2018 Bodegas Victoria Ordonez La Ola del Melillero Mountain Wines

The La Ola del Melillero (the Gulf of Melillero) is a blend of 70% Pedro Ximenez (PX) and 30% Moscatel from the mountains of Malaga. The Pedro Ximenez grapes come from seven very small plots of between 30 and 100 years old hidden in a Mediterranean forest of holm oaks, cork oaks and Aleppo pines. The vineyards are situated at an altitude between 800 and 1000 m. With very steep slopes varying between 46 and 76% so here can only be cultivated on the basis of old viticulture there is no machine to adapt and for the experience of the vineyards to the foot of Mount Mules. The yields are very low (900 kg / ha) and the concentration of the grapes is optimal.

The moscatel grapes come from six plots located in two municipalities of the Upper Axarquía region, at acerca 700 m of altitude, at the foot of the Sierra Tejeda. The vineyards are comparable in location to the Pedro Ximenz vineyards, so high and steep

All grapes are hand-picked in boxes of 10 kg, with the help of mules. They harvest in the late night, early morning and at the foot of the mountains the grapes are immediately cooled after being supplied by the mules. 40% of the grapes are fermented in new French oak barrels and the rest in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature. All this remains on its read for 8 months.

The wine has a clear straw-yellow color. In the nose of the wine you can smell white flowers and a delicate freshness. In the mouth the wine is medium bodied. You can smell the muscatel without being sweet. It is a beautiful full white wine that is not too dry with a perfect acidity. The wine is balanced and complex at the same time, A touch of bitterness at the end reminds us of the presence of Muscatel and the Ximenz. In short, the La Ola del Melillero is an elegant wine with the elegance and freshness of the PX and the sweetness and generosity of the Muscatel. The 2015 vintage is the first vintage of this wine and believe us this wine (and also the Monticara and the Voladeros) will become very large wines. The fact that these wines are already being served in many a Michelin restaurant is a clear signal

With the famous wine writer Hubrecht Duiker, this wine is his Find or the Month in the July 201 issue. Read more on Hubrecht's judgment at: https://hubrechtduijker.com/actueel-maandmagazine/

The Irreverent Winery has also discovered this great wine. They write: “this wine is completely different from what the consumer can currently find on the market. The wine is significant, surprising and innovative. " Read here the whole article.

Victoria Ordoñez born and raised in Malaga is no stranger to the wine world and she went looking in the mountains of Malaga for lost and authentic vineyards (from both the Moscatel and the Ximenez vineyards) and started in 2015 to enjoy this authentic grapes to make (fantastic) wines again and these are wines that need to be monitored. They are currently in many a Michelin restaurant. The only problem is that only a very limited number of bottles are made because the vineyards are very small.