Pago de Santa Cruz
Hermanos Sastre • La Horra, Ribera del Duero
"The pure essence of the terroir: a red of monumental power born from pre-phylloxera vines that places this wine in the pantheon of Ribera del Duero."
The Olympus of La Horra
**Pago de Santa Cruz** is one of Spain's most respected labels. Viña Sastre crafts this wine from a unique single vineyard with vines that survived phylloxera, settled on limestone soil that provides vertical elegance. With artisanal aging and minimal intervention, this red is the ultimate expression of Tinta del País: opulent, mineral, and designed to defy the passage of decades.
1. Identity Profile
- Winery: Hermanos Sastre (Viña Sastre).
- Origin: La Horra, Ribera del Duero.
- Varietal: 100% Tinta del País (Pre-phylloxera).
- Aging: 18 to 30 months in French Oak.
- Soil: High mountain calcareous-clay.
- Alcohol: 14.5% Alc. Vol.
2. Sommelier's Notes
Appearance: Very dark and impenetrable cherry red, with a very high intensity. Shows dense legs indicating great glyceric concentration.
Nose: A deep aromatic profile with prominent blueberries and cassis, followed by an almost palpable graphite minerality. Evolves towards notes of black licorice, pure cocoa, and integrated noble woods.
Palate: Superb, enveloping, and assertive entry. Possesses a massive tannic structure yet with aristocratic finesse. The finish is very long, leaving a profoundly mineral and balsamic echo.
3. Wine Architecture
MASSIVE BODY [ ● ● ● ● ● ]
FIRM TANNINS [ ● ● ● ● ● ]
EXTREME MINERALITY [ ● ● ● ● ● ]
AGING POTENTIAL [ +20 YEARS ]
4. High Gastronomy Pairing
Monumental Dishes: Grilled old ox chop, Rossini fillet, or wild boar stews.
Mexican Harmony: Its mineral complexity makes it the perfect companion for an **Oaxacan Black Mole** with notes of cocoa and ash.
Serving: Essential to decant for **90 to 120 minutes**. Serve at **17°C - 18°C** in a fine crystal glass.