Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2012 Vina Almate La Olmera is one of two single-vineyard 100% Tempranillo, in this case from a plot in Bocos de Duero (Valladolid) at 756 meters altitude on stony alluvial soils with a stripe of chalk crossing the vineyard (which was planted in 1986). It was full-cluster-fermented and aged in used barrels for one year. It has a lactic nose with lots of toffee, milk chocolate and toasty aromas with black fruit in the background. The palate is medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a lush, velvety texture. Only 600 bottles were produced.
Spanish red wine is known for being bold, heady, rustic and age-worthy, Spain is truly a one-of-a-kind wine-producing nation. A great majority of the country is hot, arid and drought-ridden, and since irrigation has only been recently introduced and (controversially) accepted, viticulture has sustained—and flourished—only through a great understanding of Spain’s particular conditions. Large spacing between vines allows each enough resources to survive and as a result, the country has the most acreage under vine compared to any other country, but is usually third in production.
Of the Spanish red wines, the most planted and respected grape variety is Tempranillo, the star of Spain’s Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions. Priorat specializes in bold red blends, Jumilla has gained global recognition for its single varietal Monastrell and Utiel-Requena has garnered recent attention for its reds made of Bobal.