The Alpujarras is a rugged mountain region in eastern Andalusia, characterized by steep valleys and a landscape of rocky terrain interspersed with Mediterranean shrubs. In the 15th century, its remote canyons and gorges served as the final refuge for many Muslims expelled from Granada during the Spanish Reconquista.
The isolation of the Alpujarras endures to this day, with many of its former inhabitants having migrated to Spain’s cities. Manuel Valenzuela followed this path as a young man, studying in Madrid and working as a chemist. Yet, in 1979, he returned to the Alpujarras, founding his winery, Barranco Oscuro, at an altitude of 1280 meters.
In 1996, just above the estate, Valenzuela planted a one-hectare Syrah vineyard, perfectly suited to the desert-like climate with its dramatic day-night temperature fluctuations. While yields are low due to the often extreme conditions, the dry environment ensures consistently excellent grapes.
For the Rubaiyat, the Syrah grapes underwent meticulous hand selection before being fermented spontaneously in stainless steel tanks. The wine was aged in a combination of old oak barrels and stainless steel tanks for two years. It was coarsely filtered but left unfined and unsulfured.
Barranco Oscuro’s Syrah pays homage to Omar Khayyam, the celebrated Persian poet of the first millennium. Renowned for his quatrains, or Rubāʿīyāt, Khayyam often wrote of his deep love for wine.
Style
From the first sip, the wine drives forward with energy and precision. Despite its power, it remains linear and focused. It features tightly woven tannins that have integrated beautifully over time, leading to a textured and juicy finish.
Technical Sheet
- Variety: Syrah
- Plant Protection: Only sulfur, copper, and plant- or animal-based preparations; not certified
- Vineyard: Schist soils, very rocky and barren
- Harvest: Handpicked
- Fermentation: Spontaneous | Wild yeasts in stainless steel tanks
- Aging: 2 years in used oak barrels and stainless steel tanks
- Filtration: Yes, 15-micron filter
- SO₂: Unsulfured
- Alcohol: 14.5%
- Closure: Natural cork
- Serving Temperature: 16–18°C
- Optimal Drinking Window: Now – 2028
- Volume and Price per Liter: 0.75 l (€24.87/l)
