3 Miradas Ladera de Benavente

D.O. Montilla-Moriles

Sierra de Montilla de Calidad Superior, the Grand Cru subzone of Montilla-Moriles, south of Córdoba, Spain

100% Pedro Ximénez

Two parcels on the northern-facing bank of the Benavente arroyo.

1950

Old head-trained vines farmed completely sustainably without organic certification, but avoiding all use of harmful fungicides, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and irrigation.

Albariza. A soil composed mostly of limestone and soft marlstone. Poor in organic matter, of a simple mineral composition, and a crumbly consistency. This is a material that is capable of retaining water in an area which experiences less than 600L of rainfall per year, and for its drainage, which prevents them from accumulating water and salts.

Semi-Continental Mediterranean. Extremely high temperatures and irregular rainfall from year to year.

3 Miradas Ladera de Benavente is a single estate wine sourced from two parcels on the northern-facing bank of the Benavente arroyo in the Sierra de Montilla de Calidad Superior. Bunches are destemmed and pressed in a horizontal pneumatic press. The must ferments spontaneously in tinajas, traditional concrete amphora (4,800L).

After fermentation in tinaja, the wine rests under the velo de flor for eight months before bottling.

Alvear is the oldest family-owned winery in Spain, and the oldest winery in Andalucía, making it the original producer of sherry-style wines (vinos generosos) in Andalucía. Alvear launched the 3 Miradas project in 2016 to express the terroir of Montilla-Moriles without the interference of the ageing-intensive process used to produce the classic wines of Montilla. They use a selection of their top "grand cru" vineyards from the Sierra de Montilla de Calidad Superior to make five single vineyard wines and one Vino de Pueblo. Ladera de Benavente expresses the most vertical and fresh single vineyard wine in the 3 Miradas line-up.