Convento de Oreja Roble 2013
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Blend: 100% Tempranillo
Convento Oreja was born from a group of friends who shared a passion for wine & desired to work the land in Ribera del Cuero and created their own style of wines. ‘Convento’ celebrates a very old Cistercian convent, abandoned for more than four centuries, which is located in the township of Langayo. ‘Oreja’ (ear) comes from the fact that the convent is located on an oxbow - an ear-shaped bend - in the Duero river.
The winery is located near the town of Peñafiel. Owner Antonio Vaquero lives and works in Madrid, but hails from Peñafiel, where he has managed family vineyards. Convento Oreja does not own winemaking facilities but supervises the vinification in a modern facility in Peñafiel. Once the wine has been fermented/macerated, the resulting juice is barrel aged.
The vines are 10-15 years old, except for a small plot of 40+ year old vines. The wines of Convento de Oreja are all 100% Tempranillo. Currently they own 10 hectares and manage an additional 12. Soils are nutrient poor alluvial soils with a mix of sand and gravel. Deeper down the soil is clay and limestone, good for water retention. They make both Joven and Crianza style wines.
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.