Spanish Premium Wine Region Commits To 100% Tempranillo Wines

The unbelievable smells of thick steaks cooking over a wooden fireplace fueled by grapevines encourage drool to type on the company’ mouths as they eagerly wait in anticipation for a meal of a lifetime. The massive centuries-old kitchen had festive Spanish music enjoying within the background because the multi-course meal with free-flowing wine introduced everybody alongside a journey that was a magical eating expertise. All the nice issues in life might be loved in a single place, the house of a winemaking household who had been additionally restaurateurs who cherished nothing greater than to host individuals of their historical household residence tucked away in a tiny city within the Spanish wine area of Ribera del Duero.

Though Ribera del Duero is a well known wine area, some elements of the world are much less identified than others, equivalent to the place the Sanz household has their Bodegas Severino Sanz vineyard within the small city of Montejo de la Vega de la Serrezuela, which solely has round 100 residents and one different vineyard within the city. The vineyard is run by three brothers who named it after their father, Severino Sanz, and never solely does everybody within the household work arduous to maintain the vineyard and historical household residence going whereas juggling different jobs however they’ve additionally taken on the duty of recovering monumental historical olive oil presses which might be a part of the legacy of the world in addition to persevering with the laborious job of propagating previous bush Tempranillo vines through the use of the standard “layering” approach of their vineyards.

Tempranillo Grape Selection

Tempranillo is a local purple grape from Spain that takes on totally different native names in numerous Spanish wine areas. In Ribera del Duero it’s both known as Tinto Fino or Tinta del País. The variations in names mirror how the range has taken on barely totally different traits over centuries as a result of affect of its atmosphere. Ribera del Duero is a way more excessive grape rising place, versus its well-known neighbor Rioja, as swings in temperatures might be fairly intense and it could possibly get brutally chilly there with frost points. Resulting from such situations, the Tempranillo grapes in Ribera del Duero sometimes have thicker skins and a extra intense focus of flavors.

Similar to Rioja, Ribera del Duero has blended small quantities of different native purple varieties into their purple wines. But, not like Rioja, Ribera del Duero has a protracted historical past of utilizing purple Bordeaux varieties equivalent to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It was seen at one time that Tempranillo wanted some assist from Bordeaux varieties to make high-quality wines that would compete on the identical degree as the highest Bordeaux wines. But there have been well-known producers equivalent to Pesquera who’ve championed 100% Tempranillo wines in Ribera del Duero; nonetheless, it hasn’t been as simple for lesser-known struggling wineries within the space. However at this time, there’s definitely now a robust dedication even amongst these struggling producers as many have come to the point of view that no different grape can do in addition to Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero, Spain.

The Sanz household, who runs Bodegas Severino Sanz, truly takes their dedication to holding the soul of Ribera del Duero Tempranillo alive through the use of the arduous “layering” approach. Grapevines can asexually reproduce and so if one buries a shoot coming off of an present previous bush vine proper subsequent to it within the floor, the buried shoot will have the ability to develop roots from the buds dormant in that shoot. By way of time, a vine, which will likely be trellised as a bush vine, will develop and be an extension of that previous vine. The mom and the brand new daughter vine (produced from the mom’s shoot) will keep related, or generally producers like to chop the “twine”, however Bodegas Severino Sanz likes to maintain them related so long as they will.

The brand new vines are known as murón and therefore why Bodegas Severino Sanz calls their wines “Murón” because it represents their dedication to holding the DNA of the previous vines alive for generations to return. Beginning with their 2018 classic, they started to make use of 100% Tempranillo as an alternative of putting a small quantity of 5% Garnacha, as they now really feel there’s nothing higher than the Tempranillo from their vineyards.

One other multi-generational producer, Bodegas S. Arroyo, positioned within the coronary heart of Ribera del Duero in Burgos, has observed over time that no different selection adapts as properly to the intense weather conditions in Ribera del Duero as Tempranillo, as it’s a grape that many really feel has been within the space for hundreds of years regardless that it has solely been appreciated in current occasions. All of their purple wines are constituted of 100% Tempranillo which is a robust assertion as one of many household house owners, Iker Ugarte, is the present president of ASEBOR, an affiliation of Ribera del Duero wine producers.

A vineyard in one other identified space of Ribera del Duero, Valladolid, known as Bodegas Señorío de Bocos, nonetheless has a small quantity of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot planted of their vineyards which they plan to replant to Tempranillo since all of their wines are solely 100% Tempranillo now.

Worldwide Grape Varieties

However regardless of the enthusiastic embrace of 100% Tempranillo wines, nobody can deny that Ribera del Duero has some previous, legendary plots of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. One of many best wine estates on the planet is positioned in Ribera del Duero, Bodegas Vega Sicilia, and Bordeaux varieties are part of their unbelievable historical past so there are nonetheless previous Cabernet Sauvignon and previous Merlot vines on the Vega Sicilia property that make-up solely a tiny portion of the mix of their iconic Unico and Valbuena 5 respectively.

A boutique vineyard known as Bodegas Finca La Capilla, which values the distinctiveness of every of their Tempranillo vineyards positioned within the coronary heart of Ribera del Duero, has stored an acre of previous Merlot vines near their vineyard nonetheless in manufacturing. It solely makes a tiny quantity however they mentioned that their clients adore it as it’s a very complicated, elegant wine with an excellent construction that completely expresses that plot and it sells out faster than they will make it. And so, though they’re massive advocates for the nice affinity for Ribera del Duero terroir that Tempranillo expresses, this small plot is greatest represented by 100% Merlot.

Legacy of a Place

One can’t assist however be in awe when observing the lengths the Sanz household goes to as a way to preserve the torch lit that retains the legacy of their tiny city going, as lots of the youthful individuals are shifting to greater cities with extra alternatives. Whether or not it’s the unearthing of 100-year-old olive oil presses or hand layering previous bush vines to allow them to propagate a toddler vine as near the mom’s DNA or creating an unforgettable night time for these guests who drive out to the center of nowhere to see them, it’s all about holding a beautiful lifestyle thriving.

One can’t assist however observe that nothing makes the Sanz household happier than bringing pleasure to others – as all of it means nothing to them if the skin world can’t expertise the paradise of meals, wine, historical past and unbridled conviviality that the Sanz household retains alive.

Bodegas Severino Sanz

2021 Bodegas Severino Sanz ‘Murón’ Rosado (Rosé), Ribera del Duero, Spain: 100% Tempranillo. Enjoyable aromas of dried watermelon and wildflowers with shiny purple cherry and good mid-palate weight.

2018 Bodegas Severino Sanz ‘Murón’ Crianza, Ribera del Duero, Spain: 100% Tempranillo. Aged in French oak for 12 months adopted by 5 months in bottle. Deep, darkish blackcurrant flavors with hints of earth and cumin with mushy tannins and a contact of vanilla on the end.

Bodegas S. Arroyo

2021 Arroyo, Rosado (Rosé), Ribera del Duero, Spain: 100% Tempranillo. Trace of white pepper on the nostril with cherry candies and contemporary strawberries on the palate.

2019 Arroyo, Roble, Ribera del Duero, Spain: 100% Tempranillo. Roble notes that it’s a younger wine that hasn’t spent an excessive amount of time growing old. On this case, it has spent 4 to 6 months in a mix of American and French oak adopted by eight months in bottle. American oak and Tempranillo have had a protracted and fantastic partnership in Spain. A savory nostril equivalent to cured meats and dried thyme is balanced by blackberry fruit and hints of baking spices.

2018 Arroyo, Crianza, Ribera del Duero, Spain: 100% Tempranillo. Crianza is the subsequent degree up in growing old and, on this case, spends 12 months in a mix of American and French oak adopted by 12 months in bottle. Bacon bits, cumin and dusty earth on the nostril with a contact of extra texture and construction with sandalwood incense on the end.

2016 Arroyo, Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain: 100% Tempranillo. Reserva is the subsequent degree in growing old after Crianza, and so on this case, it’s aged for 15 months in American and French oak adopted by 24 months in bottle. Dried leaves, cinnamon and candy tobacco on the nostril with black cherry and espresso flavors on the full-bodied palate with well-integrated tannins.

2012 Arroyo, Gran Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain: 100% Tempranillo. Gran Reserva is the subsequent degree after Reserva, and on this case, it has been aged for twenty-four months in a mix of American and French oak adopted by 36 months in bottle. Intriguing nostril with smoldering earth, shiny purple cherry fruit, cocoa nibs and forest ground – actually complicated but has an exquisite lifted purity of fruit among the many complexity.

2014 Arroyo ‘Vendimia Seleccionada’ Ribera del Duero, Spain: 100% Tempranillo. The ‘Vendimia Seleccionada’ is a particular choice from a high classic aged 100% in new Allier French oak for 14 months. Brooding darkish fruit on the nostril with a richer physique with licorice and darkish chocolate flavors wrapped up in plush blackberry fruit.

Bodegas Señorío de Bocos

2020 Bodegas Señorío de Bocos, Roble, Ribera del Duero, Spain: 100% Tempranillo. Greater than six months in 50% French and 50% American oak. Blackberry preserves and candy spice on the nostril and delightful purple fruit on the palate with spherical tannins.

2016 Bodegas Señorío de Bocos, Crianza, Ribera del Duero, Spain: 100% Tempranillo. Greater than 12 months in 30% French and 70% American oak adopted by greater than 24 months in bottle. Dried herbs and cumin seeds with damaged rocks and candy black cherry fruit with a slight grip to the tannins.

2015 Bodegas Señorío de Bocos, Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain: 100% Tempranillo. Greater than 18 months in 30% French and 70% American oak adopted by greater than 36 months in bottle. Blackcurrant jam with complicated notes of contemporary leather-based and bacon grease with a nimble physique and tremendous tannins.

2019 Bodegas Señorío de Bocos ‘Autor de Bocos’ Ribera del Duero, Spain: 100% Tempranillo. ‘Autor de Bocos’ is a particular choice bottling. Greater than 14 months in 100% French oak adopted by greater than six months in bottle. Multilayered fruit that features purple and black wild berries with a juicy, plush palate with hints of vanilla bean and tobacco and violets on the end.

Bodegas Finca La Capilla

2020 Bodegas Finca La Capilla, Merlot, Ribera del Duero, Spain: 100% Merlot. Solely round 6,000 bottles made. One sip and one realizes why they stored this Merlot plot as it’s merely an impressive wine. Dripping with class and finesse, this wine enchants and seduces with pristine blackberry and blueberry fruit, hints of damaged limestone, pencil shavings and contemporary porcini mushrooms that has a surprising texture, like tremendous lace, and an ideal precision throughout the very lengthy end.