Soto y Manrique Naranjas Azules Rosé 2016
Editor Rating
- Rated 3.5 stars
- Very Good
- Castilla y Leon
- Reviewed by: Treve Ring
- Published on: August 3, 2018
- Last modified: August 3, 2018
Review Summary:
If you're familiar with most Spanish rosados, this pale orange hued Garnacha rosé from Rueda will surprise. Husband and wife team (Sr. Soto and Sra. Manrique) began a project in 2012 to highlight what their homeland of Castilla y Leon is capable of. They found a small, high altitude (780 m) 12 ha vineyard of poor, limestone rich sandy clay soil, planted to Verdejo, Garnacha and Chardonnay, with vines 20 to 75-years-old. They make only three wines, including this purposeful rosé, all biodynamically farmed, native fermented and using ancient clay amphorae. This wine was whole bunch, gently crushed, immediately pressed off skins and fermented in stainless. Lees-led wild raspberry and wild strawberry is streaked with salted dried herbs and generously twisted with bergamot on the finish. There's a lovely textural mid that makes this wine generous despite its slender 13 degree frame. Salted strawberries linger on the finish. Alive with energy and beautifully knit; if you shy away from Spanish rosés due to their punchy rusticity, try this.