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OVERVIEW
South of the City of León and north of Benavente in the northern reaches of the Duero River basin lies a high, windswept, barren, rolling landscape called "El Páramo." The contours of the low hills (oteros) provide adequate protection from the cold winds for the hearty, indigenous Prieto Picudo variety to survive. Extremely low-yielding and out of the limelight, the Prieto Picudo had been steadily uprooted in recent decades. In the early 2000s a project to purchase and resurrect the Prieto Picudo vineyards from near oblivion was undertaken, led by Pedro González Mittelbrunn, León native and Professor of Viticulture & Enology at the University of León. Pedro was instrumental in the creation of the D.O. Vinos de León.
Prieto Picudo is an extremely dark-skinned variety with simultaneously high sugar, color/tannin and acid content with penetrating berry-like fruit expression. Perhaps there is no red grape in Spain with higher simultaneous concentrations of these critical components. It is a jewel of Spanish viticulture when obtained from mature vines, capable of delicious, intensely aromatic young wines as well as wines capable of long aging in oak and bottle.
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HISTORY
The Leyenda del Páramo partnership was founded in 2009 to specialize in the production of wines from the indigenous varieties of the Páramo—Prieto Picudo for serious reds and rosado and the white Albarín for aromatic dry white.
Reds of incremental intensity are produced from vines of
commensurate age: El Aprendiz from vines averaging over 30 years undergoes ML and is aged three months in used French oak. El Médico is from vines over 80 years old, with ML and nine months’ agjng in primarily new French oak. The traditional specialty of Prieto Picudo is intense and full- bodied dry rosé, El Aprendiz Rosado produced using the laborious madreo technique, in which selected whole clusters are added to the fermenting pressed must for enhanced structure and character.
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PRESS
El Médico Prieto Picudo (2011) - "Racy yet generous, this red delivers black cherry, plum, mineral and toast flavors, with firm tannins and lively acidity keeping this focused and fresh. Vibrant. Prieto Picudo. Drink now through 2020."
90 Points
Thomas Matthews, Wine Spectator, Mar 1, 2015
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El Aprendiz Prieto Picudo (2013) - "Vivid ruby-red. Fresh redcurrant and cherry on the nose and in the mouth, with a peppery element adding vivacity. This clean, focused wine shows building sweetness and a slight jamminess on the tannin-free finish. I'd drink it lightly chilled. "
88 Points
Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, Sep 1, 2014
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El Aprendiz Prieto Picudo Rosado (2013) - "Dark, lurid pink. Deeply pitched cherry and blackberry aromas show good energy and a hint of musky herbs. Chewy and dry on the palate, showing good nerve and bite to the bitter cherry and candied rose flavors. Seizes up on the finish, with the cherry and herb notes echoing."
87 Points
Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, Sep 1, 2014
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Flor del Páramo Prieto Picudo Rosado (2012) - "Dark, lurid pink. Assertive aromas of raspberry and cherry pit, with a floral topnote. Fleshy but incisive and light on its feet, offering tangy red fruit flavors and a touch of white pepper. Smoothes out on the finish, leaving juicy red berry and floral pastille notes behind."
89 Points
Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, Sep 1, 2013
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El Aprendiz Prieto Picudo (2012) - "(100% Prieto Picudo): Bright violet color. Intense, floral red berry and cherry aromas show very good clarity and pick up a spicy nuance with air. Sweet and seamless on the palate, offering black raspberry and rose pastille flavors supported by an undercurrent of tangy minerality. At once lively and deep, this wine finishes with slowly building tannins and a touch of peppery spices."
90 Points
Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, Sep 1, 2013
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El Médico Prieto Picudo (2011) - "Opaque ruby. Sexy armas of black raspberry, lavender and oak spices, with deeper licorice and espresso nuances in the background. Chewy, penetrating dark berry flavors show good depth as well as energy, picking up a smoky quality with air. Shows an appealing sweetness on the long finish, with youthfully taut tannins adding grip."
90 Points
Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, Sep 1, 2013
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El Aprendiz Prieto Picudo (2011) - "This opaque and dark ruby colored Prieto Picudo opens with an attractive black cherry cola and old oak bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium to full bodied, nicely balanced, and quite smooth. The flavor profile is a tasty mild black cherry with some very mild minerality, red raspberry, and subtle oak in the background. The finish is dry and its dusty moderate tannins build up and are nicely prolonged. This wine would pair well with braised short ribs. Enjoy."
91 Points
Ken Hoggins, Ken's Wine Guide, Aug 1, 2013
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Flor del Páramo Prieto Picudo Rosado (2011) - "Dark pink. Aromas and flavors of bitter cherry and licorice, with notes of white pepper and candied rose adding complexity. Closes with good clarity and bite, leaving spice and cherry pit on the palate."
89 Points
Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, Sep 1, 2012
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El Médico Prieto Picudo (2009) - "Inky ruby. Flamboyant, oak-spiced aromas of blackberry, cassis, violet and incense, along with a suave floral quality that gains strength with air. Juicy and precise, offering sweet dark berry and bitter cherry flavors that show a fine balance of power and energy. Dusty tannins add grip to the long, gently oak-spiced finish."
91 Points
Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, Sep 1, 2011
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