El Médico is one of the star wines made by Bodega Leyenda del Páramo, in Valdevimbre, León. Founded in 2010, it came into being because a group of wine-lovers wanted to recover the region's indigenous varieties: the Prieto Picudo and the Albarín Blanco. The vines enjoy the freshness provided by the altitude (900 m), on a site on the northern stretch of the Duero basin, and endure poor quality, pebbly soils; the combination of both factors means that the Leyenda del Páramo wines are as fresh as they are intense.
In the production of El Médico, only Prieto Picudo grapes are used from vines aged more than 60 years old, trained using the local, traditional system: the rastra (with the vine branches trailing on the ground). Harvesting is carried out by hand, with the grapes placed into small, 20-kg crates, and after a careful selection, they undergo a cold pre-maceration for 24 hours and ferment at a controlled temperature. This is followed by malolactic fermentation and afterwards ageing takes place in new and second-use oak barrels.
Tasting a wine made from a minority variety is always a pleasant experience, and even more so when one comes across not only a surprising aromatic array but also a quality not expected. El Médico undoubtedly falls into this category. Right at the start, its lovely purple colour attracts attention. Its tears seem unwilling to glide down the glass and its nose of strawberries and lactic notes are immediately delightful. Forest fruits, blue flowers (lilies) and very fine spices epitomise the aromas of a wine that's very clean-cut, almost chiselled. In spite of its discreet entrance, it grows on the palate in response to a notable acidity that brings to mind ripe blackcurrants. Its mouthfeel is fluid and lively, and touches of paprika and eucalyptus raise it to remarkable levels of freshness and elegance. Ample, balanced and having a restrained and elegant finish in which the oak is simply hinted at, making it easy to continue drinking, sip after sip, and always giving immense satisfaction in return.
Cuando pruebo un vino nuevo me gusta encontrarle algo por lo que recordarlo más adelante. Algo en los aromas, en la textura..., a veces un maridaje. El Médico me impactó porque no tenía ninguna idea preconcebida sobre él, nunca antes había probado un vino de prieto picudo; directamente, me encantó. Me quedé con la imagen de estar a medio camino entre los vinos de Ribeira Sacra, tenía algo húmedo en su interior, un frescor láctico, y los mediterráneos, muy jugoso, sedoso. En conjunto, todo un señor. Para un vino de este precio, ¡caramba!, muy serio a la vez que placentero... y con personalidad. ¡Como debe ser!
by: Miguel Fernandez Marcos (21/01/2023) - Vintage 2015
0
El médico
Prieto picudo suave y elegante, pocos taninos. Combina adecuadamente con verduras y carnes.
De la variedad Prieto Picudo. Un varietal que sorprende muy gratamente.
by: martin_in_munich (13/10/2017) - Vintage 2013
-1
Medicine for the soul
As I red the name of this wine and the description I thought that truly sounds like medicine, and I wasn't disapointed, wow if this doesn't cure what ails you then you better call a priest.
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