Pago Florentino 2020

Pago Florentino is a wine with its own clear identity, a wine whose quality and character has earned it the right to bear the Vino de Pago label with pride. Its history goes back to 1997 when Florentino Arzuaga, founder and owner of Bodegas Arzuaga, first came to Castile-La Mancha to look into the olive oil production business. While searching for lands ideal for olive trees, Florentino came across the 'La Solana' estate located on a breezy sun-baked hillside which seemed the perfect location for vine-growing. The vineyards are at the foot of the hill, facing south towards two natural lakes and sheltered by hills to the north. The soil is rich in granite whereas the subsoil contains a lot of clay meaning it retains rainfall. The slate below, together with the granite, adds a special touch of minerality to the grapes. Vines enjoy endless hours of sunlight thanks to the orientation of the estate which, together with a lack of shade, means conditions are ideal for fully ripening the fruit as can be appreciated in every glass of Pago Florentino. It is a bright clear wine with a Picota cherry red colour and purple glints. A host of wonderful fragrances delight the nose, combining ripe wild fruit and a floral bouquet with aromas of roasted coffee and mint. Silky and pleasant in the mouth, it is a medium-bodied wine with fine tannins and a splendid and lingering intensity. Retronasal aromas remind us once again of black fruits and toasted notes, alongside an elegant hint of vanilla. Pago Florentino has a smooth and seductive, pleasant and elegant finish. A moreish wine, it is light, fresh, juicy and serious with fine spices appearing with every sip, reminiscent of tobacco leaves and cocoa. With an excellent potential for laying down, it may even remind wine-lovers of Ribera del Duero red wines thanks to the work of Bodegas Arzuaga.