Mauro Bergesio had a dream when he first started to partner in a small parcel of grapes in the drastic mountains of southern Salamanca. He saw remarkable potential in the local grapes, and knew that with the right touch, something truly special could be born in a bottle. Mauro isn't a winemaker because he is obsessed with the land, consumed by old and gnarly vines, and thrilled by the possibilities of what the land and vine can do. He seeks out only the greatest winemakers that have a unique and special touch for the grapes he grows, always keeping the integrity of the fruit at the forefront of importance. With each project, he is able to convey his passion through a bottle that finds its way to a glass.
Click HERE for a fantastic article about the Salamanca region, written by Blanca Paz García García
BERGESIO COLLEZIONE - VIRTUAL VISIT
The following interview was recorded in the fall of 2020 during the Covid lockdown. These videos were intended to promote sales and create requests for samples during a time when promoting new wines was challenging. Although this promotion is over, the videos contain SO MUCH great content that we want to make it available to you.
To watch this Virtual Visit on YouTube - click HERE Pro-Tip: Underneath each video there is an expandable description (click Show More) where you will find 'time-stamps' that are quick-linked to particular topics throughout the video for easy navigation and quick information
The following interview was recorded in the fall of 2020 during the Covid lockdown. These videos were intended to promote sales and create requests for samples during a time when promoting new wines was challenging. Although this promotion is over, the videos contain SO MUCH great content that we want to make it available to you.
To watch this Virtual Visit on YouTube - click HERE Pro-Tip: Underneath each video there is an expandable description (click Show More) where you will find 'time-stamps' that are quick-linked to particular topics throughout the video for easy navigation and quick information
bergesio collezione 'rufián' gris
tempranillo & tempranillo blanco The Rufian Gris is a dynamite expression of Tempranillo from high in the mountains of Segovia, in Valtiendas, at 900 meters above sea level. The soils are abundant with gravel and pebbles, which provide the vineyard with a perfect drainage system that prevents evaporation of water in extreme heat so it can reach the clay deep within. It is predominately the rarely found Tempranillo Blanco grape, mixed with classic (black) Tempranillo, both of which were hand-pressed immediately with about 30% still in full clusters. The grape must then fermented slowly and naturally and laid to rest for several months in one single 500-liter new French barrel. The color is magical, with a pinkish orange hue and a clouded texture, giving way to aromas expressive of earthy tones, bright brambly fruits, and a spicy background. In the mouth the acid is lively, working well with the berried nuance, fresh salinity, light spices, and soft delicious tannins. 
bergesio collezione 'rufián' lazarillo
100% garnacha The Lazarillo is a tiny production wine from Mauro Bergesio that is born from only Garnacha vines at a high elevation of 950 meters, near the city of Segovia in the small DO of Valtiendas. The 30-year-old plot of vines is called La Redreja in what is known as the Páramo de Corcos (wasteland), where the climate is extreme between seasons, and the soil is very poor, full of stones with deep clay and limestone. Only enough fruit for 2 barrels was hand-harvested for this wine, where the grapes fermented naturally and aged for a full year without the use of sulfites until bottling. This red is an expression of the terroir from start to finish on the palate, offering bright red fruits, wild herbs, and mineral in the nose, and leading to an exuberant yet quite elegant palate. In the mouth it is textured, showing the roundness that the barrel was able to contribute, yet retaining a linear focus of acid from the fruit, slight hints of savory spice, and a persistence through the finish that lasts through some delicious moments. 
bergesio collezione 'zancas largas'
100% tinta del pais (tempranillo) The Zancas Largas Tempranillo is a tiny production red wine from the high elevations of the DO Valtiendas. The grapes come from a small plot of 90-year-old bush vines that grow on stony clay and limestone soils and are hand-harvest with meticulous care. Once in the cellar, the wine starts a natural fermentation in both small tank and new oak barrels. Once complete and also gently pressed, the wine ages for 15 months in new and used French Holistic oak barrels without any additions until a small amount of sulfites at bottling. The resulting wine has immense complexity, and a dark brambly wild component on the nose. In the mouth, this Tempranillo has a soft touch, as the oak tannins are quite supple and integrated with the intensity of the fruit. The mid-mouth and long finish have a bit of chocolate and deep spice to accompany the fruit, and continues for several moments after the wine is long gone from the tongue. 
bergesio collezione 'alegal'
100% calabrés The Alegal is a tiny production wine coming from the mountains of Salamanca in the Sierra de Francia. A small, quarter-hectare plot of nearly 100 year old vines produce the local type of Garnacha that is known there as Calabrés. The name comes from when the Diocese of Calabria passed through Salamanca long, long ago, and now is a grape that is hardly found anymore. Hand-harvested from bush vines, the grapes were brought to the cellar of Daniel Ramos in El Tiemblo for its vinification. After a de-stemming and crushing of the grapes, natural fermentation only took about 2 weeks due to the low alcohol of this particular Garnacha, and was then racked into a single, 225-liter used French barrel. Only a touch of sulfur was added at bottling for the 300 bottles produced in 2015. The aromatics are wild with herbs, violets, blackberries, crushed rock, leather, and lavender. In the mouth it has a juicy base of ripe mountain fruit, high desert shrub, savory yet spicy dark chocolate, scrumptious tannins, and balanced acidity. |
bergesio collezione 'rufian' tempranillo blanco
100% tempranillo blanco The Rufian Tempranillo Blanco is a dynamite expression of Tempranillo from high in the mountains of Segovia, in Valtiendas, at 900 meters above sea level. The soils are abundant with gravel and pebbles, which provide the vineyard with a perfect drainage system that prevents evaporation of water in extreme heat so it can reach the clay deep within. This rarely found grape is Tempranillo Blanco, that Mauro discovered in an old bush vine field that created this first bottling ever. The grapes were pressed and fermented slowly and naturally and laid to rest for several months in one single Bio-Holistic 350-liter new French barrel. This barrel comes from a particular portion of the Allier forest, where the earth’s energy is found to be the highest, and was aged differently than most oak, following all biodynamic principles for completion. The resulting wine became deep in texture, layered with weight yet also intriguing nuance, giving way to a very gastronomic wine. Aromas of tropical fruit, sea spray, crunchy minerals, and small white flowers, lead to a palate that has briny sea qualities wrapped around fleshy fruit and stony earth. 
bergesio collezione 'rufián' 1920
rufete, rufete serano blanco, aragones, calabrés The Rufian 1920 comes from the western reach of Spain, near Miranda del Castañar in the southern portion of the province of Salamanca. This special bottling is named 1920 for two reasons: first to celebrate the century old vines that were planted in 1920 in the El Erial plot, and second because this bottling is a mix of both the 2019 and 2020 vintages to create a truly unique Rufian experience. Both years were co-fermented blends, with indigenous yeasts, of four grapes from this mixed vineyard; about 65% Rufete Noir that stayed with their skins, and then15% Rufete Serrano Blanco (used to be known as Verdejo Serrano), 15% Aragonés (Temrpanillo), and 5% Calabrés (Garnacha), all pressed gently off their skins. The two vintages gave a different result yet come together harmoniously with beautiful texture, freshness, and lively fruit. The aromas are soft and round, full of juicy berries, but also full of an earthy depth that brings the mountain terroir to the forefront of the glass. In the mouth, the wine has a gripping texture laced with fruit, minerality, and earthy goodness. 
bergesio collezione 'zancas largas'
garnacha & tinta del pais The Zancas Largas Garnacha and Tempranillo is a tiny production red blend from the small DO of Valtiendas in Castilla y Leon. Coming from very old Tempranillo vines (90 years) and 30-year-old Garnacha vines at 950 meters above sea level, the grapes are hand-harvested and brought to the cellar for a natural fermentation in a small steel tank and a single new holistic French Bocoy barrel of 600 liters. Once complete, the wine lays to rest for 15 months in the Bocoy as well as two new 350-liter barrels. Once bottled (the only time when sulfites are used) the wine is explosive and distinct upon opening. Remarkable aromatics of dark cherries, black currants, cedar planks, and purple flowers explode from the glass, leading to an elegant yet quite expressive palate. The mouthfeel is round and supple, but has a distinct freshness to the fruit, so the acidity is present and a big part of the texture. It shows loads of fruit, spice, and trails on with a clean mineral driven finish, giving serious length and class to the wine. |