Ossian Capitel Magnum 2022

Ossian Vides y Vinos farms in Nieva in the Segovia highlands of Castilla y León, working ungrafted pre-phylloxera Verdejo vines between one and two hundred years old on sandy soils. This is a very different Verdejo from the crisp Rueda style, made for texture and ageing. The vineyards sit at high altitude on poor, sandy soils that the phylloxera louse cannot survive, which is how these old vines endure, and the sand also restrains yields to give small crops of concentrated fruit. Wide day to night temperature swings at altitude preserve aromatics and acidity through a warm, dry continental summer. The wine is farmed organically and aged ten months in French oak barrels. Barrel ageing on the lees builds body and a savoury, doughy weight through mannoprotein release, while the French oak adds fine spice, a light toast and slow oxygen exchange that rounds the wine. The colour is bright golden yellow. The nose shows pear, apricot and white peach over almond, fresh bread and a subtle herbal thyme note. The palate is full and textured, the creamy oak balanced by the acidity and mineral drive of the old vines through a long finish. This magnum ages slowly. Serve at 11 to 13 degrees in a large glass.