Right from its first vintage, 1990, Pagos Viejos has always reflected diversity, the diversity of the Tempranillo planted in vineyards with different characteristics: clay-calcareous, sandy and alluvial soils, grounds with different exposures and vineyards with various densities of plantation and varying ages. The one feature in common is that the vineyards are always old.
The complexity of Pagos Viejos arises out of the selection of grapes originating from the most outstanding vineyards in the locations of El Carretil, La Poza, Valdeginés, Los Olivos, Quintanilla, El Cerradillo and San Lázaro. It is an exceedingly well-balanced wine, elegant and silky, made with the utmost care and consideration, enabling the expression of each vintage's particular characteristics.
Summary of Juan Carlos López de Lacalle's evaluation of the 2013 vintage
2013 has been a year of very low production due to a distorted weather pattern. Despite having enjoyed a high level of precipitation throughout the whole cycle, the development of the vines suffered irregularities, not easily explained, and it became very difficult to find and obtain grape clusters with the optimal phenolic maturity that would enable the attainment of complex and long-lived wines.
Another of the difficulties with this harvest has been the heterogeneity in crop yield and quality, not just in the same parcel, but in each plant. This situation has forced us to be very meticulous in selection, to operate short macerations and to proceed very carefully during fermentation. As a result, we have obtained wines complete with delicate tannins and fresh fruits (red fruits).
It has also been a cool year generally, with mild temperatures in winter, a rather cold spring and a cool summer. The end of the vegetative cycle enjoyed a significant thermal contrast between day and night which favoured the production of wines that are fresh and aromatically very expressive (lucidity in all its floral and fruit expressiveness).
The wines of the 2013 vintage will be fruit-flavoured and fresh, heavily laden with aromas of red fruits and very clean on the nose; wines with good acidity, loaded with fresh fruit and a firm structure, which will evolve progressively to refinement, gracefulness and balance.