Matsu El Pícaro 2024 is a red wine that embodies the traditional power of Toro wines, while adding touches of freshness and elegance that make it a very pleasant wine to drink with a hint of sweetness. It is made from a selection of low-yield old vines of tinta de Toro. It is presented as the most direct and casual wine from Matsu, a winery belonging to the dynamic and innovative Vintae group.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
Consumption time
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
100% Tinta de Toro
Type of bottle
Truncated Conical Bottle
Capacity (cl)
75
Alcohol content (% vol.)
14
General Information
Matsu El Pícaro 2024 originates from a vintage with a very rainy winter and spring and a very warm summer, which led to an early harvest. The September rains helped balance ripening and achieve very aromatic wines. It is made from a selection of old low-yield tinta de Toro vines, grown naturally on sandy soils with a high granitic stony component.
After a manual harvest, the grapes were transported to the winery, where spontaneous fermentation took place with native yeasts in 15,000 kg concrete tanks, without exceeding 24 ºC. Subsequently, malolactic fermentation was carried out in the same tanks, and finally, this red wine aged for two months on its lees in concrete tanks.
Bodega Matsu is a project by Vintae, a company born in La Rioja in the late nineties, which began expanding to other regions with the new century. Its technical director, Raúl Acha, set his sights on the D.O. Toro, attracted by the potential of the old vineyards in this Zamora region, with sandy soils ideal for vines and a continental climate perfect for preventing diseases and enabling natural viticulture. Thus, Matsu was born in 2005 and launched its first wine the following year.
The name of the winery means ‘to wait’ in Japanese, reflecting the philosophy of the brand: respecting the course of nature and advocating for traditional viticulture. Its wine range includes the brands El Pícaro, El Recio, and El Viejo, whose labels feature the faces of a young man, a middle-aged man, and an old man, respectively, as a tribute to the different generations of winegrowers in the region.
Matsu El Pícaro 2024 (D.O. Toro) pairs beautifully with dishes like rabbit stew with potatoes or lamb casserole with mushrooms.
Creators' opinion
Matsu El Pícaro is a wine with a purplish color and a deep layer, denoting its youth. Aromas of fruits, gummies, and blackberry jam stand out on the nose, well-balanced with a touch of licorice, giving it a spicy character and complexity. Intense and powerful on the palate, with a very pleasant entry thanks to its sweet character.
The winery
Bodega Matsu is a project by Vintae, a wine company born in La Rioja in the late nineties. Starting in 2003, it began expanding to other winemaking regions beyond Rioja, producing wines in Ribera del Duero, Ribera del Queiles, and Navarra. Shortly after, attracted by the extraordinary characteristics of the D.O. Toro, Vintae’s technical director and winemaker, Raúl Acha, started exploring the vineyards of Toro. What drew him to this region was its tradition of minimal intervention in the vineyard, made possible by the denomination’s climatic conditions, with very low humidity and sandy soils. Added to this tradition is the rich heritage of old vines of extraordinary quality, as well as the strength and character of the Tinta de Toro grape.
In 2006, the first vintage of Matsu was crafted, initially with just one wine: El Viejo. Two vintages later, two more wines were added: El Pícaro and El Recio. Matsu, which means "to wait" in Japanese, is a tribute to all the winegrowers who, over generations, have worked the vineyards with dedication, wisdom, and sacrifice. The labels, featuring a young man, a middle-aged man, and an old man, represent three of these generations and correspond to each of the wines.
In 2006, the first vintage of Matsu was crafted, initially with just one wine: El Viejo. Two vintages later, two more wines were added: El Pícaro and El Recio. Matsu, which means "to wait" in Japanese, is a tribute to all the winegrowers who, over generations, have worked the vineyards with dedication, wisdom, and sacrifice. The labels, featuring a young man, a middle-aged man, and an old man, represent three of these generations and correspond to each of the wines.