Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
Dark, toasty aromas suggest creosote and chimney smoke; throw in black olive, blackberry, dark plum and mocha scents and this is one hefty package. Fully tannic, with toasty chocolaty flavors of black fruits and oak-based spice, this finishes full and fierce, but not mean.
Cellar Selection -
James Suckling
More fragrant oak and baking spices than the Sanchomartin, this has an all over slick and smooth texture. Tannins are fine cut and the fruit is right in the rich and ripe blood plum and dark cherry zone.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The very balsamic 2011 Malleolus de Valderramiro is always the more opulent of the single-vineyards. This is sourced from a 4-hectare plot in Pesquera de Duero planted in 1924. After fermenting in stainless vats with yeasts selected from their own vineyards, malolactic fermentation was carried out in new American oak barrels, while aging is in French barriques and lasts for 18 months. There are notes of creamy oak, with some lactic hints, damp earth and Mediterranean herbs (it was a ripe vintage) with a core of black fruit. The palate is full-bodied, round, and lush with some chewy tannins that would benefit from some time in bottle and/or powerful food, as this is year in and year out, the oakiest of all Emilo Moro wines.
-
Wine Spectator
Plush and dense, this rich red delivers plum, cassis, licorice and cola flavors, with balsamic acidity and enough tannins to stay focused. Bold, in the modern style.
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.