EL PROGRESO IS JAIRO RODRIGUEZ’S FARMSTEAD HIGH IN THE HILLS OF MOZONTE. AFTER A LONG CAREER AS AN AGRONOMIST AND ENGINEER FOR A LARGER MULTINATIONAL GROUP, JAIRO PICKED THIS UNIQUE AND EXCEPTIONAL SITE TO BUILD NOT ONLY HIS DREAM FARM, BUT ALSO A PLACE HE WOULD ENJOY SPENDING HIS RETIREMENT. IN HIS WORK, JAIRO TRAVELED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO MEET AND CONSULT WITH ALL SORTS OF PRODUCERS ON THEIR FARMS. TO EL PROGRESO, HE BRINGS AN EXCELLENT BLEND OF THIS DEEP TECHNICAL EXPERTISE STEEPED IN THE AGE-OLD KNOWHOW THE LOCALS HAVE PASSED ON FOR GENERATIONS.
THE FARM ITSELF IS SITUATED VERY HIGH UP IN ALTITUDE - 1650 METERS ABOVE SEA LEVEL AT THE MILL AND IT GOES UP FROM THERE. SHAPED LIKE A BOWL, IT BOTH GETS WHIPPED BY THE WINDS AND ALSO MANAGES TO MAINTAIN A LITTLE MICROCLIMATE OF ITS OWN. THE SMALL MILL IS ENTIRELY SELF-SUSTAINING, AND JAIRO HAS PLANTED RARE “BLOOD” APRICOTS, HASS AVOCADOS, A CABBAGE PATCH, ALL ORGANIC, AND PICKS CALLA LILIES FROM THE SMALL STREAM WHERE THE BEES KEEP BUSY.
This lot is a new release from the farm - the first small harvest from the Geisha plants that were planted some years ago. This is also the only plot that Is north facing - planted across the slopes from the other varieties that we have come to love from the farm. Geisha, made famous by the Panamanians, is thought to be an heirloom selection of Typica that exhibits explosive and delicate profiles. These young plants in their first efforts give us a glimpse into what Is to come: a floral, delicate and almost tropical nose - makes room for generous sweetness and caramelization on the palate. This tension between the esoteric aromas and soft rounded notes very much is the charm of both this variety and this wonderful farm.
