The old, low-yielding vineyards are located within the D.O. Toro, in the west of Castilla y León.
- Location / Origin: Toro is situated around the Duero River and belongs to the warmer, drier wine regions of Northwest Spain. Within the appellation, the vineyards lie roughly between 620 and 870 meters above sea level.
- Soil: For El Recio, sandy soils with a high proportion of granite gravel are selected. The lean, well-draining subsoil limits the vigor of the vines and supports the concentration of the fruit.
- Climate & Influences: The climate is strongly continental and semi-arid, with Atlantic influence, hot summers, cold winters, and significant temperature differences between day and night. These contrasts help build ripeness without completely losing natural freshness.
- Vineyard & Harvest: The selected vines are up to 90 years old, yield limited crops, and are traditionally cultivated. The grapes are harvested entirely by hand.
The combination of concrete, spontaneous fermentation, and used oak gives El Recio its characteristic balance between pure fruit and mature complexity.
- Fermentation: After 14 days of skin maceration, spontaneous fermentation takes place in concrete tanks using indigenous yeasts. Malolactic fermentation also occurs in concrete, which rounds out the structure while keeping the fruit bright and vibrant.
- Maturation / Oak aging: The wine is then aged for 12 months in second-year French and Eastern European oak barrels. The used wood allows room for notes of vanilla, cocoa, and spice without overpowering the fresh red fruit.
- Finishing: Before bottling, the wine is only lightly filtered, in keeping with Matsu’s low-intervention style.
The powerful identity of Toro is fully carried here by the local grape variety of the region.
- 100% Tinta de Toro – Toro: This local variant of Tempranillo has adapted over generations to the dry and extreme climate of Toro. The result is a grape with deep color and structure, ripe fruit, and sufficient natural acidity to balance the powerful style.
