Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The first wine ever produced here is the 2014 Garmón, pure Tempranillo from a diversity of villages all in the province of Burgos, La Aguilera, Moradillo or Baños-Tubilla. All grapes were destemmed and the wine aged in 50/50 new and used French barriques for 16 months. It's quite smoky (smoked bacon) with plenty of spices, generously oaked in general. The sweet spices are combined with sweet fruit, a sensation perceived mainly in the palate. I'd say it's quite typical of the Mariano García style, keeping the Tempranillo character of the grapes in the cooler zone of the appellation, perfumed and with some oak tannins to be resolved by some more time in bottle. This was produced in the Aalto winery, while they build their own space in the village of Olivares de Duero.
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Wine Spectator
Loamy earth and black olive notes frame a core of black plum and currant in this solid red. The muscular tannins are well-integrated, giving way to minerally and toasty hints on the finish. A savory style, with good depth. Tempranillo. Drink now through 2029.
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.