Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The top cuvée in terms of value is the 2012 Las Claras Heritage. Made from 100% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) and aged 18 months in a combination of 75% new French and 25% new American oak, this is a big, serious, well-endowed, full-bodied red that includes fruit from vines planted in 1919, 1970 and 1980. Its deep purple color is followed by a beautiful bouquet of camphor, incense, mulberries, blackberries, road tar and graphite. Drink this full-bodied, multidimensional red wine over the next decade.
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Wine Enthusiast
This immediately presents itself in fine fashion. Ripe berry, generous oak and rooty notes form a complex nose. Spot on across the palate, with depth and freshness, this tastes of cherry, blackberry and mocha. A deep finish with exemplary balance confirms both quality and value. Drink through 2019.
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.