Pago Balagueses Syrah 2021

Enjoy the Winery's most awarded wine:
James Suckling 2022 – 93 points
Peñín Guide 2021 – 92 points
Best Syrah from Spain – Vivino Wine
Style Awards 2020
Peñín Guide 2020 – 92 points
James Suckling 2019 – 96 points
Peñín Guide 2019 – 93 points
James Sucklling 2018- 96 points
Peñín Guide 2018 – 93 points
Gastronomic Alm. 2017/19 – 96 points
Wine Enthusiast 2017 – 90 points

Direct from the winery. Transport within 48-72 hours to maintain its properties. FREE shipping (orders over €50).

Pago de Los Balagueses is recognised as DOP Los Balagueses, Vino de Pago, by the European Union, which is the highest recognition for a vineyard in Spain. The estate is located near the Solana de Las Pilillas, an enclave of piles dug into the limestone rock where the Iberians made wine in the 5th century BC. Although modern technology allows us to achieve superior quality, Bodegas Vegalfaro carries out practices that were already carried out more than 2,500 years BC in this steep Hoces del Cabriel Natural Park - where it has excellent vineyards that enjoy a good altitude - surrounded by pine forests, on limestone soils from the Tertiary and Upper Miocene. All vineyard plots have the Organic Certification applying the principles of Biodynamics.

VINEYARDS
Our Syrah vineyards are cultivated on trellises, in a 7-hectare enclave located in the middle of pine forests,
aromatic plants and almond trees. Yields are quite low, with less than 1.8 kilos per vine. Viticultural practices encourage biodiversity and sustainability, working the vineyard with green pruning to regulate yields.

ELABORATION
The grapes are harvested by hand at the optimum degree of ripeness, they are destemmed and not crushed, proceeding to a cold pre-maceration for their subsequent fermentation, with indigenous yeast, at a controlled temperature not exceeding 28º, with gentle pumping over and applying the breaking of the skins by means of pigeage, then the wine is macerated with them for approximately twenty more days for its subsequent malolactic fermentation, in French and Hungarian oak barrels that, once finished, undergo an aging of 10 - 12 months: 70% in new barrels and 30% in used ones. They then spend a minimum of 6 months in the bottle for their commercialization. In this way, the type of grape variety and the expressiveness of the plot are maximized.

TASTING NOTES
Deep ruby red in colour with purple highlights, this powerful Syrah displays a strong aromatic intensity of ripe red and black fruit, with floral notes of violets, subtle balsamic and Asian spices derived from the oak. On the palate the abundant fruit character of black and red cherries provides a creamy complexity, with soft tannins that will become even more polished with time in the bottle. A well-balanced, structured wine with a fine and elegant finish.

AGE OF THE VINEYARD
40 years

VARIETY
100% Syrah

ALTITUDE AND SOIL
780 metres above sea level. Calcareous, sandy loam soil, with limestone rocks in the upper part of the slope, and gravel and sand in the lower levels caused by erosion.

ANALYTICS
Alc. vol.: 14.5%
Total acidity: 5.6 g/l
Total SO2: 92 mg/l

SERVICE AND PAIRING
Temperature: between 14º and 16º.
Pairing: fatty fish, stews, roast lamb, game meats and aged cheeses.

OPTIMAL CONSUMPTION
8 years after the vintage.

AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
James Suckling 2022 – 93 points
Peñín Guide 2021 – 92 points
Best Syrah from Spain – Vivino Wine
Style Awards 2020
Peñín Guide 2020 – 92 points
James Suckling 2019 – 96 points
Peñín Guide 2019 – 93 points
James Sucklling 2018- 96 points
Peñín Guide 2018 – 93 points
Gastronomic Alm. 2017/19 – 96 points
Wine Enthusiast 2017 – 90 points

*CONTAINS SULPHITES