2015 Pujanza Norte

Named after the north-facing plot where the Tempranillo grapes grow, the 2015 Norte is Tempranillo that fermented in stainless steel vats with indigenous yeasts followed by malolactic. Élevage was in French barriques and lasted 15 months. 2015 was a ripe and warm year that managed to combine ripeness and freshness. This is always sourced from the same vineyard, which is located at 720 meters altitude and is around 20 years old—the youngest vineyard they have. Carlos San Pedro planted it with a massal selection that ripens quite early; in fact, in 2017 it was the first vineyard they harvested. It ripens properly and keeps good acidity. They stopped using 100% new oak in 2012, and the oak is very integrated and folded into the wine, even now that they have extended the élevage. This could very well be the finest Norte to date, with very chalky tannins. It feels quite young. 11,000 bottles were filled in September 2017.