Winemaker Notes
100% Tinta del País hand-picked and fermented in stainless steel, aged 10 days in barrel.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
O. Fournier's 2008 Urban Ribera was aged in French oak for 4 months. It is 100% Tinta del Pais (as are all 3 of these wines). Dark ruby-colored with a stylish nose of earth, mineral, spice box and blackberry, on the palate it is smooth-textured, ripe, and easy-going. Drink this excellent value over the next 4 years. It is an excellent introduction to the wines of Ribera del Duero.
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Wine Spectator
Nicely focused, with red currant, red licorice and roasted vanilla bean notes backed by a dusting of cocoa powder. The finish is supple. Drink now through 2010.
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.