In between Canoca and Bardallo is Camino de Ribas (in the hamlet of Rivas de Tesoro). This is the coldest and freshest valley, as the gap north towards the Toloño allows ingress of strong north winds from the Atlantic. Jose and Vicky work here with two parcels. The western side is a hectare they planted in 2016. Here are young vines of red and white Garnacha and some Moscatel, in sandy loam, with iron and chalk over sandstone bedrock. They also take some kilos from Jose’s parents’ plot, a 20 metre walk east across the access track.
Here are 140yo bush vines of Garnacha and Tempranillo in pale sand at 610m surrounded by many scrubland grasses (lavender, thyme, rosemary…). The finished wine is 50% Tempranillo, 40%Garnacha and some Viura and other whites. Harvested by hand, 100% destemmed. Aged 10 months in 500L French oak in the castle cellar. Limited production: Australian allocation 30 bottles.
Redolent of cold earth, blue fruits filled with sweet spices and scrubby balsamics - juniper with its bitter back note, cinchona bark, sweet, floral fennel, thyme. Pomegranate seeds, raspberry and compote fruits. Sandstone pebbles give a fine grit, the feeling of being down in the riverbed. La Concova flows out on a line, with gloriously sweet-spiced, chalk-flecked, nutty tannins. Fluidity from perfectly ripened seeds, laced with an astringent stretch from all the herbal-balsamic action.
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