Bodegas Leda Vinas Viejas 1998

Leda is a new bodega ... the first vintage released was the 1998. The concept is a joint venture put together by the owners of Bodegas Mauro with Jesus Soto, a well known wine distributor in Valladolid, and Cesar Munoz, winemaker at Bodegas Montebaco in the Ribera del Duero. A brand new cellar has been constructed in Tudela del Duero to make and age a wine exclusively from old vines from the Tudela area, just to the west of the Ribera del Duero appellation. In the middle ages the entire area was covered with vines. Today there are still numerous small plots of old Tempranillo from a local clone called Aragones. The age of the vines used to make Leda always exceeds 50 years and some are even pre-phyloxera, 100 years old ! In fact in 1999 only 50 000 kilos of grapes came from 40 different producers. A small air conditioned van runs around the area to collect the grapes in small containers only when they are esteemed to be at optimum ripeness. Needless to say the Leda team carefully monitor the vines from the pruning all the way through to full maturity. Yields are minute but the results outstanding. Ageing is in 50% new French oak and 50% 1 year old casks for 12 to 14 months. Further ageing in bottle for 4 to 6 months before release. Only 24000 bottles were made in 1998. In 1999, 50 000 bottles will be made, the maximum potential for Bodegas Leda. The wines are quite simply stunning with a very intense dark colour, immense power and gorgeous flavours with sumptuous ripe red fruits and exotic spices. At the same time Leda shows focus, balance and promise of great elegance and charm. The tannins are soft but present, giving the wine long ageing potential. In short this is a world class wine which will rank with the very best of Spain.