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10 products
10 products
Garnata Red 2010
A smooth, characterful wine. Aromas of crushed wild blackberries like cocoa. High-altitude Grenache.
This Grenache comes from a plot planted between 1,300 and 1,368 meters above sea level on slate and schist soils. The destemmed harvest macerates in stainless steel vats. Alcoholic fermentation occurs spontaneously using native yeasts present in the environment, without any additives. The fermentation temperature is not altered: the coolness of autumn nights is sufficient (the winery is also at an altitude of 1,280 meters). Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally in barrels during aging in the underground cellar.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Xarab Garnacha Red 2009
On south-facing schist hillsides at an altitude of 1,300 meters, Manuel Valenzuela has created this astonishing sweet red wine from the Xarab series, made from Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, raisined on the vine and harvested in December. The wine is rich, intense, and generous, loaded with candied red fruits.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.
Xarab Vigiriega Doré VGR White 2009,
On south-facing schist hillsides at an altitude of 1,300 meters, Manuel Valenzuela has created, within the Xarab series, this astonishing sweet white wine made entirely from the native Vigiriega grape variety, raisined on the vine and harvested in December. The color is a beautiful bright gold, the nose fragrant (yellow fruits); the flavor is rich, intense, generous, and aromatic. A perfectly balanced sweet wine.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Cerro las Monjas 1368 Red 2005,
Barranco Oscuro
Blend of Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Grenache from high-altitude vines (1,368 m).
Extremely fresh wine, rich aromas, notes of Morello cherries and cherries.
Natural wine with no added sulfites.
Borgonon Granate Red 2006,
Borgoñón Granate is an organic and natural red wine from Andalusia made from Pinot Noir. Classified as Vino de Mesa (table wine), it is vinified by Cortijo Barranco Oscuro. As its name suggests, it draws inspiration from Burgundy. This 2006, which has had time to reflect, is one of the best vintages of this cuvée.
Vinification
This wine comes from Pinot Noir vines planted at an altitude of 1,280 meters on schist soils. The wine is aged for one year in old barrels.
Tasting
Borgoñón Granate is a beautifully atypical wine that displays remarkable density while being relatively clear and not very concentrated (a reference to Burgundy). Intense red fruits, cherries, melted and velvety tannins, and a long and seductive smoky finish. It ages well. Great balance, melted tannins, pair it with a beautiful grilled prime rib or Spanish canned fish. A pata negra ham? Certainly, it's a compatriot.
Learn more about Cortijo Barranco Oscuro
Manuel Valenzuela cultivates the highest vines in the world (1,368 meters), in Andalusia, on the Sierra Contraviesa. Barranco oscuro means "dark valley," a reminder of the original site of the property, which was moved at the end of the 19th century after the phylloxera crisis. In 1979, the estate was taken over by Manuel, who decided to use natural methods in preference to those of modern oenology.
A drop of 1,400 meters
At first, he bought grapes, but his goal was to replant vines. Currently, the twelve hectares of Cortijo Barranco Oscuro extend over a drop of almost 1,400 meters. On a poor, dry, schistose terroir, two localities concentrate the plots: Cerro Las Monjas at the very top and Hoyo y Cerro de Las Gayumbas lower down, near the winery buildings.
High-altitude wines
Strong thermal contrasts explain the freshness of the wines, produced without the addition of exogenous yeasts and without inputs in the vineyard or cellar. Although the estate is not certified organic due to the disillusionment that fraud in this area has brought Manuel, his estate is a member of the Spanish Association of Natural Wine Producers. His wines are straightforward and clean, without compromise: they give joy through the seriousness of the work that was necessary to produce them.
Rubaiyat Red 2009
Elegantly aged in magnum format for over thirteen years, this is a classic from the Barranco Oscuro estate. It offers a full-bodied, tannic, and dry profile, rich in mature notes of black and red fruits (blackcurrant, raspberry). Leather and earth also dominate, accentuated and enhanced by aging. Smooth, roasted, and nuanced notes of chocolate and spices, and superb balance. Rubaiyat is an allusion and homage to the Persian poet Omar Khayyam, a polymath who wrote a poetic cycle entitled Rubaiyat in the 11th century, glorifying mystical and physical intoxication. The Persian origin of the Syrah grape variety, from which this wine is entirely composed, was not for nothing in this choice of name. Rubaiyat comes from Syrah vines planted in 1996 at an altitude of approximately 1,290 meters and facing south on schist and clay soils. The harvest, manual, carefully sorted and destemmed, macerates in stainless steel vats and ferments with indigenous yeasts. The vinification is naturally controlled by the coolness of autumn nights in the mountains. Malolactic fermentation followed by aging takes place for sixteen months in old barrels. No sulfites are added, the wine is unclarified, and lightly filtered at bottling.
Find out more
Between the Sierra Nevada and the sea, in Andalusia, the Sierra Contraviesa boasts the highest vineyard in Europe (1,368 meters) at its summit. Barranco oscuro means "dark valley" in Spanish, but this valley is part of the past; it was the original site of the property, but it was moved at the end of the 19th century, when phylloxera put an end to a period of intense winemaking and mass production. In 1979, the estate was taken over by Manuel Valenzuela, who decided to work it using natural methods and without resorting to modern oenology methods. Initially, he bought grapes, but his goal was to replant vines, which he did between 1982 and the mid-1990s. Currently, the twelve hectares of Cortijo Barranco Oscuro extend over a drop of almost 1,400 meters. On a poor, dry, schistose terroir, two localities concentrate the plots: Cerro Las Monjas at the very top and Hoyo y Cerro de Las Gayumbas lower down, near the winery buildings. Strong thermal contrasts explain the freshness of the wines, produced without the addition of exogenous yeasts and without any inputs in the vineyard or cellar. Although the estate is not certified organic due to the disillusionment Manuel suffered from fraud in this area, his estate is a member of the Spanish Association of Natural Wine Producers. His wines are straightforward and clean, without compromise: they are wines that give joy through the seriousness of the work that went into their production.
Xarab Silver White 2006
On south-facing schist hillsides at an altitude of 1,300 meters, Manuel Valenzuela has created this astonishing sweet white wine from the Xarab series, made from Pedro Ximenez and Xarel·lo grapes, raisined on the vine and harvested in December. Golden-amber in color, with a nose of candied grapes and buttery caramel, the palate is rich and taut, avoiding the pitfalls of excessive richness and syrupiness. The finish lingers on dried fruits and caramel, and the cellaring is very long.
Natural wine without added sulfites.
La Familia Red 2010
A wine for laying down. High-altitude Merlot, high acidity.
La Familia is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah, one of the 800 vines planted by the Carmenet family between 1991 and 1998 by the winemakers at an altitude of 1,300 meters on schist and clay soils. The destemmed harvest macerates in stainless steel vats with manual punching. Aging in old barrels lasts approximately twenty-four months.
A natural wine with no added sulfites.
Rubaiyat Red 2009
This wine is produced from Syrah vines planted at an altitude of approximately 1,290 meters, facing south on schist and clay soils. The destemmed harvest macerates in stainless steel vats, and is aged for sixteen months in old barrels. The Syrah, originally from Persia, inspired the name of the vintage: Rubaiyat is the title of a lyrical cycle by the Persian poet Omar Khayyam (11th century), a man of great wisdom, mathematician, astronomer... He wrote in particular about the joys that wine brings, among other pleasures of life.
Natural wine without added sulfites.
Manuel and Rosa Valenzuela
Where?
Barranco Oscuro ("dark valley") is an ancient Andalusian estate perched on the Sierra Contraviesa, between the Sierra Nevada and the sea (Contraviesa-Alpujarra wine appellation). Culminating at 1,368 meters, it is the highest vineyard in Europe. Initially located on the edge of a steep-sided valley (hence its name), it was relocated at the end of the 19th century. With over 100 hectares of land, it was a vast operation for a region traditionally dominated by small estates. The buildings are also of considerable size, with a 400 square meter cellar and a capacity of over 100,000 liters. The massive winemaking activity for which these facilities were intended was abruptly interrupted by the arrival of phylloxera. Almond trees were planted on the site of the destroyed vines. In 1979, Manuel Valenzuela, a former chemist and pioneer of organic wines in Spain, took over the property with the aim of restoring its winemaking vocation, using natural methods and without resorting to modern oenology. Initially, grapes had to be purchased and vinified to fill the cellar, but Manuel's goal was to replant vines, which was completed between 1982 and the mid-1990s.Terroir, plots, and grape varieties
The twelve hectares of vines on this superb estate extend over an elevation difference of 1,200 to almost 1,400 meters. The terroir is poor, schistose, and receives low rainfall. The plots are organized around two plots: first, Cerro La Monjas (6 hectares), planted with a wide variety of native and regionally adapted grape varieties: Grenache (1 hectare), Vigiriega (1 hectare), Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo, Pedro Ximenez, Muscat of Alexandria, etc. The second, Hoyo y Cerro de Las Gayumbas, extends around the estate's buildings, on more clayey and less steep soils. Here, Tempranillo (1 hectare), Vigiriega (1 hectare), Pinot Noir (1 hectare), Syrah (1 hectare), Chardonnay, Viognier, Vermentino, and Riesling are grown. The climate is Mediterranean by day, continental by night, and permanently mountainous, with strong thermal contrasts, which gives the wines a great deal of freshness.Growing Methods
Manuel was heavily involved in organic viticulture and certification bodies, but ultimately chose not to have his vines certified, disappointed by the fraud he had witnessed in the organic world. He is a member of the Spanish Association of Natural Wine Producers. All the vines were planted by his family and receive no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or chemical herbicides. The entire harvest is hand-picked. The vines, in accordance with local agricultural tradition, are widely spaced.Vinification
The grapes are vinified without the addition of exogenous yeasts or any other inputs. Aging is generally long, following the traditional method used to produce stable wines. No sulfur is added, no fining is used, and extraction is kept to a minimum. Light filtration is performed before bottling.The Wines
The existence of vineyards at such a high altitude is in itself proof of Manuel's visionary talent; the fact that he produces delicious wines there is even more so. Barranco Oscuro produces numerous vintages, all of them remarkably clean and flawless. Their high alcohol content (15-16% alcohol) is barely noticeable, as they are so balanced, and their long-lasting quality (even when opened) is remarkable for wines without sulfur. Their composition ranges from single-varietal to extensive blends: 100% Syrah for Rubaiyat, 100% Pinot Noir for El Pino Rojo; a blend of both for Garnata, Cabernet Sauvignon for 1368-Cerro Las Monjas; Vigiriega, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Viognier, Vermentino, Albariño, and Moscatel Morisco for the Blancas Nobles cuvée alone. It doesn't matter what the formula is, as long as Manuel fulfills his passion: making wines that give joy.Récemment consultés
