Dominio de Valdepusa has been in the noble family of Carlos Falcó Fernandez de Córdova, the Marquis of Griñon, since 1292. Referred to as the father of Spanish wine, Falcó pioneered the modernization of vine growing and winemaking in Spain. Falcó graduated from the University of California Davis with a degree in viticulture and oenology in 1964. He returned home and began making wine, all the while pushing the boundaries of winemaking as set by Francoist Spain. In 1974, he introduced the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grape varieties to Spain, as well as drip irrigation and night harvesting.

His experimentation with international varieties and modern technologies made him the internationally renowned expert on Spanish wine. In 1999 he published the 18-volume Entender de Vino, the quintessential guide to Spanish winemaking, now in its 13th edition. He also founded the esteemed Grandes Pagos de España association, with members including 27 of the most prestigious estates in Spain. The group’s mission is to defend and propagate the culture of pago wine, meaning wine produced in a specific terroir that reflects the distinct personality of the soil and climate.

Dominio de Valdepusa vineyard is located in Castilla-La Mancha, some 31 miles from Toledo, near the Pusa River. It covers 50 hectares, 20 of which are planted primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Syrah. The balance is pristine land populated by local varieties of oak, wild olive trees, brush, thyme and rosemary, which contribute to the overall complexity and personality of the single estate. The family believes in the importance of the terroir and does its utmost to transmit the land’s characteristics to their grapes, including the soil’s physical, mineral and biological characteristics.

The 2013 vintage is made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that fermented separately by parcel in stainless steel followed by 12-18 months in French oak. The grapes for this very special wine have been selected almost on a vine per vine basis, with the aim to preserve all of the character and personality that their single estate terroir has to offer.

Deep purple in color, this Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the glass with aromas of black cherries, wild berry fruits and sweet spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate and tobacco. It is expansive on the palate: full-bodied, well-structured with fine, integrated tannins, and outstanding depth. Pair this wine with osso bucco, truffle and boar ravioli, or barbecue.