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Zestos Tinto
R EG I ON: V I NOS DE MADRI D
Zestos Tinto is produced and bottled by
Bodegas Jeromín in the Vinos de Madrid DO
region. ‘Zestos’ means basket in English. Not
too many years ago, baskets like the one on the
label were placed on donkeys to transport the
grapes from the vineyard to the winery. This
eloquent image is meant to recall the tools
from the past that were used to harvest grapes.
Manuel Martinez is proprietor of Vinos Jeromín,
a third-generation bodega that produces quality
organic wines in the three districts of the Vinos
de Madrid DO. In addition to being the capital
of Spain, Madrid has recently been the center
of one of the most interesting and innovative
wine regions on the Iberian Peninsula. For
example, 90% of Vinos de Madrid DO wines
are made from organically grown grapes. The
outskirts of this storied royal city are filled with
old vines of Tempranillo and Garnacha situated
in high elevation vineyards planted in ideal
soils. Madrid is the great unknown that is now
freshly discovered. Most Spaniards are unaware
that Madrid makes wine and because Vinos de
Madrid is not yet “on the radar” of Spanish wine
consumers, it is a great source of incredible
values today.
What makes this wine unique?
This tremendous quality wine is made from old vine
Tempranillo and Garnacha and it sells for a song! The
Tempranillo adds body and the Garnacha adds brightness. The
tannins are soft, making this a very easy-to-drink wine when
young. Zestos show a touch of earth and spice.
Winemaker: Manuel Martinez
Rating History: 2009 88 IWC; 2008 87 IWC; 2007 88 IWC;
2006 87 IWC; 2005 88 IWC.
Zestos Tinto
R EG I ON: V I NOS DE MADRI D
Grapes
50% Tempranillo and 50% Garnacha.
Production
30,000 cases made; 10,000 imported to the U.S.
Vinification and aging
Both Tempranillo and Garnacha are harvested and vinified
separately, in stainless steel tanks and in cement tanks of
10,000-liter capacity. The wine is aged in stainless steel tanks
and in 10,000-liter cement tanks to emphasize the flavor
purity and youthful, fresh characters of the Tempranillo and
Garnacha grapes.
MANUEL MARTINEZ, WINEMAKER
Location, soil and climate
The vineyards are located in Zone 7, southeast of Madrid in
the town of Arganda del Rey, within the Arganda subregion,
at 750 meters (2,460 ft.) elevation. The Tempranillo portion
of Zestos comes from the Arganda district and the Garnacha
grapes come from 40-year-old vines in the high-elevation
district of San Martin de Valdeiglesias at 870 meters (2,850
ft.) elevation. All the vines are head pruned in the traditional
manner. The soils are clay with granite subsoils for the
Tempranillo and granite soils for the Garnacha vines, which
result in grapes with volume, minerality and expressive
aromas. For climate, the average temperature from AprilOctober is 66.7ºF with 20.1 inches of yearly rainfall in
Arganda. The southern Continental climate has hot days and
cool nights, which are crucial to the slower, balanced ripening
of the grapes.
VINEYARDS
Pairing suggestion
Zestos has such a pleasing aspect and texture and such fresh,
succulent red and dark berry aromas and fruit; it’s a perfect
introduction to Spanish wine. Put it next to any casual foods
you care to: pizza, Panini sandwiches, pulled pork sliders,
fajitas, cheese quesadillas, and pastrami and corned beef
sandwiches. This is an “easy quaffer” wine too, so if you don’t
have any aged manchego or Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
handy, just pour some in your glass and enjoy!
Tasting notes
2
1
3
4
6
7 MAD 8
9
10
5
BCN