Winemaker Notes
The grapes come from the Juegabolos (Bowls Players) terroir planted by Tomás Esteban in 1988. The unique character of this terroir is that the top 1.5 metres of soil is gravel. This creates perfect conditions for ripening in a very healthy environment. Lower down in the soil profile there is clay which provides the vines with all the nutrients and water that they need. The production is 4,000 kg per hectare. It is totally free of artificial fertilisers and systematic chemical treatments.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A very fresh array of mulberries and boysenberries with sweet, spicy oak adding early interest. The texture on the palate is impressive with a swathe of smooth, velvety tannins. Bright and tight. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The showy and exuberant 2015 Juegabolos displays more spicy and smoky notes after some time in the glass, but the nose has a great mixture of wild flowers and herbs and resembles the landscape of Ribera del Duero in a year like 2018 when the fields are full of fragrant flowers and everything is green and not dry. It has a powerful yet balanced palate in an elegant mix that fills your mouth and leaves a notable aftertaste. It should age effortlessly in bottle.
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Wine Spectator
Floral and vanilla notes frame berry, cherry and plum flavors in this expressive red. Dense, with muscular tannins and a thick texture, but citrusy acidity keeps this fresh. In the modern style. Best from 2019 through 2032.
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.