Description
Wine Details
Alcohol Grade: 11%
Aging/ Vinification: fermentation with narive wild yeast, 1 week skin contact in buried clay vessels
Best to have it: 6-10ºC
Size: 750 ml
The Winery: Octagono Vinos
Their goal is to let the grape express itself with no human interpretation. Octagono uses four basic processes executed with zero technological intervention – pressed by foot, inviting wild fermentation with no industrial yeast or sugars added, macerated in buried clay vessels and hand pressed with rustic utensils.
The wines are fermented for up to 9 months in buried clay pots molded by local San Felipe and Dolores Hidalgo artisans. The process of sourcing these vessels brought about the revival of ancestral methods of making pottery – a tradition almost lost in time in a compromise for a quicker way of making pottery that satisfies mass demand. They have tried to recreate the classic Georgian kvevri form, and ended up with a hybrid that has a particular Mexican imprint. We are happy with how our clay pots turned out, it is our belief they’re the reason the wines have a very particular character, unique to our winery. Natural winemaking gradually picks up in Mexico more winemakers turn to local artisans to source their anforas, instead of turning to foreign experts, thereby boosting local economies and breathing new life into this millenarian art form.
Octagono is rebellious by nature, they make a point to conquer the fear and defy comfort zones. The work with grape growers to mirror quality by insisting to grow their grapes naturally, sometimes choosing unpopular varieties that Marcelo Castro enjoys working with – like Rosa del Peru. Octagono will keep experimenting even more now to keep on innovating and pushing boundaries.
