“El Canto del Mirlo” literally translates as “the song of the blackbird.” Yet if one simply follows the sound of the word Mirlo, one quickly arrives — without much mishearing — at the “song of Merlot.” And indeed, it sings harmoniously, clearly, and with a velvety voice: first on the nose and then on the palate — something that, when it comes to Merlot, is far from self-evident. The reason lies in the unique terroir high up in the Andalusian Alpujarras and in the craftsmanship of the Valenzuela family.
In the late 1990s, Manuel Valenzuela planted 300 vines there. At over 1,200 meters above sea level and with annual rainfall of barely 450 millimeters (most of it falling in winter), yields are extremely low. Yet the few berries that are harvested are rich in extract and highly concentrated.
The grapes are fermented without temperature control and without any additives whatsoever. The wine is neither fined nor sulphured; only a coarse filtration is carried out before bottling. “El Canto del Mirlo” is matured for well over a year in used barriques, followed by several more years in bottle.
Data Sheet Grape Variety: Merlot
Plant Protection: Only sulfur, copper, and preparations based on plant or animal substances; not certified Vineyard: Slate soils, minimal yield of 1 kg per vine Harvest: Hand-picked Fermentation: Spontaneous | wild yeasts in stainless steel tanks Aging: 12 months in barriques Filtration: Yes SO₂: No added sulfur Alcohol: 14% Closure: Natural cork Serving Temperature: 16–18°C Optimal Drinking Window: Now – 2032 Volume and Price per Liter: 0.75 L/(€24.87/L)
