Camarolos

Description

VINEYARD: 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 15 years ago and the Lagar de Vadillo with 3 Ha of vines at 900 m above sea level planted over 30 years ago on the Cerro del Moro hill in Montes de Málaga. 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 (2000-3000 kg/Ha).

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

MONTES DE MALAGA, CERRO DEL MORO. 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 Montes de Málaga 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.

CLIMATOLOGY: Sub-humid temperate Mediterranean climate. Average temperature of 13 ºC. With lows of up to -12 ºC and highs of up to 38 ºC. Annual rainfall is 585 mm, with torrential rains.

The low temperatures in January and February resulted in snowfall on the vineyards.

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

VINIFICATION: The selected grapes went through cold soak, fermentation and extended maceration – a total of 21 days of skin contact. The new wine was drained and gently pressed into new French-oak barrels for malolactic fermentation. 20 months of barrel ageing and 12 months of bottle ageing.
The finished wine was bottled in June 2018.

TASTING: Bright red fruits, fennel and other mediterranean herbs, chocolate and violet aromas. Granate color and fine tannins that lend pleasing structure.
Vibrant with red berries and spicy flavors, the wine is at once concentrated and fresh. Beautiful silkiness and great finesse with a very fresh finish.

A very gastronomic wine. Camarolos will drink beautifully over the next 10 years.

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