Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Decanter
Ripe red fruit and sweet vanilla oak aromatics. The palate is fresh and concentrated with woody tannins; finishes lengthily.
-
Wine Enthusiast
This dark-garnet-colored wine offers aromas of black cherry, cassis, dark chocolate and coffee bean. Fruits of the wood, mocha, violet, orange zest and crumbled kitchen-herb flavors are set into a network of muscular tannins that evaporate into a lasting finish marked with a note of chocolate-covered cherry.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
All Tempranillo brought up in French oak, the 2019 Malleolus is another impeccably made wine in the lineup. Darker berries, dried violets, camphor, and cedary, spicy wood notes define the bouquet, and it's medium-bodied, with a supple, elegant mouthfeel and a great finish.
-
James Suckling
Deep and spicy blackberries and blueberries with a touch of violet, coffee and sandalwood to the nose. Full-bodied and tight, with juicy, tart black cherries and some roasted spices on the palate. Rich and dense, but fresh and floral, too, with fine-grained tannins.
-
Wine Spectator
An expressive, full-bodied red, with rich flavors of blackberry coulis, black plum reduction, tea leaf, white pepper and mineral riding a plush texture. Modern in style, this is framed by fresh acidity and firm, fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2030.
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.