Bodegas Somonte
Bodega Somonte is owned and run by the young, dynamic and inspirational Rafa Somonte who is totally dedicated to producing the highest quality wines from his regions indigenous varietals without compromise. The results are not only fascinating but very special indeed. Rafa Somonte has the potential to be the one of Spain’s greatest winemakers. Rafa is championing the rare and indegenous Prieto Picudo grape variety from single vineyard plots full of old vines in the lesser known (and as yet without a DO) region of Asturias. Flanked to the North by the Bay of Biscay and to the South by the Cantabrian Mountain range the climate is a combination of both Continental and Maritime. This gives wines of great complexity and character.
Rafa Somonte is on a mission to fulfill the dream of becoming an important wine producer not only his region but all of Spain and to show off the rare and indigenous Prieto Picudo grape variety. Prieto Picudo historically has produced red wines in the Zamora and Leon wine regions of northern Spain where the resulting red wines were very aromatic, highly individual and agreeable but rather light in colour. However, Rafa manages to obtain a lot more colour and therefore flavour from his low yielding, old bush vines giving wines with greater character. Rafa employs destemming of the grape bunches to remove the harsher, bitter tannins and softer berry handling during the vinification to capture the real essence of the Prieto Picudo grape variety.
The old bush vines are planted on the mountain floor on a relatively flat palteau of gravel dominated soil that gives good drainage and very low yields naturally. Hot daytime temperatures are the norm with cool nightime temperatures giving nicely balanced juice and slow ripening. The berries at harvest time are small yet concentrated and intense, bursting with natural sugars yet still retaining some nice acid.
The production levels of the 3 wines that Rafa produces are increadibly small and the 2009 harvest yielded a lowly 3000 bottles only across the 3 wines and our stocks are therefore very low indeed. Once tasted, we expect these wines to be very popular, especially amongst our regular clients. You heard it here first folks, Bodega Somonte along with its winemaker Rafa Somonte has both the potential and the ability to become one of Spain's shinning stars in the future.
To get things started we are offering a mixed case of 6 bottles, each containing the 3 wines that Rafa producers at a discounted price so that you try these unique and rare wines. See below for more details.
