Carlos Quiñones - Analu
Carlos Alberto Quiñones Collazos - 1677
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"Analu · Carlos Alberto Quiñones Collazos · Natural · Geisha · Los Gemelos, Bolívar, Cauca
Carlos Alberto Quiñones Collazos spent years on the other side of the scale, buying parchment in Bolívar, Cauca and paying premiums for the best lots he could find. Six years ago producer friends convinced him to grow his own. His natural Geisha from Finca Los Gemelos scored 88.55 points.
The farm is named for Carlos and his twin brother. They have run general stores and agricultural supply shops together and never split a business, so los gemelos, the twins, became their brand. The farm sits between the villages of Bajo Llano and Campo Bello, with two hectares planted in Bourbon and Geisha. Their record came quickly: third at the Popayán fair with a washed Bourbon, then at the Por La Paz auction in Bolívar a year ago, Carlos's lot placed sixth and sold to a buyer in Indonesia, and his brother's placed eleventh and sold to a buyer in the United States.
Labour is the hardest problem. Harvesting coca pays in half a day what coffee pays in a full one, so Carlos keeps his team with good meals, a lighter workload and work all year round, not just at harvest. For two years the brothers have been moving to organic practice, with bio inputs, organic fertiliser and worm beds for humus.
Cherries are picked at exact ripeness, rested overnight in baskets, hand sorted and floated. They then sit uncovered in water in open tanks for two days, with the water changed after the first, before about 15 days on raised beds, turned every two to three hours.
The cup is plum and cherry with lime and a fizz of orange soda, a warming whisky like note and a chocolate finish."
General Information
About the Farm
Río Atá is a community lot from smallholder farms on the volcanic slopes above the Río Atá in Planadas, southern Tolima, at around 1,800 metres beneath the Nevado del Huila. Planadas has become a centre for specialty and organic coffee through the peace through coffee movement and the stewardship of the Nasa We'sx people.