Description
Malaga, Spain
The name Terruno Pizarroso references the slate soils of the area. The grapes are from the oldest vineyards of Málaga’s eastern Axarquía, just a few kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea. Hundred-year old bush vines grow in vineyards at about 500-850m above sea level in slate soils that are dotted with white quartz. They have deep roots and are pruned to the trunk each year; production is 0.5-1kg per vine.
The harvest is manual, with grapes collected at 15 kilos per crate. They are carefully transferred to the historic ‘paseros’ – used to dry the raisins produced in the region – where they are laid out bunch by bunch for sun drying. Once the desired sugar level has been reached they are de-stemmed and gently pressed obtaining low volume, high quality musts.
Fermentation takes place in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks –until 7º Baumé and 13% alc/vol is reached – then a temperature reduction to-3/-4ºC stops fermentation. It is the cold-shock treatment that keeps the wine naturally sweet. This process allows the normal flavour expected of a dessert wine to come through, but without the sticky texture that can be a characteristic. As an added bonus, these wines have a lower abv.
The wine is then matured for 8 months in French oak barrels selected especially for sweet white wine. Micro-filtration takes place before bottling.
Tasting Notes: Dark golden colour. Delicate with light, complex, harmonious fragrances. A concentration of honeyed candy marmalade and lychee fruit sit within warm smoothness and exotic freshness. Correct levels of acidity and contained sweetness confer a lovely balanced finish.
“Deep and detailed, with a complex layering of ripe peach, red apple, quince, pickled walnut, papaya, mango and nectarine, all topped with elegant notes of hay and linden. Honeyed viscosity brightened by nutmeg, clove and candied orange, with a velvety, milky finish.” Ines Salpico, Decanter
Food pairing suggestions: Pair with foie gras and pâtés, blue or mature cheese and desserts of tropical fruit (mango, pineapple, passion fruit).
