El Vinculo Crianza 2011
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Wine Spectator
Licorice and tar notes frame a core of plum and loamy earth in this dense red, which features muscular tannins, but stays fresh from the lively acidity. Rustic but deep. Tempranillo.
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Wine Enthusiast
This bullish La Mancha Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero's Alejandro Fernández is ripe, earthy, mossy and woody on the nose, with aromas of cedar, cassis and blackberry. Saturated and chunky on the palate, with roasted black-fruit flavors, this finishes oaky, thick and with full tannins.
Other Vintages
2004-
Robert
Parker
Alejandro Fernández’ fourth winery, El Vínculo, sits nearby the iconic Campo de Criptana windmills in the northern part of the D.O. La Mancha and is a tribute to and a continuity of the winemaking tradition of the Fernández family. It is named after his father’s medieval subterranean home cellar in the hills of Pesquera de Duero where, in early childhood, Alejandro accompanied his family for their afternoon merienda, or snack, and an evening full of wine and song. The gathering place was affectionately called El Vínculo, meaning “union” or “link,” and was where Alejandro initially learned to make wine.
After traveling the length and breadth of La Mancha, in 1999 the “Master of Tempranillo” finally found what he was looking for: high-quality, old Tempranillo vines, perfectly adapted to local conditions. Convinced that the quality potential was immense as long as yield and selection were carefully controlled, Alejandro surprised local growers by his new way of working the La Mancha vineyards. By sourcing fruit through long-term contracts with growers focused on low yields and precise harvesting, Alejandro ensures first-rate La Mancha grapes give rise year after year to fine wines with unparalleled wine aromas and flavors.
Across his four bodegas, Alejandro’s only deviation from pure Tempranillo varietal wines is El Vínculo’s Alejairén. Despite the Airén variety being the most widely planted grape in the D.O. La Mancha and in the world, Alejairén was the first barrel-aged 100% Airén wine produced in Spain, proving that Airén can develop rich flavors, complexity and texture, far beyond its usual role as a simple table wine.
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.