Creta 2006
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Robert
Parker
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2006 Creta is sourced from a single vineyard with vine age from 60 to 70 years. It was raised in French and American oak. Purple-colored, the aromatic array includes wood smoke, tobacco, damp earth, blackberry, and black cherry. It is more elegant than the Roble but equally powerful. In the mouth savory spice and black fruit flavors emerge along with enough ripe tannin to support several years of additional cellaring. It should be at its best from 2012 to 2022.
Sotillo de la Ribera is a small village of 600 inhabitants on the northern edge of the DO of Ribera del Duero. Dating back to the middle ages, many of the buildings in Sotillo date to the 18th century when grape growing and winemaking brought prosperity to the village – a tradition which continues today. After many years’ experience making a custom cuvée in the DO, Eric Solomon has recently partnered with Rafael de Haan to make Creta from 30-50 year old vines of Tempranillo grown in clay loam and chalky soils surrounding Sotillo.
British born and educated, Rafael joined the UK wine trade in 2000 but soon realized that he rather have a career closer to the vine. In 2001 he moved to Barcelona, began brokering a selection of estates and opened a tapas bar before establishing his first property, Bodegas Abanico in Rioja with his partner Nuria Altes. In addition to Creta, Rafael de Haan and Nuria Altes run Herencia-Altes in Terra Alta (Nuria’s place of origin), and partner with Eric Solomon to make Hazaña Viñas Viejas in Rioja.
Notoriously food-friendly, long-lasting and Spain’s most widely planted grape, Tempranillo is the star variety of red wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. The Rioja terms Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva indicate both barrel and bottle time before release. Traditionally blended in Rioja with Garnacha, plus a bit of Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano, the Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero typically stands alone. Somm Secret—Tempranillo claims many different names depending on location. In Penedès, it is called Ull de Llebre and in Valdepeñas, goes by Cencibel. Known as Tinta Roriz in Portugal, Tempranillo plays an important role in Port wine.
Ribera del Duero, Spanish wine region, is located in northen Spain’s Castilla y León region, just a 2-hour drive from Madrid. While winemaking in this area goes back more than 2000 years, it was in the 1980s that 9 wineries applied for and were granted Denominación de Origen (D.O.) status. Today, more than 300 wineries call Ribera del Duero home, including some of Spain’s most iconic names.
Notable Facts Ribera’s main grape variety, Tempranillo, locally know as Tinto Fino, is perfectly suited to the extreme climate of the region, where it must survive scorching summers and frigid winters. Low yields resulting from conscientious tending to old vines planted in Ribera’s diverse soils types, give Ribera wines a distinctive depth and complexity not found in other Tempranillos. Rich and full-bodied, the spice, dark fruit and smoky flavors in a bold Ribera del Duero will pair well with roasted and grilled meats, Mexican food and tomato-based sauces.