Winemaker Notes
Intense purple color. Black fruits together with spicy nuances displayed in the glass confer on this wine complexity and elegance on the nose. It is fresh on the mouth; its soft and silky tannins give it great intensity and volume.
Blend: 100% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo)
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Deep violet in the glass, this wine has a nose of cassis, mocha and cedar chest. A framework of sturdy tannins supports flavors of black cherry, purple plum, dark chocolate, lavender, baking spices and a touch of olive paste, while wellintegrated acidity leaves a lasting impression in the mouth.
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Wine Spectator
Dense and finely knit, this focused red's plush texture carries a lovely range of plum sauce, oolong tea leaf and warm fig flavors, with accents of garrigue, cedar, baking spices and vanilla. There's restrained power to this dark but refreshing version, with chalky tannins swathed in the detailed profile as this slowly reveals itself in the glass. Hints of tar-tinged smoke, licorice and iron play out on the lasting finish. Best from 2026 through 2036. 4,500 cases made, 125 cases imported.
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.