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Red dry
Frontonio La Cerqueta Valdejalón 2023 is a single vineyard wine, considered one of the most outstanding creations of Bodegas Frontonio. It is produced mainly from old Garnacha vines planted in the 1940s on the La Cerqueta plot, located at an altitude of approximately 630 m above sea level. The grey and blue slate soils give this wine an exceptional minerality, elegance and delicate structure. This is an extremely small-production, organically produced wine that reflects Fernando Mora MW’s desire to reveal the authentic Valdejalón terroir.
The bouquet reveals notes of wild raspberries, cherries and pomegranates, complemented by dried flowers, thyme, lavender, anise and subtle accents of smoke and graphite. The slate soil gives the aromas a special purity and mineral tension.
The wine is concentrated and precise. Silky tannins, lively acidity and a bright mineral structure create an elegant profile, almost reminiscent of Burgundy or even ‘Nebbiolo’ style. The aftertaste retains nuances of red berries, wild herbs and stone dust, giving a long and refined finish.
The La Cerqueta vineyard is located in the Valdejalón region of Aragon and belongs to the IGP Valdejalón (Vino de la Tierra Valdejalón) geographical indication. The old vines grow in poor shale soil, which limits the yield and allows the production of extremely aromatic, concentrated and excellently balanced berries.
The grapes are fermented spontaneously with the whole bunch in concrete tanks, a long maceration allows for a delicate structure, and then the wine is aged for about 12-14 months in large neutral oak barrels (foudre).
Serve at 15-16 °C. Recommended pairing: grilled duck, lamb, mature hard cheeses, wild mushroom dishes or refined Mediterranean recipes.
There's a jump in elegance in the red 2023 La Cerqueta, which displays a beautiful bright and pale ruby color and a floral, perfumed and nuanced nose. It is super open, expressive and aromatic, with notes of wild flowers and a touch of blood orange. Yields were a lot lower this year in this vineyard, picked at the right moment. They also did a lighter maceration this year, and the palate is finer-boned and very pretty, with very elegant tannins, superb balance and a long, tasty, clean and precise finish. This is a clear step up in this single-vineyard wine. This is the best vintage so far—it's a beauty. 1,510 bottles and 33 magnums were filled in July 2023.
This has a very pleasant nose of blood, dried red berries, red cherries and touches of iodine, stones and flowers. The palate is succulent, with tight, focused, ethereal fruit. This comes from a single old 1.30-hectare vineyard. Drink now or hold.
"Bodegas Frontonio" is a project by Master of Wine (MW) Fernando Morra, born from the desire to reveal the uniqueness of Aragon region wines. "Bodegas Frontonio" is located in the Aragon region, which encompasses appellations such as Valdejalon, Campo de Borja, Calatayud, and Somontano. Many people have barely heard of them, but it is believed that the 'Garnacha' variety (known as 'Grenache' in France) originated from these areas. Therefore, it is not surprising that in these appellations we can find many old 'Garnacha' vines. Fernando Morra initiated the creation of the "Mondo Garnacha" winemakers' group, whose goal is to preserve and nurture old vines, expressing the best qualities of 'Garnacha' wines. In the Valdejalon IGP appellation, the oldest surviving vines were planted in the 1890s! Luis Gutierrez (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate reviewer), reviewing 'Garnacha' wines from Aragon, Navarra, and several other areas around the "Frontonio" winery, wrote simply and unequivocally: "This time, Frontonio wines are the ones that show the most significant progress compared to previous vintages. Each year the wine gets better."
Wine Style
"Bodegas Frontonio" wine is expressive, with exceptional balance, perfectly revealing the terroir of the vineyards.
Prestigious Vineyards
The winery owns prestigious vineyards, acquired since the 1890s. Among them stand out:
They are complemented by lesser-known but characteristic vineyards of the Aragon region.
Aging and Consumption Period
"Bodegas Frontonio" wines are aged to highlight the best qualities of the vineyards. The wines are aged in both oak barrels and other vessels, depending on the wine style. For this reason, "Bodegas Frontonio" wines are flexible – they can be enjoyed both young and aged.
