TARTALO

Tartalo

In Basque mythology, Tartalo (with variations such as Torto or Alarabi) represents an anthropomorphic, gigantic cyclops, with cannibalistic customs and terrifying behavior. He lived in the mountains, according to some sources on a mountain near the Navarran towns of Zizur Mayor and Astráin, Mount Erreniega (1,057m, better known as Monte del Perdón because of the hermitage that is dedicated to the Virgen del Perdón) or on Mount Saadar in Cegama (Guipúzcoa), where there is a dolmen called Tartaloetxea (“Tartalo’s house”).

His size is huge as is his strength, and his favorite entertainment is throwing rocks from one mountain to another and playing soccer. Legend has it that due to this entertainment, several existing buildings were created today. Unlike other giant characters, like the “Jentilak”, Tartalo is perverse, with wild instincts and very aggressive. It feeds on sheep, children, and even adults from time to time. Tartalo was the possessor of a magic ring that served him to control his prey, since at the cry of Non hago? (“Where are you?”) By Tartalo, the ring responded Hemen nago, hemen nago (“Here I am, here I am”), which betrayed its prey. There is an old Basque legend that says that he drowned chasing one of his human prey after jumping into a well.

VINEYARD
The 0.7 vineyard where the grapes used to make the Tartalo wine are grown was planted in 1920 in the Barranco de San Julián, 600m above sea level on very poor calcareous soils in Elvillar (Rioja Alavesa). Yields of less than 3,000 kilos per hectare. Parcel wine from a unique ‘Grand Cru’ that shows the entire landscape that surrounds it.

WNEMAKING
The production of Tartalo wine begins with alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts in 1,000L French oak vats and in used open 500-liter French oak barrels. Subsequent aging for 12 months in used 600L Austrian barrels (47ml).

TASTING NOTES
Tartalo has a ruby ​​red of good intensity with a medium-high layer. On the nose hints of red fruit with notes of scrubland, thyme, rosemary, with a mineral background. Wood perfectly integrated and hardly present. Fresh, fruity, with perfect acidity and fluid tannins that give it an exceptional elegance. Of enormous length and saves.

GRAPES VARIETIES
48% Tempranillo, 48% Garnacha, 2% Viura, 2% Garnacha Blanca

PRODUCTION
1,537 bottles of 0.75 cl.