Winemaker Notes
Dark purple-red with intense bluish hues, medium-deep and bright. High intensity; fruity aromas with outstanding red fruit; very frank. On the palate, elegant, tasty, mineral and fresh. Combining red and dark fruit. Very pleasant mouthfeel. Round, velvety tannins with a very elegant, subtle finish. It is a wine that has a soul beyond its own personality.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A limited-production, micro-terroir wine of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Albillo Mayor grown wildly within the site, this is a “vino de tinaja,” aged in clay amphorae (tinaja), where the evolution of aging is slow, akin to a Gran Reserva without any oak. Fresh and youthful, it is not made every year (there’s no 2019), as the fermentation temperatures are not controlled. It’s an intense experience of minerally dark fruit, rounded tannins, and enduring earthiness that’s impressive and unusual.
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James Suckling
A unique, pristine, well-made wine. Nicely savory aromas of plums with touches of tile, iron and spices. Supple, with fine, firm tannins and a pristine but lengthy finish. Fruity and charming. Aged in big amphorae.
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.