The story of Señorío de Líbano began when, within the Sixties, Alfonso Líbano Pérez bought the fortress of Sajazarra, one among Rioja’s most iconic buildings, within the coronary heart of Rioja Alta. Alfonso discovered a phenomenal deserted property in a state of extreme decay, however with a novel character and potential, on the epicentre of the village of the identical identify. He launched into a undertaking of full renovation, not understanding that this could be the place to begin of an thrilling journey which culminated with the creation of Bodegas Señorío de Líbano.
The fortress was restored to its former glory, faithfully respecting the historic structure and options. Alfonso Líbano Pérez-Ulibarri ultimately purchased different buildings within the Sajazarra village, which he additionally renovated of their entirety.
Historical past and serendipity
Through the in depth restoration works, a mediaeval wine cellar was discovered on the grounds, motivating the start of wine manufacturing at Sajazarra – first only for private consumption and ultimately as a industrial proposition, beneath the brand new Señorío de Líbano enterprise. The fortress overlooks the vineyard, inbuilt 1973 within the adjoining romantic backyard, with the property’s 19 small fincas (a complete of fifty hectares of vineyards) all inside a 3km radius. ‘It’s a true château idea, with all of the vineyards on the vineyard’s doorstep,’ says Alfonso Líbano, grandson of the founder and the third era on the helm of the property. The vineyards are positioned on the toes of the Obarenes Mountains, within the small villages of Fonzaleche, Galbarruli and Sajazarra itself – dramatic websites influenced both by the Atlantic or the Mediterranean winds, relying on the publicity (north and/or south) of every slope.
The native continental local weather, with a large day-night temperature amplitude, the limestone-rich clay soils and the altitude (between 550 and 700m), produce fruit of unimaginable complexity and finesse. The group at Señorio de Líbano have sought to harness the character of their distinctive terroirs in a spread of wines that reveals a noble but approachable aspect of Garnacha, Graciano and Tempranillo.
Senorío de Líbano’s vines – whose age ranges from 16 years for Graciano to 92 years for gnarly previous Garnachas, with Tempranillos between 25 and 30 years – root deep within the naked soils, very poor in natural matter. This, mixed with a cautious cover administration program that optimises publicity and photosynthesis, permits the plant to ship a reasonable yield (4,000 to five,000 kilos/ha) of concentrated, high-quality fruit – properly aerated bunches of small, wholesome berries with optimum phenolic ripeness. They in the end produce wines that uniquely mirror the direct connection from grape to glass.
Holistic strategy to sustainability
Despite the challenges of the native mesoclimate and ecosystem, Señorío de Líbano has adopted natural viticulture practices, fastidiously managing the excessive rainfall and consequent illness stress in essentially the most affordable manner. The six hectares planted to Graciano – a late-ripening selection that wants prolonged intervals on the vine – are significantly delicate and worthy of consideration. Not least as a result of the range performs a key position within the identification and magnificence of Señorío de Líbano’s wines. ‘It’s the grape that provides persona to our wines, explains Jesús Bermejo, agronomist and oenologist on the property.
Sustainability just isn’t, nonetheless, seen merely from an environmental standpoint but additionally from a cultural and human perspective. The undertaking has had, from its inception, a holistic strategy, trying on the preservation of the distinctive architectural and historic relevance of Sajazarra. A part of it entails bringing new social and financial life to the village, be it by means of the artistic use of its empty buildings (the corporate will quickly be utilizing the fortress wall to age brandy), the sponsorship of cultural initiatives or initiatives to advertise biodiversity within the surrounding space. ‘It’s our village’, says Alfonso, ‘and we’re deeply dedicated to it.’
Third-generation Alfonso Líbano
High quality and evolution
The funding in additional conscious viticultural practices has supported an equal effort within the cellar, refining winemaking strategy and the type of Señorío de Líbano’s wines. The arrival of Javier Cornadó as supervisor has been instrumental to this evolution. ‘Ageing performs an essential position in our wines, because the chilly local weather calls for prolonged time within the bottle. However we’re giving extra prominence to fruit expression within the winemaking course of,’ explains Cornadó.
The adjustments are additionally a pure end result of a generational transition, with Alfonso Líbano beginning to consolidate his private view and management. ‘We are going to at all times protect, as our essence, the manufacturing of approachable, drinkable wines. We’re, nonetheless, attempting to make wines with extra fruit, extra color and balanced oak affect,’ says Alfonso. ‘We began the adjustments, in earnest, three years in the past and I imagine we’re heading in the right direction,’ says Alfonso.
The numerous awards and accolades acquired by Señorio de Líbano lately appear to show him proper, whereas additionally recognising the price of the producer’s historic type. The Digma Tempranillo Reserva 2016 received a Gold distinction (96 factors) at this yr’s version of the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), after being thought of the Greatest Tempranillo within the World on the London Wine Competitors. The Digma Reserva Graciano 2017 and the Castillo de Sajazarra 2016 additionally stood out on the DWWA 2022, with Silver mentions, at 93 and 92 factors respectively.
One of the best ways to find Señorio de Líbano’s wines is maybe tasting them in Sajazarra itself. The fortress is open to the general public and the corporate hosts a number of actions for guests to discover the wines, tradition and historical past of this singular Riojan village.
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