La Multa El Recurso Old Vine Garnacha 2014

The Flying Scotsman may sound like the name of a catamaran in the North Sea, but it is actually the (translated) name of the winery behind this full-throttle Spanish red, Escocés Volante. Which, in turn, is named after its Scottish winemaker and genius, Norrel Robertson MW.

Not content with his Politics MA, he joined the wine industry and, one Master of Wine degree and one distinction in Postgraduate Viticulture and Oenology course later, he set up Escocés Volante, where the accolades keep coming.

La Multa is made with grapes from old Garnacha vines grown at high altitudes, which have given rise to raspberry, sweet leather and spice-laden flavours. Proof that it pays to swot.

El Escocés Volante, the ‘Flying Scotsman’, is the winemaking company set up in Calatayud by Norrel Robertson MW, who has been based there since 2003. Norrel has been able to work with individual growers to source high altitude, old vine blocks of exceptional quality and make wines with real character. Their philosophy is to sustain the lifestyle of the local growers. All fruit is hand-picked and selected to maintain the traditional methods of the Ribota valley and surrounding villages. Vines are only grubbed up when they become extremely unproductive and the growers have a positive replanting philosophy.

Born and raised in Scotland, Norrel first joined the industry in sales, buying and product development following his graduation from Aberdeen University with an MA Honours degree in Politics and International Relations. Deciding to pursue a career in winemaking in the 1990’s he worked and learnt from the Cellar upwards, working on vintages in Chianti in Italy, Portugal, Australia, France and Chile.

From 1998 to 2000, Norrel embarked on the Master of Wine Course, for which he won the Robert Mondavi Award for the best overall theory performance in the exam. In 2002-2003 Norrel studied the Postgraduate Viticulture and Oenology course at Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand, obtaining his postgraduate qualification with distinction. In 2003, he moved to Spain to as Winemaker for International Wine Services and quickly fell in love with the old Garnacha vineyards in the area of Calatayud, Aragon and decided to start making his own ranges, setting up his company El Escocés Volante.

The grapes were hand harvested between October 4th and 16th 2013, from old bush vines. The fruit was then crushed and destemmed, before temperature-controlled alcoholic fermentation took place in concrete vats, at to 25C for seven days. The must underwent bazuqeo, punchdown and delestage for colour and tannin extraction, followed by a short maceration. Only the free-run wine from pressing was used and it underwent full malolactic fermentation. Minimal fining and filtration was used.

The chalk and clay soils are situated on the slopes of the Ribota valley of the Calatayud DO at an altitude of 700-900m above sea level. Free draining soils combined with minimal rainfall and significant differences in day and night time temperature gives rise to excellent colours, and distinctive varietal aromas. An average vine age of well over 45 years, combined with the unique microclimate has ensured great concentration of fruit from extremely small yields (circa 20hl/ha).

This red has been made as a bold, modern, fruit-driven expression of the Garnacha variety. Rich purple in colour, it has intense raspberry, cherry and prune flavours, with complex notes of spice and leather. Full bodied with fine, soft tannins and well-balanced, the primary fruit gives way to a long, smooth, spicy finish. Perfect for chorizo/paprika-based dishes.