Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
The main asset of the winery is its vineyard. The estate has 105 Has. of which 60 are planted with vines. The main variety is Tinta del País (tempranillo) with one Ha. of Merlot. The estate is within the Ribera del Duero D.O.
The soils at Finca El Pinar, are mostly pebblestone coming from the nearby Duero river. There are also certain parts of the estate with sandy soils. At between 60-100 cm., there is a clay layer that allows water retention from rainfall. The soil is extremely poor in organic material and with excellent drainage. Pebblestones also allow for better maturity of the grapes through heat radiation during the night time.
In light of the poorness of the soil, the age of the vineyard, the plant density and the pruning, yields never exceed 3,000 kg. per Ha. Our objective is to maintain them at 2,000 kg. per Ha.
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.