Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2015 is a powerful vintage, and Juan Carlos Vizcarra saw it coming and did good work (low fermentation temperatures, some full clusters, shorter macerations...), and it shows in the top-end bottlings that I tasted from that year. The 2015 Celia, a micro-vinification in open 400-liter oak barrels, is ripe and powerful, reflecting the character of the year, but it retained good freshness, which makes it balanced. It comes through as classically proportioned, with concentration and depth, abundant, fine-grained and chalky tannins and a harmonious, clean and long finish. It's approachable now (better with powerful food) but should develop nicely in bottle. 2,000 bottles were filled in July 2017. The wine still feels very young, so I guess it's going to age at a slow pace. The two top wines are named after Vizcarra's daughters, so for him, it might be difficult to say which one he likes best, but Celia would be my choice.
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Decanter
A most original wine, with a small but very relevant contribution of Garnacha to the blend. Aromatics become more floral, with a nice combination of red- and black-berry fruit notes. Voluminous but silky, with sinewy tannins and a poised finish. Definitely distinctive, very attractive, with an intriguing Riojan hint. Lovely, and quite surprising.
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.