{"id":13338,"date":"2014-06-26T15:54:03","date_gmt":"2014-06-26T15:54:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.leaandsandeman.co.uk\/blog\/?p=13338"},"modified":"2017-12-15T22:15:47","modified_gmt":"2017-12-15T22:15:47","slug":"douro-wines-ribera-del-duero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leaandsandeman.co.uk\/blog\/2014\/06\/douro-wines-ribera-del-duero\/","title":{"rendered":"You say Douro, I say Duero: 3 Great wines from Ribera del Duero"},"content":{"rendered":"

The River Douro is, of course, famous for allowing the grapes that go to make Port to grow on its precipitous banks. But, long before it reaches the Port Quintas, it drives across northern Spain as the River Duero. Hugging the banks of the Duero and a few tributaries, about halfway from the border to the source, to the south-west of Rioja, lie the vineyards of Ribera del Duero.<\/p>\n

\"Duero\"<\/a><\/div>\n

Comparisons with Rioja are tempting as, Vega Sicilia aside, the vineyards are planted mostly with Tempranillo and most wines are matured in oak, but this is a warmer younger region and the wines have plumper lusher fruit than those of La Rioja.<\/p>\n

It is said that Sir Alex Ferguson, amongst his famously impressively appointed wine collection, retains a soft spot for Ribera del Duero (‘a lovely little Spanish wine-making region’, Daily Mail, February 2009<\/a>). Some years before Sir Alex progressed from running a Glasgow pub to enjoying the finest Dionysan delights, 12th<\/sup> Century monks from Burgundy had arrived in Ribera del Duero to begin the region\u2019s wine making history.<\/p>\n

‘All in all, these are\u00a0perfect ‘outdoors’ wines for all those beach barbeques and the long cool evenings of\u00a0the late\u00a0summer<\/span><\/em><\/strong>.<\/span>‘<\/em><\/p>\n

But, again Vega Sicilia apart, success outside the region has come quite recently – the Denominaci\u00f3n de Origen was only created in 1982 and most wineries are far more recent than that, indeed Bodegas y Vi\u00f1edos Montecastro were only founded in 2000.<\/p>\n

Bodegas y Vi\u00f1edos Montecastro<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Higher altitude vineyards (between 800m and 1000m) and a preference for north-facing slopes help to mitigate the intense heat of central Spain. Vine age varies from those planted when the estate was founded to 100 year old vines from contract growers, with the meticulous care in the vineyards moving toward full organic status.<\/p>\n

95%+<\/strong> <\/span>of their vines are Tempranillo, here known as Tinto Fino or Tinta del Pa\u00eds, with smaller plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Grenache.<\/p>\n

2008 MONTECASTRO Bodegas y Vinedos Montecastro<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"2008-MONTECASTRO-Bodegas-y-Vinedos-Montecastro\"<\/a><\/p>\n

75cl bottle \u00a321.95 or just \u00a319.95 <\/strong><\/span>‘Case price’*\u00a0(Save \u00a32.00<\/span> a bottle)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Comparisons with Rioja are obvious, but the Montecastro has a silkier, more luxuriant feel with more emphasis on the rich quality of the fruit. 96% Tempranillo with just the faintest tickle of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon; aged for 18 months in oak, importantly mostly (70%) French oak for a smoother texture and less obvious vanilla oakiness. This is a luxurious wine with warm red berry fruits and inviting aroma.<\/p>\n