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D.O. La Mancha



Cooperativa Nuestra Señora del Pilar


Almedo
Produced from select bunches of Tempranillo (60%), Syrah (25%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) this "coupage" was specially blended for VinLozano Imports. The deep red/violet color leads to aromas and flavors of ripe fruits, cherries, blackberries and plums with just touch of smokiness.

Velvety and unctuous on the palate with well balanced fruit, tannins and acidity and a persistent finish, Almedo is an honest, food friendly wine as well as being delightful on its own. Seeing no oak, and though it stresses pure, clean fruit, the wine's complexity will surprise you. The price will please you even more.

(The percentages of different varietals in this blend do not fall within the guidelines of the D.O. La Mancha, so consequently Almedo falls under the Vino de la Tierra de Castilla classification.)




                Grumier Airén

Produced from select parcels of Airén, the famous grape of La Mancha, this clean fresh white exhibits a brilliant straw color with white fruit and floral aromas and flavors of pineapple, pear and apple. Well balanced with just enough snappy acidity, Grumier is perfect on its own or with most food, especially fish, chicken and pasta dishes.

Though formerly looked down at as an inferior varietal producing tasteless wines, Airén, when cared for can deliver some tasty, clean, fruity young whites. While it will never achieve the status of the major whites of the world, dollar for dollar, Grumier provides a substantial amount of drinking pleasure. Lower crop yields (for the area) and the grapes' thick skins along with cold soaking and temperature controlled fermentation help retain the lovely aromas and fresh flavors, and make this wine easy to drink and easy on the wallet. If you're looking for a little something different to replace your lower priced Pinot Grigios or Sauvignon Blancs, Grumier might be a nice choice.


The Winery and it Lands
La Mancha, the land of Don Quixote and ancient windmills, located on the plains of central Spain, is the largest viticulture denomination on the Iberian Peninsula. Semi arid, the continental climate provides for hot summers and cold winters. The region's surrounding mountains prevent much humid, coastal air from reaching the area, and thusly rainfall is uniformly low. Brownish red soil (from Miocene sediments) dominates a flat, windblown landscape, making the land starkly beautiful and silent. At an altitude of about 2200 ft. above sea level, the Cooperative's vineyards (owned by the individual farmers) are located around the municipality of Villanueva de Alcardete (Toledo) along the banks of the Ciguela River, where limestone soils predominate.

For years La Mancha was best known for its bulk wines and enormous cooperatives. Though the cooperative system is still quite prevalent, the approach and philosophy has changed. At Cooperativa Nuestra Señora del Pilar, for example, the "Socios" (or farmers) pay closer attention to the vines than was normal in the past. Dedicated shoot pruning, green pruning, and heavier reliance on organic fertilizer have improved the quality of the grapes immensely. In the bodega… concrete fermenting vats and the old ceramic tinajas have been replaced by temperature controlled stainless steel tanks and pneumatic presses. Smaller than many of the huge cooperatives in La Mancha, Coop. de Nstra. Sra. del Pilar is flexible enough to work with us individually at VinLozano to develop blends that will best fit our marketplace. All in all the potential of this dynamic winery seems yet to be tapped.





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"Spirited Wines of Spain"