A blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Graciano, this red from La Rioja is made from vineyards 30 to 90 years old located in the town of Ábalos, on the southern foothills of Sierra Cantabria. Purple and black are the colors that flash in our mind when we smell and taste this Rioja. It's a slightly rustic expression, with a warmly-toned, rounded fruit character and a warming - but juicy - mouthfeel that's lightly grounded by powdery tannins. The lift in the middle of the wine is pulled back down in the finish by the lightly chewy, unctuous fruit character, with a kiss of Spain's classic roasted tone (like with cocoa or coffee beans).
WINE ADVOCATE 93 POINTS - "The dark and serious 2023 Pies Negros is a village red from Ábalos produced with Tempranillo and 15% Graciano, which seems to have given it a serious twist with deep dark fruit aromas and very good freshness. The destemmed but uncrushed grapes fermented with indigenous yeasts, and the wine matured in 500-liter barrels for one year, save for 10% of the volume that was kept in concrete. It has contained ripeness and good freshness and balance, and it's juicy and tasty, with fine tannins and a velvety mouthfeel. Serious is the word. 65,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2024."
JAME SUCKLING 93 POINTS - "Showing plenty of cherries and plums, this is solid and crunchy with a touch of white pepper and potpourri. Fine tannins on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Juicy, pristine and pure with a medium-long finish full of fruit. "
The winery practices an environmentally friendly viticulture and follows the principles of biodynamic farming in order to get a natural expression of the terroir.
WINE ADVOCATE 93 POINTS - "The dark and serious 2023 Pies Negros is a village red from Ábalos produced with Tempranillo and 15% Graciano, which seems to have given it a serious twist with deep dark fruit aromas and very good freshness. The destemmed but uncrushed grapes fermented with indigenous yeasts, and the wine matured in 500-liter barrels for one year, save for 10% of the volume that was kept in concrete. It has contained ripeness and good freshness and balance, and it's juicy and tasty, with fine tannins and a velvety mouthfeel. Serious is the word. 65,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2024."
JAME SUCKLING 93 POINTS - "Showing plenty of cherries and plums, this is solid and crunchy with a touch of white pepper and potpourri. Fine tannins on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Juicy, pristine and pure with a medium-long finish full of fruit. "
The winery practices an environmentally friendly viticulture and follows the principles of biodynamic farming in order to get a natural expression of the terroir.
