At Viñedos El Pacto, Vintae works with old, organically farmed Sonsierra vines and applies the maxim of minimum intervention at the winery. The aim is to reflect the potential of the Tempranillo grown in this privileged area. El Pacto 2020 is an organic wine from an Excellent vintage that’s been barrel aged for 14 months. It’s well-structured yet has finesse and freshness and abundant fruity notes. Awarded a score of 92 points by Tim Atkin MW.
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General features
General Information
El Pacto 2020 (Excellent vintage) is an organic wine made chiefly from Tempranillo grapes and a few vines that grow the white Graciano and Mazuelo varieties. The vineyards are divided into 27 plots of old vines that were planted in the 1950s and 1960s in high, very breezy areas, mainly in Baños de Ebro and also in Villabuena de Álava, Navaridas and San Vicente de la Sonsierra.
The grapes were picked by hand and underwent static maceration for 10 days, with minimal intervention to prevent overextraction, followed by spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in stainless steel vats with native yeasts. The process ended with 14 months in French (60%), American (20%) and Eastern European (20%) oak barrels, 60% second-use and 40% new.
The Sonsierra region of Rioja is located south of the Sierra de Cantabria and the Toloño, which shelter it from the cold, wet winds of the Cantabrian sea. The vineyards’ southern orientation ensures mild temperatures and a marked contrast between daytime and night-time temperatures which is conducive to the optimal ripening of the berries. In addition, its rugged relief and calcareous-clay soils with good drainage are perfectly suited to the Tempranillo variety.
Viñedos El Pacto (Vintae group) is focused on old vineyards in two areas with a long history of winemaking: the Alto Najerilla and Sonsierra. It’s committed to returning to older farming methods practised by earlier generations of grape growers, with maximum respect for nature and its course. The grapes are harvested by hand and undergo spontaneous fermentation and respectful ageing to bring out the full expression of these unique vineyards.
El Pacto 2020 (D.O.Ca. Rioja) is ideal with medallions of Ibérico pork in a mustard sauce or fillet steak with foie.
Creators' opinion
Deeply pigmented shades of violet and red. Intense nose with a surprisingly open nose of forest fruits, liquorice, underbrush and touches of spice and chocolate. Full palate with great balance, full-bodied yet fine and fresh, with fruit and notes from barrel ageing in the finish.
The winery
Viñedos El Pacto (Vintae group) focuses on producing wines from old vines in two areas with a long winemaking history: the Sonsierra and Alto Najerilla. They are committed to working organically, respecting nature and its life cycle to the fullest, and returning to ancestral cultivation methods practiced by previous generations of winegrowers.
Thus, they implement manual harvests, minimal intervention in the winemaking process, spontaneous fermentations, and respectful aging processes that allow the unique value of the vineyards to be expressed. Their goal is to showcase the potential of the tempranillo grape from this privileged region.