Telmo Rodriguez Molino Real Mountain Wine 2019

Telmo Rodriguez Molino Real Mountain Wine Malaga Muscat 

Region: Malaga, Spain

Vintage: 2019

Bottle size: 50cl

Grape: Muscat of Alexandria

ABV: 13.5%

Deep golden in colour, this wine is made in a fresh and approachable style. It has delicate floral notes on the nose, as well as honeyed and some herbaceous notes. On the palate it has a well-balanced acidity, demonstrating a fruit-driven and unctuous finish.

Located in the town of Cómpeta, the vineyards sit between the mountains of Granada and the Mediterranean Sea, ranging from 350 to 1,000 meters above sea level. They embrace the steep slopes of oxidised Palaeozoic slate, creating an excellent environment for Muscat of Alexandria, which takes advantage of the hot slate to ripen. This is further enhanced through the traditional "asoleo" method, which leaves the grapes to dry under the sun to increase their concentration.

After the grapes' sugar was concentrated during the `asoleo` period, they were pressed using a traditional, artisinal method. Must was extracted by placing the grapes between two mats made from `esparto` (a straw-like material), called `capachas` and then crushed using an olive-oil press. To obtain a single litre of must, over 2.5kg of grapes are necessary! A long and complex fermentation then took place in 225 litre oak barrels at low temperatures for 20 months before bottling.

In 1995, Telmo Rodríguez and his business partner Pablo Eguzkia established Molino Real in Málaga with a view to reviving the region’s ‘Mountain Wine’. This naturally sweet style once stood shoulder to shoulder with the great sweet wines of Tokaji, Sauternes and Germany. It was historically made from Moscatel grapes (also known as Muscat of Alexandria), grown in the canyons around Málaga and sun-dried before fermentation. The resulting ‘Mountain Wines’ were decadent and rich, producing fine, age-worthy expressions. As trends changed, these wines fell out of fashion and the wine-growing traditions of Málaga faded into near obscurity. That is, until the 90s when Telmo and Pablo began seeking out the lost regions of Spain. Remembering how Hugh Johnson once said that old ‘Mountain Wine’ was the best wine he’d ever had, the duo were inspired.