Arizcuren - 'Monte Gatún' - Grenache Blend - Rioja, ES - 2019

Monte Gatún is an easy-drinking fusion of old and new; aromas of herbs, grains, blueberries, cherries, and raspberries. On the palate, it’s smooth, refined, and with a ripe Garnacha finish.

The Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Mazuelo grow in the vineyards of la Villa de Quel and sit at an altitude of 530-600 meters above sea level. They were lovingly cared for by hand, as Javier does with all his vineyards. Sustainably and organically cultivated, fermented naturally, and with very little intervention. Monte Gatún was made and aged in Javier’s urban winery and architecture studio in the heart of the capital of la Rioja, Logroño.

Well-known and highly respected architect turned winegrower, Javiar Arizcuren is one of Rioja Oriental’s most exciting new talents. With the help of his father, Javiar spends his “spare time” focused on rescuing high-altitude, ancient Grenache and Mazuelo (the local name for Carignana), on vineyards that managed to survive both phylloxera, and the trend of replacing historic vines with Tempranillo, an early-ripening grape that is only a small part of this region’s history despite its dominance today. His experience with architecture leads him down rabbit holes of possibility and experimentation (a rarity in this often predictable and extremely conservative wine region), so that he may better understand the aesthetic of each site and build on its strengths using various fermentation and aging techniques.