Region and Vineyards
Cerro La Isa sits above Baños de Río Tobía in Rioja Alta's Alto Najerilla subzone, one of the appellation's cooler corners with marked Atlantic influence. Cold winters, temperate summers and long, gentle autumns encourage slow ripening and vivid aromatics, aided by pronounced day-night swings at elevation. The result is Garnacha with energy and aromatic definition rather than simple ripeness.
The Viñedo Singular is a steep, bush-trained parcel planted in 1906 on poor, shallow clay-limestone soils rich in iron, facing south at 700 m. Among Rioja's steepest sites, it yields just 2,500 kg/ha, concentrating flavor while preserving acidity. This high-altitude terroir, together with organic farming, delivers fruit of exceptional intensity and balance.
Winemaking
The wine is 100% Garnacha from the historic Cerro La Isa parcel. Grapes are hand-harvested in small crates during the last week of October and manually destemmed. Fermentation takes place in 500 L French Tronçais oak barrels, where the wine also ages 18 months on its fermentation lees, building texture and complexity without overt oakiness. Production for 2020 was 4,000 bottles.
Analytical profile underscores its power and precision: 15.53 % vol., pH 3.47, total acidity 6.9 g/L (as tartaric), volatile acidity 0.44 g/L, residual sugar 2.1 g/L, and total SO₂ < 20 mg/L. The vintage was rated "Muy Buena" in Rioja; in Alto Najerilla, low winter rain and wet spring increased fungal pressure, reducing yields yet enhancing concentration.
Tasting Notes
- Color: Deep purple-crimson of very high intensity, youthful rim.
- Aroma: Black raspberry, red cherry and wild herbs with licorice, iodine, sweet spice and a stony undertow.
- Palate: Full-bodied and voluminous yet poised; silky, elegant tannins frame ripe red-black fruit, balsamic hints and mineral drive. Bright acidity carries a long, persistent finish.
Did you know?
Viñedo Singular is Rioja's highest single-vineyard designation, reserved for rigorously delimited, traceable sites with strict yield caps and sensory approval; as of 2020, roughly 1% of DOCa Rioja's vineyards (≈186 ha) held the status. Juan Carlos Sancha is a key advocate of old vines and site expression in Rioja.
Wine Pairing Ideas
- Rack of lamb with rosemary & garlic: Herb aromatics echo the wine's wild-herb and balsamic notes; ample structure meets roasted proteins.
- Rioja-style mushrooms with egg yolk: Earth and umami resonate with Garnacha's savory iodine/licorice nuances while acidity lifts richness.
- Smoked paprika beef stew: Sweet spice and concentrated fruit complement paprika warmth; tannins cut through gelatinous textures.
- Aged Manchego: Salty, nutty intensity flatters the wine's depth and long finish.
