COLOUR
Red
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2016
GRAPE
Tempranillo
PRODUCER
Bodegas Dominio de Atauta
REGION
Castilla y León
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium - High
Finish
Long
Intensity
Pronounced
Tannins
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Dominio de Atauta is located in the unique, high-altitude Atauta Valley within the Soria province of Ribera del Duero. 'La Mala' is a legendary single-vineyard wine sourced from a tiny 0.70-hectare plot of pre-phylloxera, ungrafted Tinto Fino vines averaging 130 years of age. Situated at 950 meters above sea level, this extreme terroir features very shallow sandy soils over active limestone bedrock, forcing the ancient roots to bore deep into the stone.
ALCOHOL
15.0%
AVG. PRICE
€120
STYLE
Classic
SULPHITES
YES
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
16-18°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
La Mala translates to 'the bad one' because local growers historically found its shallow soils too poor and unprofitable.
Fact 02
The wine is crafted from pre-phylloxera, ungrafted vines that are over 130 years old.
Fact 03
Only 907 bottles of the 2016 vintage were produced from a tiny 0.7-hectare single vineyard.
FOOD PAIRING
Read more
WINE MAKING PROCESS
The grapes were hand-harvested in 11 kg boxes and underwent a triple selection process. Fermentation took place with indigenous yeasts in small open stainless steel vats, including a 6-day cold pre-fermentative maceration and 15 days of post-fermentative skin contact. Malolactic fermentation and aging were carried out for 16 months in second-use French oak barrels, followed by 45 months of bottle maturation before release.
