Tasting Notes
A bit of a happy accident, this one. Manuel picked his young Garnacha late in 2023, and while it climbed to a hefty 15%, the wine stayed beautifully in check, so it never feels heavy. Whole bunches, native yeasts and eighteen months in old 600L oak give you something bright and floral, all wild herbs, orange peel and a whiff of menthol and honey. It's juicy but seriously structured, loaded with tannin and a bit of a Southern Rhone vibe. - Pete L
Cantalapiedra is a family domaine based in La Seca, the historic heartland of Verdejo in Castilla y León. The family has grown grapes here for generations, but it was in 2014 that father and son Isaac and Manuel Cantalapiedra began bottling their own wines rather than selling their fruit to larger producers. Their vineyards are certified organic, dry-farmed and include some remarkable old parcels, with Verdejo very much at the centre of the project.
Manuel takes a minimal-intervention approach in the cellar, using spontaneous fermentation, very little sulphur and no unnecessary additions, while experimenting with techniques including skin contact and ageing under flor. The wines are a world away from the simple, aromatic style often associated with Rueda — textured, savoury and mineral, with a real focus on individual vineyard sites and the potential of old-vine Verdejo.
| Product Type | Wine Red Other Varietals & Blends |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Castilla y Leon |
| Sub Region | Rueda |
| Winemaking Practices | Mini |
| Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |