Description

PRODUCER:
Tandem is the brainchild of José Maria Fraile and Alicia Eyaralar, two of the leading lights in the Navarra winemaking scene. Committed to making the best wines in the region with minimal intervention in the vineyards and winery, Tandem is cited by critics as ‘cutting edge’ Navarra. The grapes are cultivated in the heart of the Yerri Valley, which is recognised as the best area for quality wine in the region. Respect for nature is an obsession – they follow the precepts of sustainable viticulture, while maintaining the vineyard’s health and viability. In the winery, a minimum intervention approach is also taken to ensure the grapes reflect their true character and terroir. In 2019, Tandem were certified Vegan and accredited the internationally recognised ‘V label’ by the European Vegetarian Union.

VINEYARD:
Tandem’s vineyard philosophy is based on sustainable farming and using minimal intervention, while maintaining the vineyard’s health and viability. The natural conditions of the valley ensure that pesticide treatments can be kept to a minimum, using sulphur and copper, avoiding synthetic chemicals. The vines are dry-farmed to save water and undergo a green harvest, to obtain lower yields and a key factor in achieving a greater concentration and complexity in the berries. A tractor is used just twice per year to reduce CO2 emissions. The vines are trained using the Guyot method and are grown in clay loam soils. Harvesting is carried out at the moment of optimal ripeness and takes place during the coolest hours of the day, so the grapes retain their freshness.

WINEMAKING:
The two varieties were vinified separately. Fermentation took place at controlled temperatures between 30 and 31°C for 30 days. The cap was plunged, but no pumps were used during the process. The wine was racked by gravity to underground concrete vats where it underwent malolactic conversion and was naturally fined through settling. The wine was matured for 18 months in French 300-litre oak casks.

TASTING NOTE:
A very complex nose with delicate aromas of cloves, black pepper and pipe tobacco layered with mountain minerality, scrubland, balsamic notes and rich, dark chocolate. A powerful yet elegant wine, this really showcases the terroir with a long, fresh and concentrated finish.

GRAPES:
Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Merlot 40%.