El Escocés Volante is a project in Aragón, the work of Norrel Robertson MW and his family. His wine journey began in Edinburgh three decades ago and led him part-way around the world, to Portugal, Italy, France, Australia, Chile and New Zealand – before settling in Spain in 2003.
Inspired by the terroir and the sheer quality of the Garnacha he found there – this grape became his initial focus and drive, seeking out and retrieving old Garnacha vineyards. This ‘mission’ has extended to other varieties, including an old Macabeo vineyard, planted in 1969.
As well as working closely with a select group of local growers who share his philosophy, Norrel today owns 40 hectares of mainly old vine Garnacha (between 50 and 115 years old) along with other indigenous varieties such as Mazuelo (Carignan), Moristel, Macabeo, Garnacha Gris and Provechón. El Escocés Volante have also undertaken a programme of new plantings – to create the old vines of the future. Their vineyards are based around the towns of Villarroya de la Sierra, Cervera de la Cañada, Torralba, Aniñon and Torrijo de la Cañada, 650 – 1,000 metres above sea level.
El Escocés Volante are members of the Regenerative Viticulture Association in Spain. They have been organic in practice since 2014, and have recently started the certification process. They don’t use pesticides, they maintain a cover crop during winter months and create their own biochar from vine cuttings. All of their vineyards are dry grown. In the winery their bottles are 88% recycled glass and they have been moving to lighter-weight versions.
Tasting Notes
An elegant and truly sophisticated red – El Cismático is only released when Norrel and the team believe they have the perfect conditions to make an Old Vine Garnacha with the capacity to age gracefully for years in bottle, gaining complexity along the way.
The nose is still very youthful, deep and complex with constantly evolving aromas from wild red fruits, beets, dried orange peel and a light touch of mountain herbs as the wine opens up. The palate is characterful and nuanced with fine tannins, notes of wild raspberry and earth, and lifted violet characters.
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