Barco de Piedra Tempranillo 2013
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Wong
Wilfred
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Winemaker Notes
Pork and veal have an essentially sweet "bass note" that is complimented nicely by Tempranillo's sweet nature, so these meats pair extremely well with Barco de Piedra. Unlike most Riojas, which tend toward softer strawberry and red fruits, Ribera del Dueros are some of the most robust reds from Spain, usually showing a black fruit, mineral and "meaty" character that many people feel is a better match with beef steak than any California Cabernet or Zinfandel. For simple fare, aged hard cheese like manchego, jamon iberico, Spanish almonds, Sevilla olives and crusty bread are exceptional accompaniments for this wine.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
One of the grand questions about Tempranillo is how far can producers go with their oak treatment and still keep the varietal's integrity? The 2013 Barco de Piedra does a really fine job here. Yes, one does feel the wood, but the area's earth, dust and fruit still come through gloriously. Medium ruby color; red fruit and savory, grey herbs, quite good, medium depth; medium bodied, just a bit layered on the palate; earth and dust run through the flavors, very regional; medium to long finish, fairly robust in the aftertaste. (Tasted: June 17, 2015, San Francisco, CA)
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Barco de Piedra is a joyous affirmation of the beauty and purity of the Tempranillo grape as it is grown in the Ribera del Duero DO. The noble Tempranillo, called Tinto Fino or Tinta del Pais by locals, has suffered from producers who like to use excessive “make up,” too much new oak or winemaking technique, which obscures the identity of the grape. The logic behind Barco de Piedra is simple: the Tempranillo grape grown in Ribera del Duero has plenty of tannins, you don’t need to add more, which is precisely what oak ageing will do. The grape’s thick skin naturally produces powerful, robust wines packed with flavor. Adding more power and oak to something already powerful is overkill. The climate conditions of cool nights, low rainfall and great old vines taken together produce small berries with a high skin-to-juice ratio. The three parcels that produce grapes for Barco de Piedra are located on the hillside of the Quiñón Estate, a location with a special equilibrium of temperature, drainage and soil type. Raspberry and violet aromas with rose petal, blueberry and mineral notes make this wine one of the prettiest examples of the elegance and structure of Ribera del Duero, one of the great wine regions of the world.