At the heart of Seca, a small town in Castilla y Leon, different generations of the Cantalapiedra family have worked passionately, crafting wine. Nearly 21 hectares of vines aged around 30 years grow in the birthplace of the Verdejo variety. The soils are mainly composed of gravel but there are also some clay, sand, and limestone spots too. The region’s terroir is defined by its distinctive mantle of pebbles, which plays a crucial role in shaping the character of the Verdejo grape. Aware of today’s environmental issues and committed to offering authentic cuvées that reflect the purest expression of the terroir, the estate adheres to strict biodynamic principles and is certified organic. After the grapes are harvested entirely by hand, vinification takes place with as little intervention as possible to conserve their excellent quality. Fermentation is started by natural yeasts and minimum sulphur is added.

This cuvée takes us on a journey back in time, to discover Grenache grapes from vines that are 110 years old. Located in the Rueda region, which largely escaped the devastation of phylloxera due to its predominantly sandy soils, this small plot was planted with non-grafted vines in 1909. Manuel Cantalapedria tends to these ancient vines with organic winegrowing practices, ensuring the full expression of the grapes through a low-intervention, artisanal winemaking approach. The hand-harvested grapes are foot-crushed before fermenting in open vats for nearly a month, without temperature control. After pressing, the wine is transferred to French oak casks and foudres (large tuns), already used multiple times, for 22 months of ageing, before being bottled without fining or filtration.
In the glass, the wine reveals a deep ruby hue, with a complex, expressive bouquet of raspberry, truffle, and undergrowth. The palate is silky yet lively, with a delightful lingering finish.