Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 PS aged in new oak barrels for a little bit shorter than in the past, some 18 months now. It's pure Tempranillo from selected plots of old, head-pruned vines. It's very obviously young and very oaky, not yet ready and in need of some time in bottle to be able to integrate all the oak that it currently shows. The nose is very smoky, with plenty of sweet spices, hints of smoked bacon and cereals of roasted corn. The palate is full-bodied and concentrated, with pungent oak-related flavors and a dusty texture with abundant tannins. It needs a couple of years in bottle in the classical PS style, a powerful wine destined to be consumed with powerful food and ideal for a winter stew. Very good in its style.
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.