Martín Sarmiento 75Cl DO Bierzo

Martín Sarmiento (Villafranca del Bierzo, 1695) was an erudite and intellectual monk, ahead of his time, who dedicated his life to the study of botany, agriculture and the defence of Galician culture and language. The 2017 vintage has been made from a selection of the best Mencía grapes from old vines in the oldest and most unique areas of Bierzo. Specifically from Villa Otero de Toral, a vineyard at altitude (600-650 m), characterised by its slate soil with east-facing slopes, whose grapes produce a wine with a fresh profile and Atlantic character, and also from Villa Valtuille de Arriba, a vineyard with clay soil located at an altitude of 450-500 m, flatter and with greater exposure, whose grapes produce wines with a mature profile, structure and power. The harvest is carried out manually in 20 kg boxes. Once the grapes arrive at the winery and have passed through the selection table, they undergo a pre-fermentation maceration at 12oC. Alcoholic fermentation then begins at 25oC, after which they go through a further maceration process before pressing. Once malolactic fermentation is complete, they are aged in French oak barrels and finished off with further ageing in the bottle.