OSSIAN

Autumn 2018 was especially rainy, which led to an excellent reserve of rainwater for 2019. Winter, conversely, was dry and cold, which meant the growth cycle of the vines arrived a little early in the spring. In mid-March, the sap of the vine was triggered again although the first sprouts did not arrive until the end of April, which was notably rainy. In June, the flowering and setting of the berries were outstanding. The summer of 2019 was very dry and with medium and high temperatures, thus leaving the vineyard in excellent condition. The storms in late August alleviated the harsh summer heat near the end of the cycle and resulted in an optimal state of ripening for the vineyard. The harvest started on 16 September and lasted until 2 October.

The soil of the Nieva area make up the fundamental part of this landscape: in the past, the sandy marls and pebbles prevented the phylloxera from destroying the vines that now preserve the viticultural history of the region. The austere climate with cold winters and hot, dry summers define this verdejo variety. The ungrafted root stock feeds the small bunches that do their best to survive. The genetic diversity of these grapes gives each of these vineyards a higher level of complexity.

Ossian is the landscape resulting from the separate vinification of all the small parcels of stock going back up to 200 years. The vineyard uses the traditional techniques from the area, complying with the rules for organic certification. The grapes arrive at the winery in small crates. After an initial soft pressing, the juice is transferred to casks of 228 and 600 litres, and wooden vats of various sizes. Fermentation is spontaneous and lasts a number of weeks. The autochthonous yeasts express the purity and diversity of these vine stocks. After slow ageing on the lees, Ossian 2019 was clarified and bottled the summer of 2020.