Bodegas Alvear

3 Miradas Paraje de Río Frío

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2019 Vintage

93pts

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2016 Vintage

93pts

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2016 Vintage

93pts

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Denominacion de Origen

D.O. Montilla-Moriles

Location

Sierra de Montilla, the Grand Cru of Montilla-Moriles, south of Córdoba, Spain

Varietal

100% Pedro Ximénez

Vineyards

A blend of old bush-vine parcels located in the Paraje de Riofrío Alto in the Sierra de Montilla de Calidad Superior.

Year(s) Planted

1950-1960

Viticulture

Old bush-trained vines, farmed completely sustainably without organic certificaiton, but avoiding all use of harmful fungicides, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and irrigation.

Soils

Albariza. A soil composed mostly of limestone and soft maristone. Poor in organic matter, of a simple mineral composition, and a crumbly consistency. This is a material that is capable of retaining water in an area that rains less than 600L per year, and for its drainage, which prevents them from accumulating water and salts.

Climate

Semi-Continental Mediterranean. Extremely high temperatures and irregular rainfall from year to year.

Winemaking

3 Miradas Paraje de Riofrío Alto 3er Año is a single estate wine sourced from old parcels in the Paraje de Riofrío Alto in the Sierra de Montilla de Calidad Superior. Bunches are destemmed and pressed in a horizontal pneumatic press. The must ferments spontaneously in tinajas, traditional concrete amphora (4,800L).

Aging

After fermentation, the wine rests in tinaja for eight months before being racked to old Fino casks, where the wine rests for 12 months under velo de flor in Alvear's Bodega Monumental.

Comments

Alvear is the oldest family-owned winery in Spain, and the oldest winery in Andalucía, making it the original producer of sherry-style wines (vinos generosos) in Andalucía. Alvear launched the 3 Miradas project in 2016 to express the terroir of Montilla-Moriles without the interference of the ageing- intensive process used to produce the classic wines of Montilla. They use a selection of their top "grand cru" vineyards from the Sierra de Montilla de Calidad Superior to make five single vineyard wines and one Vino de Pueblo. The Paraje de Riofrío Alto estate produces the most austere and structured wine in the line-up, and after spending 20 months resting under velo de flor in both tinaja and bota, begins to take on a delicate fino character.