Bodegas O. Fournier Urban Tempranillo 2014
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The main asset of the winery is its vineyard. The estate has 105 Has. of which 60 are planted with vines. The main variety is Tinta del País (tempranillo) with one Ha. of Merlot. The estate is within the Ribera del Duero D.O.
The soils at Finca El Pinar, are mostly pebblestone coming from the nearby Duero river. There are also certain parts of the estate with sandy soils. At between 60-100 cm., there is a clay layer that allows water retention from rainfall. The soil is extremely poor in organic material and with excellent drainage. Pebblestones also allow for better maturity of the grapes through heat radiation during the night time.
In light of the poorness of the soil, the age of the vineyard, the plant density and the pruning, yields never exceed 3,000 kg. per Ha. Our objective is to maintain them at 2,000 kg. per Ha.
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.
With a winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.