Having so successfully established the splendid Ribera del Duero project they had begun in 2002, the Alonso del Yerro family expanded to the rugged and remote region of Toro in 2007, purchasing the 8.8 hectare Pagos de Miguel vineyard. Here they produce Paydos, an astonishing expression of traditionally-farmed old vine Tinta de Toro. As in Ribera, renowned Bordeaux oenologist Stephane Derenoncourt heads the project; Lionel Gourgue (formerly of chateaux Figeac and Carbonnieux) is also part of the winemaking team.

Pagos de Miguel is situated at an elevation of 720 metres. Rainfall is low (just 400mm per year). The climate is extreme, with massive diurnal and seasonal swings in temperature; the ungrafted bush vines (some over 80 years old) struggle to survive without irrigation in the scrabbly clay-lime and granite soil. Although locals still vehemently argue otherwise, DNA profiling has proven that Tinta de Toro is in fact tempranillo. Regardless, the harsh growing conditions in Toro result in an utterly unique wine, "as black as night" as they love to say in Toro, yet floral and spicy and blessed with elegant tannins.

Paydos is vinified in a simple and traditional way: around 25 days of maceration (in 50Hl stainless steel vats), followed by malolactic fermentation and maturation in French oak barrels. Along with its characteristic dark colour, the wine has great depths of plum and cherry fruit, combined with earth and tobacco notes that provide complexity. It can be enjoyed young, benefitting from several hours of decanting, or given lengthy cellaring in the great tradition of Spanish reds.