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Madag XXI SL produces and commercializes two wines elaborated with the Prieto Picudo grape, in an estate vineyard planted in Sahagún (León), a place steeped in history since it was the first place in Spain where, during the 11th century, vineyards from Burgundy region were replanted by the monks of the great Benedictine Abbey (Alfonso VI) after the destruction of the vineyards by the Arabs. During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, it was always considered that the best wine along the Camino de Santiago was drank in Sahagún, where the monks had a famous very big wine cask in the Abbey.The variety of Prieto Picudo is a unique and special grape, small and with a scarce productivity of kilos per hectare. This variety can only be found in just one place in the world, in the south-east of the province of León, and Robert Parker and other gurus in the world of oenology consider this variety the best in Spain because of its high potentiality. The soil of the vineyard is composed by red clay with boulders, in an anticline along the river Cea (tributary of the Douro river from the north), at 850 metres above sea level. They are well balanced and complex author wines, which, thanks to their acidity, are perfect age-worthy wines. They are easy to drink, with medium to high intensity, aromas of ripe red fruits, balsamic and spiced, and very persistent in the mouth.  www.brandea.es

1. Bran 10 Roble

Deep purple color with bluish rim. Clean and shiny, it shows the typical liveliness of the noble varieties it is made of. Tempranillo’s presence is easily recognised on the nose, with glazed red fruit aromas, plums and sloes over a background of violet and iris aromas.  Prieto Picudo’s personal notes are herbal with balsamic hints, mint and spices (pepper, anise).Wood aromas are felt through clear smoked nuances and toast aromas.  Vanilla, liquorice and toffee background with some kernel hints (coconut). Good balance between alcohol, acidity and tannins. Elegantly made, despite a slight lack of body. Tannins will need some time to get rounder.  Long wine which will surely improve in the bottle thanks to its great acidity. Prieto Picudo 50 % Tempranillo 50%. Vintage 2010. 

2. Brandea 2010 Roble

Beautiful dark red color with purple rims, showing the careful winemaking and aging process behind this wine. This lively and brilliant color is due to two main factors: The elegant acidity of this wine and the limpidity and shine that it shows. A bit shy at the beginning, it opens up quickly after a slight swirl in the glass, showing its clean, straight aromas.  Black fruit aromas are the first to be perceived, followed by fresh herbaceous notes (mint), hints of black chocolate and herbs (thyme, fennel, rosemary),typical of this grape variety. It shows a very nice nose, intense fruit aromas well assembled with the fine oak background that brings exotic wood notes (sandal), as well as sweet spices (cloves, cinnamon) and liquorice nuances. Delicate and long in the mouth, balanced, with a nice finesse, this wine shows a nice and fresh acidity typical of this grape variety.  Flavour perceptions evolve charmingly, showing balance and roundness until the end.  Tannins are ripe but still lively, keeping the good structure up to the aftertaste, long and complex.  Mineral notes, dried fruit and kernel aromas come back again in the mouth. Prieto Picudo 100 % Vintage 2010.