Winemaker Notes
This wine is made from Tintilla, a grape that was once widespread in Southern Spain, only to be lost at the turn of the 19th century. Historian-winemaker Alberto Orte has resurrected this grape as a tribute to his heritage and the heritage of Cádiz. Lurid ruby. Powerful, mineral-laced dark berry and floral pastille scents pick up hints of five-spice powder and woodsmoke as the wine opens up. Sappy and focused on the palate, offering intense black raspberry, bitter cherry and spice-cake flavors and an exotic suggestion of blood orange. In a distinctly elegant, energetic style, with silky tannins framing the juicy, mineral-driven finish.
Pair this wine alongside grilled meats, aged cheese, hearty stews. Though, a cool night and some fine company will pair splendidly, too. This wine should be decanted.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A layered and very refined red offering plums and hints of hazelnut and wet earth. Medium-bodied, fresh and fruity with a hint of bitter lemon and a bright finish.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: 2016 Alberto Orte Atlántida is an excellent red wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine delivers the goods as its aromas and flavors of black fruit, licorice, savory spices streak to the wine's finish. Pair it with a delicious pork stew. (Tasted: July 6, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
Spanish red wine is known for being bold, heady, rustic and age-worthy, Spain is truly a one-of-a-kind wine-producing nation. A great majority of the country is hot, arid and drought-ridden, and since irrigation has only been recently introduced and (controversially) accepted, viticulture has sustained—and flourished—only through a great understanding of Spain’s particular conditions. Large spacing between vines allows each enough resources to survive and as a result, the country has the most acreage under vine compared to any other country, but is usually third in production.
Of the Spanish red wines, the most planted and respected grape variety is Tempranillo, the star of Spain’s Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions. Priorat specializes in bold red blends, Jumilla has gained global recognition for its single varietal Monastrell and Utiel-Requena has garnered recent attention for its reds made of Bobal.