Winemaker Notes
Blend: 86% Tempranillo, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The very toasty eponymous 2014 Finca Villacreces follows the line of the 2012 I tasted last time. It's a blend of Tempranillo with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot from their estate vineyards in the village of Quintanilla de Onésimo. The vines are organically-farmed and the wines matured in French oak barrels for 14 months, where 50% of the barrels were new and the other half were second-use. It's a powerful, ripe and generously-oaked Ribera del Duero, with clout and concentration, but with good balance. The tannins are fine-grained and there is good freshness. It should develop nicely in bottle.
-
James Suckling
A solid and rich red with blackberry, walnut and bark character. Full body, chewy and intense. Drink or hold.
-
Wine Spectator
Dense yet tender, this red offers black cherry, licorice, floral and toasty flavors that mingle harmoniously in the plush texture. Light, firm tannins and orange peel acidity give this a gentle but focused structure. Drink now through 2024.
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.