MARTÍ-AGUILAR 2016

VINEYARDS: The grapes used in Martí-Aguilar come from two vineyards: The Cortijo de La Fresneda at 850 m above sea level in the Sierra de Camarolos range which comprises 4.5 Ha of vines planted 11 years ago and the Lagar de Vadillo with 3 Ha of vines at 900 m above sea level planted 30 years ago on the Cerro del Moro hill in the Montes de Málaga range.  Pedro Ximénez grapes are also grown in the latter vineyard.  Both  are  rainfed  vineyards  on  trellises  and  slopes,  which  are  especially pronounced  on  the  Cerro  del  Moro  (46%). The proximity of these vineyards to the Mediterranean Sea clearly defines the character of this wine. Due to the poverty of the soil the yields are very low (2000 kg/Ha).

SOILS: Each  vineyard  has  a  different  geological  origin  and  therefore  a  different composition:

MONTES  DE  MALAGA,  CERRO  DEL  MORO SECTION.  Extremely  complex  and ancient soils since they origin lies in the Malaguide Unit. Phyllites (slates of clay origin), dating  back  600  and  500  million  years  (Precambrian)  originating  from  very  deep  sea beds  and  greywacke  (sandstone  rocks  dating  back 400  to 350 million  years)  prevail. But there are also schists, magma intrusions, silica, quartz, granite, warped limestone, clay and sandstone.  Due to their diversity, these soils are unclassifiable.  These types of metamorphic soils are easily eroded and very poor, containing only 0.73% of organic matter.  The  vines  are  grown  directly  on  the  parent  rock  (lithosols),  which  is  acidic  in nature.

SIERRA    DE    CAMAROLOS. LA    FRESNEDA. To the northwest    of    the MontesdeMálaga  in  the  southern  Subbetica  lies  the  Fresneda  vineyard  in  the Sierra de Camarolos,   near   the   source   of   the   Guadalmedina River,   which   passes through the city of Málaga. The soil is of Jurassic origin (250 million years old), made up of very pure limestone rocks with a few fossils of echinoderms, molluscs and algae. As is characteristic of soils on steep slopes, they are very poorly developed, in which the carbonate parent rock prevails, making them soils with basic reactivity.

HARVEST: The grapes were harvested by hand in boxes of 9 kg between 15 and 20 September.

VINIFICATION: Cold maceration prior to fermentation.  Pressed  at  low  pressure, malolactic  fermentation  100%  in  new  French  oak  barrels  and  subsequent  ageing  in barrels  for  20  months  and  in  bottles  for  10  months.  The finished wine was bottled in June 2018.

TASTING NOTES: Ruby red colour, clean and bright with a medium intensity layer. On the  nose, floral  hints  of  violets  and  intense  ripe  red  and  black  fruit  indicating  a  young wine, when swirled there are balsamic notes, hints of menthol and light roasted notes and very subtle spices that give it great aromatic complexity; very intense and fresh on the nose even though it is young, with a great deal of potential for development. On the palate it is fresh, dry on entry and vivacious as it passes through with very good acidity and fruity flavours of high intensity, very juicy. Moderate and  polished  tannins, medium  body  and  a  long  finish,  in  which  it  reminds  us  of  that  blend  of  ripe  fruits, flowers and spices

• D.O: SIERRAS DE MALAGA
• Harvest: 2016
• Type: Red wine
• Variety:60% PETIT VERDOT, 20% SYRAH, 20% TEMPRANILLO
• Only 2655 bottles