Wine from Ribera del Duero

Arzuaga Ribera del Duero Crianza 95% Tempranillo and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Dark cherry color with purple highlights. Powerful nose and high aromatic diversity of ripe red and black fruits, spicy and balsamic notes, and a roasted finish. Soft and mellow in the mouth with a great fruitiness and length.

Review:

This is a big wine with alluring aromas of cedary oak and black fruit. Ripe palate of black berries, some dark chocolate and integrated, polished oak. Long spicy finish. Classy Ribera. -Decanter 95 Points

Arzuaga Reserva Especial is made from 95% Tempranillo and 5% Albillo.

The wine shows an intense, deep red with purple nuances. Complex, concentrated, and intense on the nose with aromas of ripe black fruits, mint, and cocoa. A mineral and light background of toasted and caramelized tones dominate. Very elegant and complex aromas that evolve favorably throughout the tasting. In the mouth it is fresh and gentle. Elegant mouthfeel, fresh and well-textured, and a long finish that recalls the fruity, spicy and caramelized aromas.

Pair with red meats, roasted or in sauce, ground or bird game, soft or lightly cured cheeses and Bluefish. Alternatively, try to leave a little for the end of the meal and enjoy it with a dessert of dark chocolate.

Review:

"Saturated maroon. Expansive spice- and smoke-accented dark berry, cherry cola, candied flowers and pipe tobacco on the highly perfumed nose. Sweet and gently chewy on the palate, offering intense black currant, cherry preserve and floral pastille flavors and building vanilla and mocha flourishes. Smooth, even tannins add structure and gentle grip to a long, dark-fruit-driven finish, which leaves smoke, vanilla and spice notes behind. - Josh Raynolds"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (February 2021), 94 pts

Arzuaga Ribera del Duero Crianza 95% Tempranillo and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Dark cherry color with purple highlights. Powerful nose and high aromatic diversity of ripe red and black fruits, spicy and balsamic notes, and a roasted finish. Soft and mellow in the mouth with a great fruitiness and length.

Review:

"Dark violet. Smoke- and spice-accented cherry, blackberry, vanilla and mocha aromas show fine definition and pick up a hint of pipe tobacco as the wine stretches out. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering intense dark berry, cherry-vanilla and licorice flavors that are sharpened by a peppery nuance. Shows strong energy and spicy thrust on the persistent finish, which is given shape by smooth, harmonious tannins. - Josh Raynolds"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (February 2021), 92 pts

Arzuaga Ribera del Duero La Planta is made from 100% Tempranillo.

Deep violet red. Clean and bright with a range of red fruits (raspberry and cherry) that dominate with a high aromatic intensity, joined by balsamic, cacao, coffee, and roasted tones. Fresh, elegant, easy, and balanced in the mouth with a lightly sweet, toasted, and pleasant aftertaste.

Fried fish, sausage, and white meats such as roasted poultry.

Review:

"A juicy, fruity red with blackberry, bark and hints of dried fruit. Medium body, linear and fine tannins and a fruity finish. Quite ripe, but a nice feel to this young wine. Better in 2020."

- James Suckling (September 2020), 91 pts

"Inky ruby. Dark berries, roasted coffee and a hint of spiciness on the nose. In a plush, open-knit style, showing good energy to the sweet black and blue fruit and vanilla flavors. The spicy note recurs on a long, smooth finish that shows just a hint of tannins. Aged for six months in new and used French and American oak. - Josh Raynolds"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (February 2021), 90 pts

Arzuaga Reserva is made from 95% Tempranillo, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot.

Clean and bright ruby red with purple reflections. Great aromatic intensity, complex and elegant, where the compote of red fruits dominates. The palate is structured with silky, sweet tannins and a lingering finish. 

Ideal with red meats (big game), roasted white meat, and blue cheese.

Review:

"Dark, glistening ruby. Powerful, oak-spiced cherry and dark berries on the highly perfumed nose, along with hints of candied rose, vanilla and licorice. Juicy and penetrating on the palate, offering intense blackberry, cherry-vanilla and spicecake flavors that become livelier as the wine opens up. At once rich and lively, showing excellent clarity, solid dark fruit thrust and polished tannins on the persistent finish. - Josh Raynolds"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (February 2021), 93 pts

Convento Oreja Ribera del Duero Crianza is made from 100 percent Tempranillo.

Bright cherry color. On the nose you will find plenty of fruit aromas, well balanced as well as some reminiscences of spices that are appreciable. The oak presence gives elegant hints of black chocolate and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is very smooth and well balanced with the right amount of acidity. Fresh, long lasting and elegant.

The wine went through malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged 12 Months in French Oak barrels.  Before bottling, the wine was slightly filtered.

Convento Oreja Ribera del Duero Roble is made from 100% Tempranillo

Deep black plum color with violet tones. Ripe fruit on the nose, mostly blackberries and raspberries, intermingled with hints of spice and leather. On the palate, it is warm, fresh and pleasant with a long finish.

Age of the vines: betwxeen 6 and 16 years old.

Vineyards' location: Comarca de Peñafiel.

Vinification is made in large 20,000-liter stainless steel tanks (200 hectoliters) with automated temperature control.
Fermentation lasted 5 days at 22°C temperature.
Total time for maceration lasted 9 days. 
Malolactic Fermentación was completed during the month of November.
Wine was aged in French Oak barrels for a minimum of 4 months.

Pago de Carraovejas Ribera Del Duero is made from 90% Tempranillo, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot

The Pago de Carraovejas Ribera del Duero vintage marks a turning point in the history of the winery. From now on, the Crianza and Reserva are unified in this wine that focuses on the terroir and character rather than the time of aging. Its renewed label reflects the three key elements of this red: origin, soul and emotion. 

Pago de Carraovejas Ribera Del Duero is made with grapes grown in the Botijas River valley, and planted between 1988 and 2011. Our work over the last 30 years has been geared to handcrafted viniculture, that puts as much care as possible into the microclimate conditions and the details. We have placed particular attention on the maintenance of the soil by plant cover that already grows spontaneously. It allows us to develop the ecosystem of the valley, which we respect scrupulously, using organic fertilizer and sulfur as the sole basis of our viticulture.

Depending on which plot they come from and the time they enter the winery, the grapes may be deposited in cold chambers to prevent oxidation and preserve the aroma. We carry out a two-part selection: first on the vine, where we choose the bunches, and then on a belt in the winery, where we remove the grapes that do meet the necessary conditions. The grapes enter the winery and are transported with the assistance of gravity. The deposits are filled slowly and gently. Depending on the characteristics that we detected when tasting the grapes, we ferment them either in stainless steel deposits or French oak barrels. For years we have worked with our own yeast that has been isolated from the vines by our team. This work is also partly responsible for the Carraovejas character.

The wine was aged in barrels for around twelve months.

Review:

"Plenty of juicy, ripe fruit with some dried-strawberry, walnut and chocolate character. Medium to full body, round tannins and a flavorful finish. Fairly straightforward. Drink now."
- James Suckling (November 2020), 90 pts

Prepared with Tempranillo grapes (100%), this wine has a very bright, intense maraschino cherry colour that fades to a Cardinal red rim.

It has a very marked aroma with a good balance of fruit and wood, where tones of vanilla intermingle with well-ripened fruit, black berries and wild fruits. There are also noticeable hints of leather and liquorice, resulting from the mingling of the French oak and the aromas inherent in this variety of grape. 

In the mouth, the wine has a smooth texture but fills the palate with balanced flavours, including fine tannins, which help extend the life of the wine. The finish and aftertaste are both long and elegant.

Vineyard: 

Pago de los Capellanes, Pedrosa de Duero. 

Variety composition: 

100% Tempranillo.

Type of soil: 

Clayey and chalky. 

Aging: 

12 months in barrel and remainder on rack.

Type of oak: 

100% French oak, medium toast.

Serving: 

Uncork and decant one hour before serving at a temperature of 16-18 ºC.

Selected harvest with yields limited to 5000 kg per hectare. The harvest begins in early October, starting with the most mature parcels. Once the grapes are brought into the winery, the tanks are seeded with indigenous yeast (start culture) and the alcoholic fermentation begins. During the barrelling period, which lasts 30 days, the wine is crushed and pumped over daily, all the while controlling the density, temperature and evolution of the yeast. At the end of this fermentation, the tanks are emptied and the wine taken for malolactic fermentation.

The malolactic fermentation begins without the addition of bacteria. The temperature is held steady at 20ºC for period of 22 days, during which we monitor the levels of malic and lactic acids. When the malic acid content is less than 0.1 grams per litre, the wine is decanted to separate the lees and is transferred directly to the barrels without undergoing any type of filtration, clarification or cold treatment.

The wine is aged for twelve months in new and semi-new French oak barrels (no more than three years old). At the end of this period, it is taken to the tank for homogenisation, where it undergoes light filtration through cartridges (open pore) and is then bottled.

 Review:

Black cherry, cranberry and blackberry flavors are bright and expressive in this lively red, accented by vanilla, tangerine and floral notes. The tannins are chewy but balanced by tangy acidity. Drink now through 2030. 39,000 cases made, 1,100 cases imported. -Wine Spectator 90 Points

Pinea 17 is made from 100 percent Tempranillo

A 100% Tempranillo red wine, elegant and with a long and persistent finish. The personality of the Ribera del Duero and the passion of its craftsmen are reflected in every sip of 17.

The vines selected for the production of this wine are more than 30 years old and belong to some vineyards that are located in the highest areas of ​​the Ribera del Duero, around 3,050 feet elevation.

The weather and the altitude of the area make our grape productions smaller than in the rest of the region, but the grapes we obtain are of higher quality and with a more concentrated flavor. These are the characteristics that demand the grape to give its best, helping us to produce a wine that reflects the personality of the Ribera del Duero.

17 celebrates the year 2017, a very important year in the life of our winery due to the major events that took place then, including the commercial debut of our flagship wine, PINEA. reflects the careful attention to detail in viticulture that characterizes our winery; by aging in American and French oak barrels for 18 months, the Tempranillo grapes express a sense of origin that is a worthy reflection of the Ribera del Duero

"17" by Pinea captures the elusive combination of intense concentration and lifted, complex aromatics that distinguishes the best Ribera del Duero wines. The lifted aromatics and elegant, supple body of "17" by Pinea is particularly appealing and a departure from the more aggressive, heavily extracted style typically found in wines from the region. To enhance the perfumed aromatics, decant for about 30 minutes before serving at a cool 60 degrees and use a Burgundy stem. Enjoy now and in the next 10-15 years with hearty dishes like lamb-chops, any kind of steak and game food and as stated by Master Sommelier Ian Cauble: "celebrate getting in on the ground floor of one of Spain's most exciting new wine ventures."

Appereance: The wine displays an opaque garnet-red core with hints of light purple at the rim.

Nose: The nose is regal and highly perfumed, expressing the classic fruit profile of Tempranillo with its own unique finesse very reminiscent of fine Burgundy. Black forest fruits, plum, and blueberry dominate with hints of light accents of vanilla, cacao nibs and cedar playing a supporting, background role.

Palate: The palate broods with fresh plum and berry compote laced with high-toned red fruits. The wine has broad shoulders, but also soft edges with chalky tannins and a lively mineral acidity driving a long and supple finish.

Pinea is made from 100 percent Tempranillo. 30 months, new French oak barrels

PINEA is born of the founders desire to make a wine on a par with the world’s finest. Its name is inspired by a beautiful and majestic Pinus Pinea tree, which is probably one of the oldest and tallest in the region. Surrounded by old vines, it has been witness to centuries of history.

PINEA is a hand-made, artisanal wine made with the heart. Crafted with care and respect for its origins, it also faithfully reflects the terroir and the passion of everyone involved in its creation. It is made from old vines, grown on clay-loam terrain at high altitude. Our winery is characterized by its minimal intervention approach to precision viticulture, key to ensuring that the grape is able to express itself fully.

PINEA is aged in and blended from new fine-grained French oak barrels of medium toast, which respect the fruit during the ageing process. Perfection is sought at each and every stage of winemaking, in order to successfully create a wine in which fruit plays a leading role, integrated with the complexity of oak. A unique wine. Elegant. Subtle. Perhaps one of the very best in the world.

TOTAL PRODUCTION: LESS THAN 1,000 CASES (13,000 BOTTLES)

Appearance: It is a clean and bright, deeply colored, almost opaque, ruby red wine with a garnet rim.

Nose: It is clean and balanced, and very intense in aromas. As is typical for the varietal, it is rich in black fruit aromas, predominantly blackberry. The use of new oak gives pungent aromas of bitter chocolate, coffee, cedar and smoky notes that give length and depth.

Palate: It has a powerful attack, which fills and envelops the palate from start to finish. Full-bodied, it has high tannins and considerable alcohol, although both are very well integrated. It is perfectly balanced on its passage through the mouth, leaving flavors of black forest fruits, blackberries and spices such as clove and black pepper. It leaves a long, harmonious aftertaste. It all comes together in a finish of smoky, slightly bitter notes, which give it great length and a persistence that lasts a long time after drinking. A complex, well-balanced wine that shows the full potential of oak-aged Tempranillo.

Reviews:

This is a fabulous young wine from the Ribera del Duero, one of Spain’s greatest wine regions. Dark, powerful and plush, the wine is not flamboyant or overdone. Indeed, it’s wonderfully balanced, carrying the alcohol and the “very special French oak” effortlessly and without a trace of heat or woodiness. Tightly wound, it gradually reveals its mineral-infused glory over time in the glass. It’s more savory than fruity, though there’s plenty of the latter. The tannins are barely noticeable because they are so fine and well-integrated. Paradoxically, it’s powerful, yet reticent, and finishes with a delightful hint of bitterness, which, to me, is a hallmark of a great wine. It’s one for the cellar, to be sure. But it you can’t wait and your budget allows you to buy multiple bottles, open and decant one hour before you drink it with garlic-infused roasted leg of lamb this winter.

97 Michael Apstein Dec 8, 2020

Very highly polished, international plush style. Bold, toasty oak, balanced by crunchy blue fruit. Ripe, intense, harmonious, has mile of age to last. - International Wine Challenge 95 Points(Gold Metal &  named one of three best tempranillos in all of Spain)

As dense and dark as a young vintage port, but much less alcoholic, this is a concentrated and elegant Ribera del Duero that has a long, polished finish. Drink or hold. - James Suckling 93 Points

Pinea is made from 100 percent Tempranillo. 30 months, new French oak barrels

PINEA is born of the founders desire to make a wine on a par with the world’s finest. Its name is inspired by a beautiful and majestic Pinus Pinea tree, which is probably one of the oldest and tallest in the region. Surrounded by old vines, it has been witness to centuries of history.

PINEA is a hand-made, artisanal wine made with the heart. Crafted with care and respect for its origins, it also faithfully reflects the terroir and the passion of everyone involved in its creation. It is made from old vines, grown on clay-loam terrain at high altitude. Our winery is characterized by its minimal intervention approach to precision viticulture, key to ensuring that the grape is able to express itself fully.

PINEA is aged in and blended from new fine-grained French oak barrels of medium toast, which respect the fruit during the ageing process. Perfection is sought at each and every stage of winemaking, in order to successfully create a wine in which fruit plays a leading role, integrated with the complexity of oak. A unique wine. Elegant. Subtle. Perhaps one of the very best in the world.

TOTAL PRODUCTION: LESS THAN 1,000 CASES (13,000 BOTTLES)

Appearance: It is a clean and bright, deeply colored, almost opaque, ruby red wine with a garnet rim.

Nose: It is clean and balanced, and very intense in aromas. As is typical for the varietal, it is rich in black fruit aromas, predominantly blackberry. The use of new oak gives pungent aromas of bitter chocolate, coffee, cedar and smoky notes that give length and depth.

Palate: It has a powerful attack, which fills and envelops the palate from start to finish. Full-bodied, it has high tannins and considerable alcohol, although both are very well integrated. It is perfectly balanced on its passage through the mouth, leaving flavors of black forest fruits, blackberries and spices such as clove and black pepper. It leaves a long, harmonious aftertaste. It all comes together in a finish of smoky, slightly bitter notes, which give it great length and a persistence that lasts a long time after drinking. A complex, well-balanced wine that shows the full potential of oak-aged Tempranillo.

Reviews:

Unctuous, ripe, dark fruit. Intense blackberry with hints of liquorice. Powerful, elegant with precision of a principal male dancer. Long, rich and dense finish.

-International Wine Challenge 95 Points

Sweet berries and chocolate with some bark, walnuts and hints of hazelnuts. It’s full-bodied with juicy, polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Lots of intense, focused fruit. Drink or hold.

- James Suckling 94 Points

95 pts. International Wine Challenge

96 pts. San Francisco International Wine Competition