Winemaker Notes
A very deep cherry red colour with violet tinges. The bouquet is intense and very perfumed. The primary aromas stand out above all, with a marked freshness and a predominant floral character with notes of violets, something that makes this wine very unique. On the palate it has a good volume with notable tannin, but ripe with a balanced acidity that gives it freshness and length.
Professional Ratings
-
Vinous
The 2023 La Felisa is a Tempranillo from the páramos of Ribera del Duero. Harvested at a point of fresh fruit, it offers aromas of clear cherry, camphor and field herbs over a background of fine oak. A slight touch of carbon dioxide enhances the freshness, resulting in a juicy, lively profile with light cherry. In a warm year when pre-harvest rain improved Tempranillo’s profile, this wine achieves both fruit expression and herbal nuance. Polished and plush textured, it has a different stylistic signature.
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2023 Emilio Moro La Felisa (Tempranillo) exhibits intoxicatingly beautiful aromas of ripe cherries that linger hauntingly on the palate, carried by a supple texture, gentle spice, and polished balance. Approachable yet expressive, this wine’s elegance calls for a dish that mirrors its finesse rather than overpowering it. Enjoy it with Spanish Solomillo de Cerdo con Salsa de Jerez—pan-seared pork tenderloin finished with a silky Jerez sherry reduction and a touch of thyme. (Tasted: December 8, 2025, San Francisco, CA)
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Named for the wife of Emilio Moro, the 2023 La Felisa is meant to evoke an older time of older vines, made without added sulfites. Moderate fruit and acidity accent a medium-bodied, fruitier expression of the variety bursting in violet and black cherry with firm tannins that add length. The wine spent a year in French oak barrels.
-
James Suckling
A very brambly nose with lots of geraniums, steamed bamboo leaves and potpourri. A touch of underbrush too. Medium-bodied with juicy fruit, firm tannins and a moderate finish.
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.