Alberto Orte 'La Antigua Clásico' Crianza 2013
Alberto Orte 'La Antigua Clásico' Crianza 2013
La Antigua Clasico is one of Alberto Orte’s most enduring history projects. Inspired by the style of winemaking that was popular in the first half of the 20th century, Alberto seeks to emphasize freshness and minerality, leading to potential for a long-lived wine. To that end, he has found old vine Garnacha, Tempranillo and Graciano in Sierra de la Demanda, south of the Ebro river in Rioja Alta.
The northern facing, high-altitude vineyards experience cooler temperatures and less sunshine, resulting in grapes that ripen more slowly, showcasing flavors of greater balance and focus. Indeed – this area is one of the last to harvest in all of Western Europe! In addition to the cooler climate, La Antigua is a place where the parcels are extremely small and steep. This terrain is almost impossible to mechanize, and all vineyard work needs to be done by hand. Alberto has complete viticultural control over these vineyards, ensuring unity of purpose between the vineyard and the winery. The result is a wine of precision and elegance – fresh and beautiful to drink now, with enormous potential for longevity.
WHAT MAKES THIS WINE UNIQUE?
This is a wine that harkens back to a style of farming and winemaking that had fallen out of fashion in Rioja – difficult and painstaking work that results in incredibly fresh, elegant wines. Using high altitude, north facing slopes, Antigua Clasico Crianza showcases the bright acidity and elegant minerality that make this terroir so special.
70% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano, 10% Garnacha
Accolades
This wine has aromas of lemon and pineapple, with a hint of matchstick. Lemon and pineapple continue on the taste buds, joined by notes of roasted fennel bulb, vanilla and orange zest and a final note of orange blossom. - 93 points, Wine Enthusiast
I like the traditional flavors of dried fruits, walnut and balsamic. Full to medium body, dense fruit and a flavorful finish. Decadent at the end. Drink now - 92 points, James Suckling
Tasting Notes
ruby red
fresh and spicy dark berries
candied flowers
vanilla, some wood
dark raspberry
slow building tannins
Best to enjoy with
fatty meats like lamb
chorizo
roast pork and chicken
Alberto Orte Espejo was born in Madrid and now lives in El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz) with his family. In 1999, at the age of 24, he partnered with his friend Patrick Mata, a native of Malaga, and created Ole Imports. Alberto handles the selection of wines and winemaking in Spain while Patrick manages the commercial and marketing part of the business in the USA.
In 2003, Patrick and Alberto decided to establish another company that was directly involved in the production of wine in different areas of Spain, so they created the Vinos Atlántico, whose fundamental mission is to find great vineyard-sites and indigenous varietals from old vines in high elevation vineyards tended in low yielding, balanced soil which will be used as the raw material to handcraft their wines.
Alberto Orte Vinos is a division of Vinos Atlántico that highlights wines farmed and vinified by Alberto from beginning to end, thus warranting his talent and status as one of the great active vintners in Spain.
