Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Slightly cooked fruit with hints of raisins. Berries and figs. The palate comes across fresher with sliced citrus to the ripe fruit, which balances it all out. Firm tannins and acidity at the end.
Florentino Arzuaga is an enthusiast of the boundless horizons and wide open spaces of Castile where there is still room for nature and wildlife to exist undisturbed. Here, not far from the silent-running waters of the Duero River, Florentino bought an estate, which due to its large size has horizons of its own.
Later came the vines, the winery and, finally, the wine. Florentino has sought the red is a wine with structure, elegant, assertive and complex at the same time.
Florentino Arzuaga has the tenacious spirit of an entrepreneur coupled with an aesthetic and perfectionist sensitivity.
He is at once modest and soft-spoken, yet has been capable, in a very short time, of placing the red that bears his family name on the most sumptuous wine lists.
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.