Wines

Dry

Organic

The Cabernet Sauvignon Ungrafted Gravel Soil hails from Isla de Maipo, aged 12 month in used barrels. Light purple in hue, the mild nose offers blackcurrant and cherry soft piracine notes. Terse with polished, slightly reactive, finely grained tannins and a flavorful juicy finish. A nuanced and lively style.

#37 On The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines Of 2024!

92 points Wine Spectator
The subtle influence of new oak accents this red's cherry, blackberry, iron and tar flavors. Vibrant and dense, with a fresh, energetic finish, showing excellent balance. Best from 2026 through 2038.

Organic

91+ points Wine Advocate
The 2021 Graciano, the first wine they produced at the new Viña Zorzal in 2007, was produced with grapes from the village of Corella to show the expression of the grape in the village. It is still approachable and fresh but more Mediterranean than Fitero, where they have a significant percentage of their vines. It fermented in 10,000-liter stainless steel vats with moderate extraction and matured in used French oak barrels of different sizes for nine months. It has 13.3% alcohol, very good acidity, an expressive nose of beeswax and honey intermixed with berry fruit and lots of aromatic herbs (vermouth!) and a lively palate with pungent acidity in the finish.

This Graciano is from Corella, a slightly warmer zone of Navarra, where they grape ripens nicely. They do a vigorous grape selection making sure only the best make it to the winery. This Graciano is fruit-forward and supple. The plum-colored core reveals dark berry fruit with a slight spice. The aromatics are fresh, the palate smooth, and the finish is soft. If you are familiar with Viña Zorzal’s Garnacha you will notice that this is a bit darker but equally as fresh. Another absolute steal from Viña Zorzal!

The high-acid Graciano is the last one of their grapes to be harvested, in their vineyards around the village of Corella. Following a light maceration the wine ferments in steel. 25% of the wine is racked into French oak for malolactic, the rest happens in steel. The wines were blended and stayed 9 months on their lees in French barrels.

Organic

100% Cencibel, the local clone of Tempranillo. The alluring aromatics immediately envelop the senses, fresh red berries and subtle floral components waft from the glass. The dark core gives the impression of power and heft but the solid backbone of acidity provides lift, a weightlessness on the palate. Texturally lush with juicy blackberry and currant characteristics and a long finish that is dry. The balance from start to finish in this wine demonstrates the touch of a talented winemaker. This wine will surely earn a plethora of new fans.

Organically grown grapes in the village of Villarrobledo and El Provencio. 75+ year old vines (Castilla-La Mancha). Hand harvested. The grapes are destemmed, and then fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tank. Maceration lasts until the end of alcoholic fermentation, with regular wetting of the cap. The wine is then pressed into centenarian local clay tinajas (amphora). The wine ages in tinajas for 3 months followed by 2 months in used French barrels and then 6 months in bottle before release.

8.3g/l RS and 8.5g/l acidity. The Muller Estate Trocken comes this year from old vines from 1983 at the top of the Niedermenniger Herrenberg, a red slate site. Vinified dry in 2/3 stainless steel, 1/3 Fuder barrels. Energetic, crunchy, mineral, and far more serious a wine than it has to be -- as always!

Winemaker Notes:
"Our William Hill Estate North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon has a rich palate of dark fruit flavors, with subtle hints of caramel and cocoa. The Sonoma and Napa fruit gave this wine its ripe blackberry and black cherry flavors, while the grapes from Lake and Mendocino brought tremendous structure and presence to the blend. This Cabernet, which was blended with a touch of Merlot to round out the mouthfeel, will reveal more complex layers with time in the bottle."

Organic / Biodynamic / Natural

A field blend of Treixadura, Albariño, Godello, Lado, Verdello, Torrontés, and others
Sourced from 70-110 year-old vines in the village of Gomariz on clay with blue and red schist (Ribeiro zone, without appellation)
Whole-cluster pressed and fermented in tank and 500L barrique
Raised 8 months in 500L barriques (mix of new and neutral)
No malolactic
Bottled with minimal added sulfur (< 25mg/L)
‘Selvaxe’ or ‘wild’, refers to XL’s attempt to ‘trap’ his wildest fruit to roam in bottle here with minimal handling