Bodegas Aster by La Rioja Alta Crianza 2012
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James
Suckling
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An elegant Ribera del Duero which pairs well with roasts, spicy stews and aged cheeses.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Some attractive berry and fresh-herb character plus hints of earth. Medium body, fine tannins and a savory finish. A little short on the finish.
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Bodegas Aster was conceived with enthusiasm, wisdom and patience. To find the most appropriate estate, La Rioja Alta sought both the counsel of the old growers in the area and the advice of professors of viticulture. They studied and analyzed soils, grapes and climates in different sub-areas. Finally, Anguix, Burgos proved to be the ideal location.
On the 10th of July 1890, five families shared their passion for wine and founded La Rioja Alta, S.A. That day was the start of an ongoing searching for excellence that their descendants still pursue nowadays. Since then we have managed to get the best from the marriage of our tradition in wine ageing and the state-of-the-art technology in grape fermentation. Nowadays we are an international reference of great Rioja wines. Our wines are the result of an exhaustive selection of our most exclusive grapes and a slow ageing process that provides them with elegance, complexity and sophistication. They are patiently settle in more than 30,000 American oak casks fashioned by our own coopers. We take great responsibility in making our wines using our own grapes. Wines with personality and wines with soul.
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.