Laderas de Montejurra

Limestone and high altitude rush

The vineyards of Laderas de Montejurra extend over 40 hectares on 70 different plots on the slopes of the Montejurra massif. What makes this location so exceptional are the extreme differences in altitude: While the lowest sites start at 400 metres, the highest plots reach up to 700 metres. The limestone soils of Montejurra lend the wines a characteristic minerality that is immediately noticeable on the palate. Emilio Valerio, who has managed the winery since 1980, focusses on old vines with an average age of 35 years - some Garnacha vines are even 80 years old. These old root systems dig deep into the limestone and produce wines that speak more of the minerality of the soil than the fruit.

Benedictines, horses and a Frenchman

The history of viticulture on Montejurra goes back over 1000 years, when Benedictine monks planted the first vines here. This „Benedictine influence“ is still evident today in the biodynamic working methods of the winery, which has been certified organic since 2002. Emilio Valerio uses horses to work the soil and does not use irrigation at all - the vines have to help themselves. Since 2014, the French oenologist Jean-François Hébrard his Bordeaux experience to Navarre. Hébrard, who also works for the Quinta de la Quietud winery in Toro, is a master at emphasising the characteristics of the various Spanish terroirs without imposing his French style.

Garnacha stories from the heights

The Garnacha dominates here with its special high-altitude elegance. Unlike in the hot plains, it develops a fascinating complexity in the cool nights of Dicastillo. The La Merced 2018 impressively demonstrates what old Malvasia vines can achieve at these altitudes: A white wine with the structure of a great red wine, mineral and powerful. For everyday drinking, we recommend the Emilio Valerio 2020, a cuvée that perfectly reflects the philosophy of the house: Reference to origin instead of fruit concentration. At the top of the collection is the Leorin 2013, a wine that shows how great Garnacha from Navarre can age.

French barriques, Spanish soul

In the vinification process, Hébrard relies on French barriques, but with a subtle hand. The wood should support the minerality of the limestone soils, not mask it. Depending on the vintage and cuvée, the wines mature for different lengths of time in wood, but never so long that the freshness of the high altitudes is lost. What is immediately noticeable when tasting these wines is that they do not taste like the warm south of Spain, but instead have an almost Burgundian elegance. This is due to the cool nights at an altitude of 600 metres, which give the grapes a long ripening period at moderate temperatures. Emilio Valerio and Jean-François Hébrard have created a Unique terroir profile which shows Navarre from a completely new perspective.