91 Points - Parker
Notes
For Gonzalo Celayeta, La Huella de Aitana holds a special place in his heart. The first harvest was in 2011, which happened to be his daughter Aitana's first year of life, so he decided to dedicate the wine to her. However, this rosado (rosé) couldn't be like any other, it needed to be delicate, subtle, playful, with lots of character and one that would age well. Basically it needed to be better than any other rosado.
With all the care and love that Gonzalo put into this wine, it's no surprise that it's such an enchanting rosado.
Made with 100% Garnacha, the vineyard sits at 400 meters altitude in the municipality of San Martin de Unx, Navarra. La Huella de Aitana is naturally fermented in barrel and aged on its lees during 4 months in American oak. Certified organic and low-intervention, this wine along with all of Gonzalo's is made with respect for the environment.
The wine has a beautiful and brilliant strawberry pink colour. The aromas are equally bright and fun with notes of watermelon candy and strawberry, bursting with sweetness but balanced with toasted and spicey notes from the oak barrels. On the palate the wine is both rich and fresh, starting out with a burst of fruit typical of Garnacha but followed by more structure and creaminess. The fantastic acidity of this wine means that ages very well in the bottle. Very easy drinking and surprisingly versatile when it comes to food pairing. (See tips below for pairing suggestions).
Facts
Annual Production: 6500 bottles (The club has access to 300 annually)
Type: Rosado (Rosé)
Body: Light
Palate: Dry
Finish: fruity, fresh, and intense
Grape Variety: 100% Garnacha
Viticulture / Farming: Certified Organic Farming - Terroir Driven
ABV%: 14
Ageing: on lees for 4 months in American Oak barrels
Winemaker: Gonzalo Celayeta
Bodega: Gonzalo Celayeta Wines
Region: near San Martin de Unx, Navarra
Designation of Origin: DO Navarra
Micro-Climate: Continental - hot and dry summers and cool/mild in the winters
Elevation: 400 meters above sea level
Age of Vines: Unknown
Soil: clay and calcareous rock
Tips
- Drink now or keep for up to 2 years
- No decanting necessary, just uncork 15-20 minutes before serving
- Pairs well with almost any dish including Tapas, Manchego or any cheese (cow, goat or sheep), Ibérico ham, Paté or any Spreads, Poultry, Pasta or Pizza, all Mediterranean and Asian rice-based dishes spiced but not too hot, and it even pairs with stews and grilled meats - super versatile.
- Ideally served well chilled
Terroir
The Garnacha vineyards are situated slightly above the foothills of Guerinda mountain range in the lower part of the municipality of San Martin de Unx, Navarra. The Navarra region is in northern Spain, bordering La Rioja, and is considered an exceptional terroir for Garnacha. The vines grow in semi fertile calcareous soil with some clay. The area has hot and dry summer days with cool nights thanks to the elevation. The winters are cold but temperatures rarely dip below -2ºC.
Vinification
Naturally fermented in barrels with indigenous yeasts. Aged on its lees for 4 months in American Oak. Made with respect for the environment and the land.
Certified Organic, low intervention, no clarification or filtration, and almost no sulphites.
Winemaker
Gonzalo Celayeta is good friends with Luis Moya Tortosa of LMT Wines, and they often work on joint projects together such as Kimera.
Gonzalo Celayeta was born and raised in Olite, Navarra, and has been working in the wine world for two decades. After obtaining his degree at the Institute of Viticulture and Oenology of Navarra (EVENA) he worked at and consulted for several wineries in the area. In 2004 he started his personal project “Gonzalo Celayeta Wines” and at the same time served as the technical director of Bodegas San Martín in Navarra.
His project started small, Gonzalo is highly selective with what wines he releases including some limited editions never to be produced again. This slow and thoughtful process of winemaking allowed Gonzalo to develop his project with a personal touch, always striving to produce excellent wines that have meaningful stories behind them.
The wines are always produced in small quantities, following very natural and traditional methods of low-intervention and with great respect for the environment. The focus is always to transmit the history, culture, stories, and character of this small area of Navarra. Gonzalo Celayeta’s wines are very gastronomic, more at home on a dining table than a bartop, they are refined and age beautifully.
Ratings & Reviews
91 Points - Luis Gutiérrez Santo Domingo (Wine Advocate, Robert Parker)
"I also tasted the just-bottled 2019 La Huella de Aitana rosé, which is a bright pink, aromatic and expressive (roses and talcum powder), with spicy reminiscences of its four months in oak barrels and a seamless palate, where it shows volume and balance, and a long and tasty finish with a pleasant touch of bitter notes. This reminded me more of some claretes (produced like a red with a mixture of red and white grapes), combining characteristics of red and white wines, very good for a wide range of food, and for sure with the stuffing and balance to develop nicely in bottle. 6,500 bottles were filled in March 2020."
