El Escocés Volante, Manga del Brujo, DO Calatayud, Spain, 2020

Producer Profile

Norrel Robertson is a master of wine, consulting and making wine around the world.

Norrel also owns a little patch of land, high up in the rugged landscape of Calatayud, where he tends to gnarly, old Garnacha vines in poor mineral soils: poetic symbolism for this rebellious Scotsman who won’t be tamed. To look at his labels is to realise his irreverence for the local law. With his wild winemaking techniques, Norrel is making his mark on this region with raw, fantastically assertive Garnacha wines.

Viticulture

Manga del Brujo begins in the chalk and clay soils on the slopes of Monte Armantes in the Ribota Valley of Calatayud at an altitude of 600-800m above sea level. These are free-draining soils, in an area with significant diurnal temperature changes.

Winemaking

Careful temperature controlled fermentation and the collaboration of New World trained winemakers and local knowledge has produced a full bodied, distinctive Rhone blend which marries the Old and New World in terms of style but with a slant towards a meatier, more structured wine. The key to this wine is the long time spent working with the fine lees to obtain length and complexity.

Oak Ageing

No oak ageing

Tasting Note

Deep purple with ruby red rim. Pronounced aromas of black fruits, cracked pepper, smoke and toast. Full bodied with well balanced tannins. The palate displays dense black fruits, cherries with a long smoky/toasty finish. Mineral and complex.

Food Matching

A great wine to drink with classic game dishes but will also accompany punchy dishes such as ragout and spicy tomato based recipies

Awards

James Suckling 91 Points
A fragrant nose of lavender, burnt sage, roasted meat and dried herbs. Full bodied with firm, fine tannins. Racy and flavourful with savoury and herbal character. 91 Ppoints, JS, Aug 2021.
James Suckling 91 Points
A fragrant nose of lavender, burnt sage, roasted meat and dried herbs. Full bodied with firm, fine tannins. Racy and flavourful with savoury and herbal character. 91 Ppoints, JS, Aug 2021.