Notes
Pale yellow in colour with light gold. On the nose, intense and complex with notes of white flowers, stone fruits, almonds, very mineral. In the mouth, round and persistent, with good acidity and a salty finish
Ever heard of heroic viticulture? That’s the term used to describe the cultivation of grapes on steep slopes and mountainsides, not an easy task.
Viñedos Verticales is a family endeavour started by Juan Muñoz, a 3rd generation winemaker, and Vicente Inat, a talented enologist with experience in several Spanish wine regions. The vineyards are located on the vertigo-inducing rocky inclines of Axarquia, Malaga, in view of the Mediterranean.
Their philosophy in winemaking is to work respectfully with the environment both in the vineyard and the winery. Tending to their vertical vineyards is labour intensive and results in small yields of high-quality wine with loads of character.
They work with old vines of Pedro Ximén, Doradilla, Garnacha, and Romé, but their crown jewel is the ancient Moscatel de Alexandria also known as Muscat of Malaga, one of the oldest remaining unmodified genetic lines of grapevine, originating from North Africa (Alexandria).
Facts
Annual Production: 5,300 bottles (The Club has access to 500 annually)
Type: White
Body: Medium
Palate: Dry
Finish: Smooth & Long
Grape Variety: Coupage of 90% Moscatel de Alejandría, 10% Pedro Ximén
Viticulture / Farming: Sustainable Farming - Terroir Driven
ABV%: 14.0
Ageing: 10 months on fine lees in oak foudre
Winemaker: Vicente Inat Estrada
Bodega: Viñedos Verticales
Region: Sierras de Málaga, La Axarquía
Designation of Origin (DOC): Sierras de Málaga
Micro-Climate: Mediterranean sea breezes, hot summer days & cool nights
Elevation: Between 700 and 1000 meters above sea level
Age of Vines: 50+ years old
Soil: Schists, black phyllite, and slate
Owners: Juan Muñoz and Vicente Inat
Tips
- drink now, or store for up to 5 years (the wine has good acidity)
- No decanting necessary, just uncork 10 minutes before serving
- Pairs with Tapas, Manchego cheese, Ibérico ham, Fish and Seafood - excellent with typical "Pescaito Frito" (fried fish), Poultry, Spreads and Salads, or any rice-based and noodles-based light dishes, including Paella or any rice-based Mediterranean dishes
- Ideal slightly chilled
Terroir
Moclinejo is a village located in the South of the Comarca de la Axarquía, at about 14Km in a straight line to the Mediterranean sea. The climate is very warm almost subtropical, with about 300 sunny days a year with a yearly temperature average of 18 Celsius. It has the warmest climate in Europe, with mild temperatures all year round. The vineyards are all located on the very steep slopes of a series of low altitude mountains - ranging from 180 to 1000 meters above sea level - that constitute the Sierras de Malaga, just north and north-east of the town of Malaga. However, in the north-east of the Axarquía, there are mountain peaks around 2,000 meters of altitude, which constitute a natural wall to the extreme continental weather.
Vinification
Maceration with skin contact for 1 day and spontaneously fermented. The Muscat grapes are fermented in a 100-year-old 3300 litre foudre and the Pedro Ximén grapes in a 640 litre cask. After fermentation is complete, the two wines are blended and aged in the 100-year-old foudre for 10 months on fine lees.
Winemaker
Vicente Inat studied Agronomic Engineering and Oenology in Valencia. After working with a number of wineries in multiple regions of Spain, he decided to settle in Ronda, Málaga, with his wife, who is also an oenologist.
Since 2005 he’s been working as the head oenologist at Descalzos Viejos, an iconic winery in Ronda. Vicente also teaches a Masters program of oenology at the University of Malaga.
After meeting Juan Muñoz, a third-generation viticulturist in la Axarquia, Vicente fell in love with the local vineyards and the people of the Sierra de Málaga. Finally, in 2015 he and Juan-Muñoz took the plunge and established Viñedos Verticales and started producing these vibrant wines from their vertical vineyards.
Ratings
More info to come
