Winemaker Notes
Creta Roble is an Eric Solomon joint venture with Isaac Fernandez. Tank fermented 100% Tempranillo that has been aged in older American and French oak. Picked from a 70 year old vineyard located 2,700 ft. in elevation. "Creta" means "Chalk" which is an important mineral component found in the top vineyards of the Ribera del Duero.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
It is not easy to find a Ribera del Duero for under $25 a bottle, but this 100% Tempranillo aged four months in both French and American oak (70% and 30% respectively) is a joint venture between importer Eric Solomon and proprietor Isaac Fernandez. From a 70-year-old vineyard, this outstanding red wine offers notes of melted chocolate, black cherry jam, cedarwood, charcoal and damp earth. Rich, dense, supple-textured, fleshy and medium to full-bodied, it should drink well for 4-5 years. As are all of the wines in this report, it is a very impressive value.
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.