2022 Manuel Antonio De la Riva Jerez Macharnudo San Cayetano Vino de Pasto

the history of the De la Riva winery

The De la Riva name dates back to 1838, when Manuel Antonio de la Riva founded his winery in Jerez de la Frontera. With plots in the famous Pago Macharnudo, he quickly achieved international acclaim in his wines. After a long period of inactivity, the estate was revived in 2016 by Ramiro Ibáñez and Willy Pérez , two leading winemakers in the region. Their mission: to revive the great terroirs of Jerez and produce still wines that celebrate the purity of Palomino Fino and the expression of the soil.

the terroir of Macharnudo San Cayetano

Pago Macharnudo is considered one of the most exceptional vineyards worldwide. In a Decanter ranking, Macharnudo even ranks among the twelve greatest terroirs in the world, alongside icons like Montrachet and Petrus. The San Cayetano plot is situated on a southwest-facing slope, at an altitude of over 100 meters, and comprises fifteen hectares of Palomino Fino. The soil consists of the rare albariza de barajuelas , rich in chalk and fossil deposits. This soil retains moisture excellently and gives the wine its distinctive chalky, salty character. Combined with the Atlantic climate and cooling winds, this creates a terroir that has been prized for centuries for its precision and elegance.

grapes and vinification

The Macharnudo San Cayetano Vino de Pasto 2024 is made from 100% Palomino Fino. Yields are low, around 3 to 4 tons per hectare, and the vineyard is organically and regeneratively farmed. The wine is a still white wine and therefore not fortified, as classic sherries are. This gives a pure expression of the grape and terroir. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts, without additives, and maturation takes place in a large 2,000-liter oak foudre, on the fine lees, for fifteen months. Everything is done with minimal intervention to maximize the natural tension and minerality.

style and tasting notes

In the glass, the wine displays a light, straw-yellow color with green highlights. The nose opens with notes of lemon, grapefruit, and green apple, complemented by spicy and salty aromas reminiscent of sea air and wet stones. With further aeration, subtle hints of anise, bread dough, and white flowers emerge. On the palate, the wine is taut, linear, and lively. The high acidity and pronounced minerality create tension, while the finish lingers long and salty. The result is a wine of enormous precision and energy, yet simultaneously accessible and complex.

the wine press

The international wine press is enthusiastic about this new Jerez style. The Wine Advocate calls De la Riva's Macharnudo wines "world-class Vino de Pasto, intense, fresh, and saline, with a long citrus-mineral finish." Decanter emphasizes that Macharnudo rightly ranks among the absolute world's top terroirs. Other critics also praise the wine for its nuance, depth, and exceptional combination of elegance and power. With a very limited production of just a few thousand bottles per vintage, this is a wine that combines scarcity with great reputation.

serving and storage advice

The wine is best enjoyed at 10 to 12 degrees Celsius in a large white wine glass. Young, it already displays impressive tension and freshness, but with a few years of bottle aging, it will develop even more complexity and texture. Its aging potential easily extends up to ten years after vintage, with the saline-mineral core developing even deeper. This makes the 2024 Macharnudo San Cayetano not only a wine to enjoy now, but also a cellaring investment for the serious connoisseur.

Would you like to order De la Riva wines online?

If available, you'll find the official fact sheet and additional information about this fine wine in the "Attachments" tab. We'll automatically send you these when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at the checkout page. We're located in Dordrecht, just off the A16 motorway with ample parking. Click here for our address. You can read full wine reviews from publications like Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator.

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