5 minute read
Duero Valley: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Toro 25
Esteban Celemín Viticultor, Castrouño, Vallodolid.
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After studying oenology at Madrid University Esteban began to plant new and rescue old plots of Duero River valley native white variety Albillo Real, Tinta de Toro (technically Tempranillo but this Duero River version is considered a clonal variation with thicker skins and smaller berries), and several other Duero River native varieties. His wines are born of three values - they are handmade, they are natural, and they are made only from native varieties of the Duero. Another key factor that individualizes his wines is that wherever he feels a plot has individual characteristics it is vinified and bottled separately, regardless of the size of production, some just a single 225L barrel. He is a true artisan in an area of large volume brands.
White 2017 ‘Tinajas de Albillo Real’, Albillo Real, V.T. Castilla y Léon 2018 ‘Verdeja le Dicen’, Verdeja, V.T. Castilla y Léon 2018 ‘Monemvasia del Duero’, Malvasía, V.T. Castilla y Léon LUC $39.99 LUC $40.64 LUC $40.64
Red
2018 ‘Ultimas Huellas’, Tinta de Toro, V.T. Castilla y Léon 2018 ‘Melquiades’, Tinta de Toro, V.T. Castilla y Léon LUC $43.22 LUC $53.75
Bodega Dominio del Bendito, Zamora, Toro.
French winemaker Antony Terryn searched for the perfect terroir to give birth to the project he’d dreamed many years about. Settling in Zamora, D.O. Toro in the Duero valley in 2002, the old strains he found there immediately fascinated him and he set out to realise his dream. Seeing himself as an artist he attempts to use the differing palettes of terroir in his plots to compose his art, the finished wine. Working primarily with Tinta de Toro, Toro’s clonal variant of Tempranillo, he farms his vines organically and with some biodynamic principles, ultimately, he allows the land to define his wines.
2018 ‘El Buen Rollo’, Tinta de Toro, D.O. Toro 2018 ‘El Primer Paso’, Tinta de Toro, D.O. Toro 2016 ‘Las Sabias’, Tinta de Toro, D.O. Toro LUC $30.96 LUC $35.37 LUC $54.29
Daniel V. Ramos, Cebreros, Sierra de Gredos.
Established in 2005 self-described ‘Span-Aussie’ Daniel Ramos (born to Spanish parents in Australia) set out with partner Pepi San Juan to express the unique character of vineyards planted on the south facing Cebreros in the Sierra de Gredos. They release wine under two labels, wines that express the unique personality of the grape varieties, soils and terroirs are produced under the label of Zerberos Finca, and wines that nod their hat to the traditional winemaking techniques of the area are released under the label Kπ. Wines are low added sulphur, some employing skin contact and amphora fermentation and ageing, and focus on the varieties Garnacha and Albillo Real.
White 2020 ‘El Berrakin’, Jaén Vino de Mesa, Cebreros 2018 ‘Kπ Real’, Albillo Real, Vino de Mesa, Cebreros 2016 ‘Zerberos Viento Zephyros’, Albillo Real, Vino de Mesa, Cebreros 2015 ‘Zerberos Suaviñon’, Sauvignon Blanc, Vino de Mesa, Cebreros LUC $23.01 LUC $35.15 LUC $40.21 LUC $53.11
Rose 2017 ‘Kπ Rose’, Garnacha, Vino de Mesa, Cebreros LUC $30.32
Red 2020 ‘El Berrakin’, Garnacha, Vino de Mesa, Cebreros
LUC $23.01 2018 ‘Kπ Amphorae’, Garnacha, Vino de Mesa, Cebreros LUC $32.90 2014 ‘Zerberos A+P’, 93% Garnacha, 5% Aragon Fino, 2% Villanueva, Vino de Mesa, Cebreros LUC $47.73
2019 ‘Zerberos Finca AF’, Aragon Fino, Vino de Mesa, Cebreros 2016 ‘Zerberos El Altar’, Garnacha, Vino de Mesa, Cebreros 2016 ‘Zerberos Los Charrancos’, Garnacha, Vino de Mesa, Cebreros 2016 ‘Zerberos Dair’, Garnacha, Vino de Mesa, Cebreros LUC $48.59 LUC $65.79 LUC $73.32 LUC $80.84
Headed up by José Benavides Jiménez-Landi, Bodegas Jiménez-Landi are a family business established in 1963 making wine in the only part of D.O. Méntrida that is part of the Sierra de Gredos, they have vineyards planted on the lower scrubland of Méntrida, around 550m and in the rugged hills around El Real de San Vincente at 750-850m above sea level. Focusing on Garnacha, they also have some Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, all of which is farmed organically, and the wines are made with minimal additions in their converted 16th century manor house.
2018 ‘El Corralón’, 65% Garnacha, 30% Syrah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, D.O. Méntrida LUC $27.52 2016 ‘Piélago’, Garnacha, D.O. Méntrida LUC $64.50 2016 ‘Ataulfos’, Garnacha, D.O. Méntrida LUC $121.04
Viñedos del Jorco, Cebreros, Sierra de Gredos.
Raúl Pérez, icon winemaker of the northwest of Spain, should need no introduction, in 2009 he started making wine with three other winemakers out of Cebreros, they went on to become Viñedos del Jorco. In 2011 after some trial and error with vineyards they released their first wine, made from Garnacha from a site in Villalba planted in 1915. After five years of working this vineyard, they bought it from the owner and began to farm it organically and biodynamically. Now producing four wines, all from Garnacha from their originally purchased vineyards and several other sites around Cebreros.
2018 ‘Las Cabañuelas’, Garnacha, V.C. Cebreros 2017 ‘Las Enebradas’, Garnacha, V.C. Cebreros 2017 ‘El Jorco Vino de Famila’, Garnacha, V.C. Cebreros LUC $23.87 LUC $89.98 LUC $89.98
Dehesa del Carrizal, Vino de Pago, Montes de Toledo.
Dehesa del Carrizal estate is placed in the middle of the Montes de Toledo, near the Cabañeros national park. A Vino de Pago, the highest category of classification in Spanish wine law, which is awarded to single estates of exceptional and consistent quality that carry out the entire process of wine production within their own estate, and with their own grapes. Working almost exclusively with French varieties (the only exception is Tempranillo) and use the very highest quality French oak in the winery, they produce classic wines of finesse and elegance.
