Appellation: Vino de España.
Cuvée: Chelva.
Colour: White.
Grapes: Chelva.
About: From local grape variety Chelva made and aged in stainless steel. A highly original, unusual wine, with the appearance of cloudy apple juice. Almost cheesy aromatics. Not for everyone but a wine that’s clean, alive and fun.
Vines
Location: El Tiemblo, Sierra de Gredos.
Size ha: 0.5.
Age: vines planted 1980.
Soils: granitic, sandy.
Exposition: south.
Altitude: 800m.
Training: Gobelet.
Farming: Organically grown without need for treatment in most years, given the climate in which diseases like mildew don’t take hold. The vineyards are alive with biodiversity of flora, fauna and microbial life, grasses and flowers are allowed to live and flourish, with only those around the vine cut back. This protects the topsoil from erosion from wind and rain (if any) and evaporation of moisture.
Average yield hl/ha: .
Climate: hot in summer, cold in winter, low rainfall.
Winemaking
Bunches are crushed by hand and put into stainless steel tank. After 4 days they’re pressed manually in a small basket press and returned to stainless steel to continue fermenting and stays there until bottling after 4 to 6 months. There are no additives whatsoever, no added yeasts, no sulfites, and no clarification or filtration. Corks and closure are also 100% natural.
Vintage notes 2017
Yield hl/ha: 25.
Harvested: September.
Bottles produced: 1,000.
Date bottled: 2017-02.
Alcohol %: 11.81.
SO2 Total: <20.
Vintage notes 2019
A part was aged in an old 600 litre acacia barrel.
Yield hl/ha: 20
Harvested: September 20
Bottles produced: 800.
Date bottled: 2020-02
Alcohol %: 12.46
SO2 Total: < 5
Tasting: great mineral freshness, unusual cacao and dried herb aromas, an astringent texture, good length, delicious.