Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Delicate and floral with a ripe dark-fruit character and hints of charcoal and vanilla. Full body, elegant yet firm tannins and a fruity finish. Lots of wood but this is stylish. Needs time to soften. Better in 2019.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 Pícaro Tinto is Tempranillo with some 5% Albillo and selected from vineyards where the soils have a higher content of clay. This is always produced from the same vineyards since the initial vintage, 2012. 2014 could sometimes feel a little austere and sometimes a little reductive. This 2014 is terribly balanced, something that was easier to achieve in this vintage than in 2015. The tannins are present and perhaps the effect of the stems (they do not own a destemmer here) could amplify that.
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.