Altos R Pigeage Tempranillo 2014

Jean-Marc Sauboua (our Haut-Brion trained head winemaker) bought Altos in 2002 and has won over 120 Golds, plus many high scores from critics. He works with Hector Gomez in the cellar, whose CV includes experience at Napa’s Château Montelena, Contino in Rioja and Villacreces in Ribera del Duero. They made this wine from old vine (80+ years) Tempranillo and vinified it using Burgundy’s pigeage method. This involves fermenting in open vats and plunging the skins into the liquid three times a day – hands-on winemaking that delivers great results. Barrel aged for 15 months in new French (80%) and American oak and bottled without filtration, the wine offers intense black fruits with vanilla oak complexity and minerality. Lovely with roast lamb.