebro River basin, south of the Pyrenees Mountains, and shares borders with France to the northeast. The region has a rich history of winemaking, with evidence of vine cultivation dating back to the Roman era.

Terroir & Innovation

The region’s diverse geography, which includes plains, valleys, and mountains, contributes to the variety of wines produced. Different microclimates and soil types create ideal conditions for growing various grape varieties.

Navarra has a balance of traditional winemaking practices and a willingness to experiment with modern techniques. This combination allows winemakers to create wines that reflect both the region’s heritage and contemporary trends.

Vintage

This is a complex vintage, winter was mild but spring was very rainy and cold. Flowering and veraison were 20 days later than previous vintage, although due to the high temperatures in September, the delay was compensated in 2 weeks. Rain was the most prominent element of the vintage after 2 years of water deficit but there was an extra effort in the vineyard management. At the end we can say It was a historically fresh and good vintage.

This was produced with Garnacha grapes from their ancient Pontigos vineyard, where the soils are stony and rich in limestone. The grapes from this vineyard are also used to produce the Señora de Las Alturas wine, and this is faintly riper.

Vinification

It fermented in a 3,000-liter concrete vat with natural yeasts and full clusters and later matured in a 700-liter concrete Nomblot egg and a used 500-liter oak barrel for 15 months.

Wine

This is earthier, with notes of flint stone/gunpowder, a little more rustic than the more aerial Señora de las Alturas. This is rich, textured and with abundant, fine-grained tannins that contribute to the overall earthier profile of the wine; there is more concentration, a little more rusticity, perhaps because the grapes used are from the lower-yielding part of the vineyard. Only 1,600 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2020.

Clear, bright, mid-intensity, garnet color with an intense nose full of forest fruits and red fruit aromas with hints of earthiness and spice. Palate is dry and fresh with marked acidity. Broad and balanced, full and meaty, some attractive bitterness and green notes, characteristic of the grape variety. A wine with minerality and distinctive character which is persistent on the palate. Pair with pasta, pulses, cured meats and charcuterie and any type of grilled meat.

Ideal serving temperature 16ºC.

Viña Zorzal Wines Brand Page

Viña Zorzal Website