Viñedos El Pacto has been one of Vintae's fastest growing projects in recent years. Not so much in terms of volume, but in the number of new releases, especially from grapes grown in the Alto Najerilla Valley. Both the Arambarri family, owners of Vintae, and the Acha family, which has contributed part of its vineyard heritage and is now represented by winemaker Raúl Acha, hail from this region, which boasts a rich legacy of old vine Garnacha and Viura.
The Valdechuecas Viñedo Singular red and two new premium releases are made from grapes grown in the Alto Najerilla, more precisely in the village of Cárdenas. Limited to fewer than 1,500 bottles and priced at over €100, the two new top wines pay tribute to Raúl's father, Jesús Acha, and come from two of his favourite vineyards: Senda de Haro for the white and Pieza La Villa for the red.
Our recommendation under €20 is El Pacto de Cárdenas, one of the project's most original wines. This is an ojo de gallo, the traditional name for the region's deeply coloured claretes, made from a field blend of red and white grapes.
The wine occupies a compelling space of stylistic ambiguity, which is part of its charm. It is lighter and less alcoholic than the Garnacha reds of the area but offers greater depth and structure than the standard Najerilla rosés and claretes.
It is made from three plots of century-old vines and a fourth planted in 1957 at 600 m elevation, on the clayey, iron-rich soils that characterise the area. The grapes are macerated and fermented in concrete tanks for about four days, before being pressed and transferred to stainless steel tanks. The ageing is split between oak and concrete vats, unlike the first vintage when only wooden vats were used.
Its light ruby colour brings it closer to a red wine in appearance. It is floral and fragrant, with notes of red berries and a savoury, meaty nuance that adds character. Medium-bodied, moreish and easy to drink, it is finely textured, with tension and a serious and mineral background.
Although 2022 was marked by drought and high temperatures, many wines from this vintage have turned out fresher than expected. In the Alto Najerilla valley, Vintae reported an early, somewhat short harvest, but with healthy grapes and more freshness in the most elevated vineyards.
12,500 bottles
13% abv.
€19
Score: 93
Author
Amaya Cervera
A wine journalist with almost 30 years' experience, she is the founder of the award-winning Spanish Wine Lover website. In 2023, she won the National Gastronomy Award for Gastronomic Communication
