Alto Naranjal
Caturra, Colombia, Castillo

Bright citrus, red berries and deep dried fruit in this lot by Leonardo Loaiza in Buesaco, Nariño. A complex profile with notes of bright citrus, alongside a crisp balance between red berry acidity and deep dried fruit sweetness.

Alto Naranjal is a 12 hectare plot on a steep mountainside outside of Buesaco, where Leonardo Loaiza grows coffee in Colombia's mountainous Nariño region. Leonardo is a member of the Loaiza family, who have been working with coffee outside the village of Medina Orjuela for generations. While this lot technically comes from Leonardo, he works this land together with his brothers Eduardo, Miguel and Fernando. 12 hectares is a rather large farm in rural Nariño; the Loaiza brothers decided to continue their work together instead of splitting the land, as often happens here. The farm is named for the nearby village of Naranjo; Alto Naranjal refers to what was once the highest farm in the area.

The farm is planted with different varietals, those most popular in the area; Caturra, Colombia and Castillo. Over the past few years, together with agronomists from Inconexus, the Loaiza brothers have attempted to reduce their reliance on chemical inputs, transitioning to a more natural method of farming. This lot is a blend of the varietals on the farm, processed using a washed method.