Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesBased in Nava de Roa, Monteabellón farms 346 acres in small parcels surrounding the town. They use their lower vineyards (at around 2,600 feet), close to the river, with alluvial pebbles and sand, to produce this young wine. It’s a gamey red with bright rosy scents and a cool line of freshness running through it. A succulent wine, for something offal—if in Aranda de Duero, that might be manitas (roasted trotters) or riñones, kidneys of baby lamb. (Best Buy)
Nava de Roa still has many old winepresses and wineries from many decades ago. Like all of Ribera del Duero, its history and traditions are closely related to wine.
Bodegas Monteabellon's wide experience enables them to elaborate high quality wines in some of the most representative wine regions such as D.O. Rioja and D.O. Rueda where they reflect on their passion for viticulture and the art of wine-making.
Bodegas Monteabellon's single purpose is to elaborate selected wines, which is why they carry out a meticulous selection of grapes in the vineyard, fostering low yields per hectare to obtain the best grapes to create wines you will admire.
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.
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.