Winemaker Notes
Visually, a deep garnet red, very concentrated. In the nose intense and very complex. Ripe dark fruits, like blackberry and cassis, with subtle notes of oak that add to the aromatic complexity. In the mouth, full bodied with well-structured, ripe tannins. At the end there is a hint of sweetness of ripe fruits and afterwards it delivers long aftertaste.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of blueberries, dark plums and dark chocolate. Hints of violets too. Full body, round and compact tannins and a linear and vertical finish. Drink now or hold.
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Wine Enthusiast
Cepa 21's top wine smells of savory oak, bacon fat, hickory wood and Bourbon barrel, meaning it's oaky. A fully packed palate is intense, with rough, drying tannins suggestive of sandpaper. Char and smoke flavors are at the top level, barely allowing for berry fruit to poke through. No surprise that coffee and toast flavors dominate the finish. Drink through 2030.
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Wine Spectator
Coffee, licorice and boysenberry flavors are ripe and generous in this round red. Spicy sassafras and chocolate notes add interest. Balsamic acidity and chewy tannins give this backbone. Shows density and length. Drink now through 2029.
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.