Los Pasitos 2018

The 2018 Los Pasitos is a varietal Baboso Negro (a.k.a. Alfrocheiro Preto), though it contains some 5% Vijariego Negro (Sumoll), and is named after the vineyard where the grapes grow. The vines are now 11 years old and were planted at a density of 6,000 vines per hectare on clay-rich soils at 380 to 440 meters above sea level and pruned in a cordon royat. This is quite light, just below 12% alcohol and has moderate acidity. It fermented with 100% full clusters in open-top plastic bins with indigenous yeasts and matured in a used 500-liter oak barrel for 10 months. This is one of the palest of the reds, quite incredible for a variety that can produce very dark, almost black wines if picked later and riper. There is more flinty character than smoky, with an herbal twist, and it's sharp and a little reductive with an ultra-fresh, almost citrusy palate with notes of blood orange and acid strawberry and a long, dry and serious finish. The grape can produce ripe or sharp wines. This is definitely sharp; it changed in 2016. 600 bottles were filled in August 2019. - Luis Gutiérrez.