Vinos López - Valdejalón

Vinos López is a family winery that was founded in 1970 by their paternal grandfather.  Belonging to the IGP Valdejalón and located in Epila, Zaragoza, at an altitude of 500-600 meters above sea level.  Vinos López is the only certified winery in the entire IGP Valdejalón.  The winemaker, Mario López, is probably best known for his collaboration with Fernando Mora on the Frontonio wines, where Mario’s family vineyards provide the fruit and Fernando and Mario make the wines together.

Vinos López El Ventilador Blanco 2023

70% Garnacha Blanca/30% Macabeo. Certified organic. From the Bodegaza (planted at the end of the 1960s) and Las Cellas (planted in the mid-1990s) vineyards.

Winemaking:  Hand harvested in 200kg containers to avoid crushing the grapes.  Destemmed and skin maceration of the grapes for 24 hours to achieve enhanced aromatic quality and structure.  Spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel tanks to respect the characteristic fruit aromas of the variety.

Production:  1,600 cases

Vinos López La Bodegaza Garnacha Blanca 2021

100% Garnacha Blanca. Certified organic.  From the Bodegaza vineyard (planted at the end of the 1960s).

Winemaking:  Hand harvested in 20kg containers to avoid crushing the grapes.  Destemmed and skin maceration for 24 hours to achieve enhanced aromatic quality and structure.  Spontaneous fermentation in 600L French oak barrels to respect the characteristic fruit aromas of the variety.

Production:  660 cases

Vinos López El Ventilador Garnacha 2022

100% Garnacha Tinta. Certified organic. From the Bodegaza (planted at the end of the 1960s) and Las Cellas (planted in the mid-1990s) vineyards.

Winemaking:  Hand harvested in 200kg containers to avoid crushing the grapes.  Partially destemmed and gentle press with a pre-fermentative maceration of 5 days.  Spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel with gentle daily pump-overs for 10 days.  After fermentation completes, 30% of the total volume is aged for 3 months in used 600L French oak barrels and later blended with the total volume of the wine from the tank.

Production:  2,500 cases

Vinos López La Bodegaza Garnacha 2021

100% Garnacha Tinta. Certified organic. From the Bodegaza vineyard (planted at the end of the 1960s).

Winemaking:  Hand harvested in 20kg containers to avoid crushing the grapes.  Partially destemmed and gentle press with a pre-fermentative maceration of 5 days.  Spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel with gentle daily punch-downs for 30 days.  Transferred to 600L French oak barrels and aged for 8-10 months before bottling.

Production:  1,250 cases

by Beth Willard 95:  Vinos López La Bodegaza Garnacha Blanca 2021

A wine from the family vineyards of Mario López in Epila in the IGP Valdejalón, neatly

situated 40km from each of its three neighbouring DOs. This is a barrel fermented white from

50-year-old organic Garnacha Blanca vines, aged in 600L French oak. Pretty white peach,

green tea and floral notes on the nose are immediately appealing but this wine will continue to

gain complexity with time in bottle. Pithy, lemony acidity is a nice counterweight to a chalky

texture, and mineral, salty finish. A wine to keep aside for a couple of years to enjoy its full

development. 2025 - 2029

by Beth Willard 92:  Vinos López El Ventilador Garnacha 2022

Mario López produces his “entry” level, organic red from his family’s own vines of more

than 25 years age. Fermented with indigenous yeasts, only 30% of the wine spends around

3 months in 600L French oak which brings just a little more complexity. This is a delightfully

juicy and joyous Garnacha that delivers crunchy red cherry and raspberry with a touch of

monte bajo and very silky tannins. 2024 - 2026

by Beth Willard 93:  Vinos López La Bodegaza Garnacha 2021

Mario López produces this Garnacha from his family’s own 50-year-old vines. There’s just

a bit of barrel here with the wine spending 8 – 10 months in 600L French oak. It’s a wild

and rustically charming Garnacha with dark berries, lavender, spice and some burnt orange

notes. The palate has great drive with inherent freshness coming from the predominantly

canto rodado, pebbly soils that bring a steely backbone to this wine. 2024 - 2028