La Perdida, A Chaira 2023

Nacho Gonzalez, a trained biologist, began his journey into winemaking after inheriting his grandmother’s 70-year-old vines in Galicia, Spain. In an effort to preserve more of these old, regional varietals and winemaking practices, he has acquired around 32 parcels in the Larouco area. These are found at higher altitudes on a mosaic of granite and clay soils, climatically highly influenced by the Atlantic. Each step of the winemaking process works harmoniously with the environment, from promoting the soil microbiome in the vineyard, to adding zero preservatives at bottling. Colloquially-speaking, La Pérdida means ‘the lost one’. Inspired by the estate’s volunteer pickers who claimed they couldn’t see the bush vines hidden among the long grasses - they were lost. A Chaira 2023 is a blend of regional native grapes Doña Blanca and Palomino, both macerated for five days before ageing in a combination of stainless steel and amphora. The nose presents a combination of new leather, overripe nectarine and dried apricot with initial flavours of petrol and fresh stone fruits with straight acidity. As it opens some vanilla notes come through and the acidity softens into juicy salinity. This benefits from being carafed, opening beautifully with layers upon layers of new flavours. A Chaira 2023 would pair well with smokey Almejas a la Marinera.