Our tasting impressions
Remolón means lazy and no doubt this charming and sophisticated Rosado can lull you into a carefree state where nothing else seems to matter. Don't be shocked, it's a very pale salmon hue. The aromatics are citrus and white flowers. The taste mostly reveals the remarkable production from the old vineyard. It's complex and beautifully balanced. Not the best candidate for poolside, mindless sipping. It's more at home on the dinner table or in a setting more conducive to quiet contemplation. This could change your perception of rosé wines forever.
About this wine
A blend of Tempranillo (50%), Verdejo (20%), Garnacha (20%) and Albillo (10%) harvested from various 800 meter high vineyards planted more than 75 years ago. The dry limestone soil is enriched with calcium carbonate.
Harvesting is by hand, the whole clusters are pressed immediately. Only the must from the first press goes into steel tanks with its own yeasts to ferment at 14° C. Then the wine stays on the lees with batonnage for 2 months until bottling in January or February.
About the grape blend
Tempranillo is the most prominent grape of Spain and the third most planted in the world. Its name means "early little one" because of its tendency to ripen earlier than its frequent partner, Garnacha. It originated in the Iberian Peninsula, probably around the 9th Century. The grapes are dark, thick-skinned, low to moderately acidic and have smooth tannins. Verdejo is the most planted grape in Central Spain. Its wines are light-bodied but aromatic. Garnacha is one of the most planted grapes in the world. The grapes are thin-skinned and late-ripening, allowing them to thrive in a variety of environments. Albillo, best known from Gallicia, is a white grape that adds light, tropical aromatics and a rich texture.
María's view of the vintage
It was a rainy spring and a dry, hot summer. The heat hastened the ripening of the grapes, so it was an early harvest. The wines have intense color and ample structure.
On your table
Fill in the blank..anything goes. Try a grown-up grilled cheese with mushrooms and green leafy vegetables. Serve gently chilled.
The Denominación of Cigales is best known for producing terrific Rosado wines. But some incredibly talented people had a vision that the Tempranillo (or Tinta del País, as its known in Cigales) from this area in Castilla y León, just north of Madrid, could produce red wines of class and distinction.
María Pinacho and Carlos Gonzalez own vines planted in 1945 by her grandfather, and a 14th Century cellar that is truly lost in time. The soil dates to the Miocene Epoch with deposits from the Tertiary Era. This combines with the influence from the Atlantic Ocean and wildly divergent climate conditions to engender unique terroir.
They produced the first vintage of Traslanzas in 1998. There has not been time or need to look back. Vineyards were added - for a total now of 30 hectares - planted to 90% Tempranillo (the rest are Albio & Garnacha which are used for their other brands Pinacho and Remolón). Annual production is 80,000 - 100,000 bottles.
These are warm, generous and deeply dedicated winemakers who have defined a new and exciting genre for Spanish wine.
