Cuvee Zen - Huella de Aitana 2020
Gonzalo Celayeta, Navarra, Rosado

After a decade of producing his rosado, “La Huella de Aitana,” Gonzalo has taken a bold step forward by creating what he calls “un rosado de guarda,” a rosado intended for aging.

To craft this wine, he selects the finest Garnacha grapes from cooler sites with less sun exposure, maximizing freshness. In the cellar, the red juice is macerated with its skins for about 8 hours to attain a lighter color. Following fermentation, the addition of 15% white Grenache enhances the wine's acidity. It then rests for 8 months in oak barriques on fine lees, with occasional bâtonnage. Afterward, the wine is transferred to a 1,200-liter amphora, where it stays for 10 months. The amphora’s shape allows for gentle micro-oxygenation and constant flow, fostering subtle interactions within the wine.

Once amphora aging is complete, the wine spends a further year maturing in the bottle. After three years, Cuvee Zen is ready for release. Gonzalo aims for a nuanced elegance and complexity with this cuvée, elevating rosados to the fine wine category. The wine boasts a light salmon hue akin to French rosé but retains a distinct Navarran essence on the palate. The signature candied red fruit notes of Garnacha rosados meld with delicate barrel spices and creamy, doughy lees influences from its time in clay.

While Cuvee Zen is delightful to drink now, it's designed to flourish over time. Named one of Spain's top rosados, this wine stands as a testament to the exceptional quality that Navarra's rosados can attain.