There are places that seem like they belong in a fairy tale, forgotten by time, until someone with a keen eye rediscovers them. The Sierra de Gredos is one such hidden gem. High-altitude vineyards, granite soils, and old-vine garnachas were there, waiting for someone to restore their prominence. Thus, at the dawn of the 21st century, pioneers like Telmo Rodríguez, Daniel Ramos, and Daniel Landi ignited the spark. And, of course, Jesús ‘Chuchi’ Soto, who emphatically affirms: Gredos possesses something truly special.
And indeed it does: granite, garnacha, and altitude. The holy trinity for crafting wines with soul. "Chuchi," with an extensive background (from distribution in Valladolid with Pecados Originales to winemaking with Leda Viñas Viejas), could not resist. Thus was born his most personal project: Soto Manrique.
One of his most prized treasures is Alto de la Estrella, a single-vineyard wine with a constellation's name and a mountain's character. Pure garnacha from his highest vineyard, at 1,100 metres, planted in 1961 on slate soils crisscrossed by a quartz vein.
Everything is done by hand, with great care. The cultivation is organic, and the harvest is manual. In the winery, fermentation with indigenous yeasts is slow and the ageing in 2,000-litre foudre lasts 14 months. Finally, it is bottled unfiltered. As a result, an elegant, vibrant wine is obtained, with that freshness only great high-altitude vineyards can impart.
Alto de la Estrella is a journey to the heart of Gredos. A place where time stood still... until, fortunately, those who know how to look arrived.