El Escocés Volante Manda Huevos Macabeo
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Varietal Wine of Spain.
- Grapes are grown on the Carramainas vineyard. The Carramainas parcel is an unusual mix of decomposed red sand – which gives a loamy/sandy texture- with gravel and pudding stones interspersed.
- The vineyard is 850m above sea level and is Southwest facing directly below the Pingorote de la Zorra, a well known peak outside Villarroya de la Sierra in the Sistema Ibérico.
- The wine is bottle aged a minimum of 6 months. This wine will age in style.
Varietal Composition: 95% Old vine Macabeo, 5% Garnacha Blanca
Elaboration: The grapes were hand picked in 20kg cases, then stored overnight in a cool room before processing. Burgundian methods were used in the cellar. Grapes are loaded whole bunch to the press, then we use a long slow press cycle with no sulphur or enzymes. Must is cold settled overnight then racked to used 500l Francois Frère barrels with a very long, low toast.
Spontaneous fermentation proceeds at ambient cellar temperature (18 to 20 C) for around 2 weeks until dry. The wine was then kept on full fermentation lees for 3 months before racking to finish ageing on fine lees for a further 12 months. No cold stabilization or fining.
Tasting Notes: The old vines provide natural concentration with very fresh acidity and ample fruity hints of pineapple, honey and chamomile. The oak is seamlessly integrated with a long, sumptuous toasty finish.
PRESS
2020 – 93 Wine Advocate | 93 James Suckling | 92 Decanter
2021 – 93+ Wine Advocate | 93 James Suckling
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
El Escocés Volante is a family-owned business in Aragón, Spain, which is in the northeastern corner of the country. The estate is owned by winemaker, Norrel Robertson, assisted by his wife, Sharon, and sons, James and Will. The family started working in the wine industry in Edinburgh, Scotland, and went on the work in Portugal, Italy, France, Australia, Chile, and New Zealand, before landing in Spain in 2003.
Norrel qualified as a Master of Wine in 2000 and earned a graduate degree in Viticulture and Enology in 2003. In 2020, he was inducted into the Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino. He is passionate about producing high-quality wine with a particular focus on the native Garnacha grape.