El Cerrico 2023

Este Airén de viñas viejas, procedente de una sola parcela a 1000 metros de altitud, vuelve a sorprender con esta maravillosa añada 2023. Cultivado en suelos calizos con textura arenosa y fósiles marinos, se fermenta en ánforas de arcilla. De color dorado claro, se abre lentamente para revelar aromas ferrosos, corteza de limón y aromas picantes. En comparación con el eléctrico 2021, el 2023 es más profundo y con más cuerpo, con una textura algo arenosa y una intensa salinidad. Uno de los grandes vinos de España. 2025-30

One of Spain's truly remarkable white wines, this comes from a single parcel of old-vine Airén grown in the north of Jumilla at nearly 1,000m. Fermented in clay amphora, then aged in 500-litre barrels and glass demijohns, it reveals pithy freshness and a spicy, white pepper note. The amphora contributes an edgy, ferrous character which nicely offsets the weight and intensity of the palate. With its hallmark saline finish, this is a mouthwatering white with wonderful personality and ageing potential. A modern and exciting interpretation of Airén, produced organically.

The 2023 El Cerrico has a deep yellow color and an open, clean and expressive nose. It's less reductive than previous vintages, as they have extended the élevage in oak to two years, topping up every week and still keeping the reductive aging. It has a leesy and smoky nose, and the longer time in oak polishes the edges and increases the salinity in the wine from concentration. It has notes of yellow flowers and is fresh and juicy, sleek and polished, with a medium-bodied palate, a contained 12% alcohol and a very chalky, dry and salty finish. It's more in the style of the 2021 than the 2022 but more polished and elegant. 1,640 bottles produced. It was bottled in October 2025. Ideally, they'd like to age this wine in foudre for three years.