Bodega Maranones: Picuenco Albillo 2023

Weingut om: Picuenco Albillo

Picuenco 2023 is a tribute to the winemaking tradition of San Martín de Valdeiglesias, where the albillo real reaches its maximum expression. In one of the highest areas of the Marañones estate, 850 meters above sea level, is the Picuenco plot. Its history is linked to generations of farmers who have cultivated this land with dedication, preserving the character of the albillo real variety since its planting in 1930. The combination of altitude, mineral soils and the viticultural legacy of this plot gives rise to a highly expressive albillo real, a true reflection of its origin. Minerality and precision. The trace of quartz and feldspars in Picuenco. The fall of 2022 had mild temperatures, followed by a winter with rain and atypically mild temperatures for the winter season. Spring started early, bringing forward the vegetative cycle: weeping began in February and budbreak of the albillo real occurred at the end of March. Flowering began in May and fruit set was optimal thanks to the weather conditions. On June 3, a hail storm partially affected the Marañones estate, slightly reducing yields. June maintained moderate temperatures until July, when they began to rise. The early harvest cycle led to an early Albillo harvest, beginning on August 1 and ending on August 10. This plot was harvested on August 4. Due to the high daytime temperatures, the grapes were harvested at night to preserve the quality of the grapes. A plot with history: The soils of Picuenco, of Hercynian granitic origin like those of San Martín de Valdeiglesias, have a unique singularity: a vein of feldspar and quartz runs through the plot, giving the wine a marked sapidity and texture. With an area of 1.14ha, its location next to the Peña Caballera plot reinforces the identity of this privileged enclave. The vines, trained in goblet vines, find the perfect balance between freshness and ripeness in the mesoclimate of the Marañones estate. The grapes were harvested in 12 kg boxes; the bunches were picked by hand and the selected grapes arrived at the winery in optimal conditions. After direct pressing, the must fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in contact with its lees in used 500 liter barrels. Subsequently, the wine aged for 9 months in the same barrels, refining its structure and complexity. Picuenco 2023 was bottled in the summer of 2024. For greater protection, the wine contains sulfites.