“There is a new red, the 2015 Xérico, a blend of Tempranillo with 20% Viura from head-pruned vineyards in the slopes of the village of Viñaspre, planted on limestone marl soils. The grapes were partly destemmed and fermented in cement and PVC vats, then aged in a combination of cement and chestnut wood foudres for five months. It has an impactful label of his great grandfather (in 2014 it was his grandfather), and an even more impactful nose, very exuberant, very open and aromatic. The grapes are sourced from the red soils in the vineyards, where the wines tend to display a more fruit-driven nose. I think 2015 could be a very good vintage for young reds, with wines that are very drinkable and forward, perhaps for consumption in the short term. Here the palate shows delicious flavors of juicy blackberries and licorice, round and lush but with sharp, austere tannins. Definitely gulpable. 21,879 bottles produced.

I went to Viñaspre to visit some of Roberto Oliván's vineyards to get a better understanding of his wines. He works a myriad of tiny plots with very old vines, some of which are almost dying and many plants are missing, so yields are tiny. Truly handcrafted terroir wines.“