Finca Losada La Senda del Diablo 2017

Wine Type:
Style of Wine:	Big & Bold
Country of Origin:	Spain
Wine Region:	Castile and León
Grape Varietal:	Alicante Bouschet
Bottle Format:	750mL
Case Size:	4 Bottles
$330.76 Per Case ($82.69/btl)

Tasting Notes

Finca Losada is a modern winery, in the Bierzo (pronounced bee-er-tho) region, featuring exclusively Mencia (pronounced men-thee-a) wines from old plantings. Located near the village of Pieros on the famous pilgrim route of St. James (the Camino de Santiago de Compostela).

Losada's vineyards are a series of small parcels of traditionally bush-trained vines planted in slate and clay soils. Minimum intervention is followed out in the vineyards, partly in respect to the traditions, but mainly out of respect to the environment, the workers, and the people who enjoy their wines. No chemical herbicides or pesticides are used.

The Jesus Manzanares designed winery uses gravity to move wine through the production process rather than pumps. The design also incorporates features of the environment for both heat/cooling and light, including locating the ageing cellar, production area, and bottling line underground. Solar panels generate power for much of the production. Winemaker Amancio Fernandez shares responsibility for the development of the Bierzo region when he worked at Dominio de Tares until joining Finca Losada in 2005.

This is the third vintage of "La Senda del Diablo", made from 100% Garnacha Tintorera from old vines (70+ years old) from a specific 3.5ha vineyard site close to the winery. Soil is predominantly Franco-clay, and higher altitude, with an exposure suitable for optimum ripening of grapes. Grapes are hand-harvested with maximum vineyard selection.

Garnacha Tintorera is a synonym for Alicante Bouschet, a crossing of Grenache (Garnacha) and Petit Bouschet created in the late 1800s, in France, by Henri Bouschet. Traditionally used to tint more dilute southern French wines; it belongs to a rare class of teinturier grapes in which the flesh of the grape is also red. Technically it is not an authorized grape in Bierzo (hence the name) so it is classified VT Castilla y León.

Traditional red wine production, with only a light pressing. Alcoholic fermentation, using natural yeast, takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks - with regular pump-overs - while malolactic fermentation occurs in barrel. The wine is aged for 12 months in first-passage, 500-litre French oak barrels and in clay Amphorae. Fining with a gelatin-based agent; bottled unfiltered. 14.5% alc./vol.

Very limited production (~700 bottles). Ships is a wooden 4-bottle case.

Our tasting note: Deep, inky/ruby colour. Aromas and flavours of ripe black fruits - wild raspberry, blackberry, cherry, plum - with evolving notes of dark chocolate, truffle, and anise. Rich and full, with firm tannins, balanced acidity, and an intense/elegant finish.

Menu matches: Pair with classic meat dishes, including lamb, veal, and grilled steak.

Critical Praise