Savoring Spain: Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero's Terroir!
– exploring Spain's most planted black grape
Today we go to Spain where Tempranillo is their number one black grape variety, particularly in the regions of Rioja, Toro, and today’s subject region: Ribera del Duero. Ribera Del Duero is in North Central Spain, Southwest of the Rioja wine region. (Ribera means riverbank in Spanish.)
The region’s vineyards are planted at altitudes of 750-1000 m, straddling the Duero River (named Douro River in Portugal). In Ribera del Duero the wines are often 100% Tempranillo and have adapted well to the extreme continental climate. Both the altitude and this continental climate results in cool nights (4-5 degrees C) and warm days (25-27 degrees C) during the growing season, allowing for complex flavors to develop as the cool nights slow the ripening while preserving acidity.
What are the qualities of the Tempranillo grape? What should I expect in the glass?
Tempranillo has many different names in Ribera del Duero, such as Tinto Fino (Fine Red) and Tinta del País (Red of the Country). As with any grape, Tempranillo expresses itself differently depending on where it is grown. The region’s wines can be very different than Rioja’s Tempranillos. Ribera del Duero wines are known for their deeply colored, full bodied, highly tannic, concentrated, black fruited wines.
As in Rioja, the regulated label terms of Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva are sometimes used. These indicate how much ageing the wines have undergone and how much of that time is in oak barrels.
For the reds, Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva require 2, 3, and 5 years respectively, with 12, 12, and 24 months of that respectively in oak barrels. American and/or French oak are typically used.
The featured wine today is the Nabal Crianza 2018, made with 100% Tempranillo. It is aged in new barrels for 14 months with a blend of 80% French and 20% American oak. With a Crianza label, it will have been aged for at least another 10 months (to complete the 2 years minimum), prior to being allowed to be released to market. By comparison, Valle de Nabal 2019, which was featured by Shades of Grape in the past and is not labelled with any “ageing” terms, is made with 100% Tempranillo and aged for 9 months in 40% French and 60% American oak.
Why do I sense that you will bore us with history now? (snore)
Spain’s winemaking history dates to the 1100 BC Phoenicians who settled in Cadiz in Southwest Spain.
Gumiel de Izán, the town near where the Nabal grapes are grown, is build on a Roman road Clunia-Astúrica and received its royal town status from King Alfonso XI the Avenger in 1326. It was a walled city, home to two Cistercian monasteries: San Lorenzo and San Pedro de Gumiel. These monasteries grew most of the surrounding vineyards during the Middle Ages.
In terms of Ribera del Duero’s “modern history”, the Lecanda family’s famous Vega Sicilia was its first winery created in the late 19th century and remains a very high quality and sought after wine producer. They were the only game in town for the longest time. In the early 1980’s, there were only 9 wineries there, but now there are close to 300.
Nabal is also known for their old vines.
Good job focusing on the negative, sista! Sheesh! Why do you slam the producer like this?
Old vines produce lower fruit yields but produce fruit of higher quality with higher flavor and aroma concentration.
The Crianza Nabal wine has vines with an average age of 80 years, growing at an altitude of 860 meters. In comparison, the Valle de Nabal’s vineyards are an average of 40 years of age at roughly the same altitude. The best quality grapes and winemaking techniques, as well as longer ageing, are reserved for the better-quality wines. Ageing requires more production/labour time, delays cash flow, and requires more capital investment for barrels. This extra cost will be reflected in the wine price.
For example, the Valle de Nabal is ~$25 Cdn vs. ~$36 Cdn for the Nabal Crianza. This reflects the difference in vine age (fruit from older vines is more expensive to grow due to the lower yields) and the longer ageing (wine ageing requires space in the winery and barrel use), which both have a cost associated with them.
As a consumer, your goal is to strike that perfect balance where the quality of the wine in your glass matches the value of its price!
Nabal Crianza 2018 from Ribera del Duero, Spain
Style: Old World Full Body Red*
Varieties: 100% Tempranillo
This savory rich wine has dynamic flavors of cranberry, red currant, sour red cherry, black cherry, blueberry, with the complexity of cedar, salted dark chocolate, earth, leather, sweet tobacco. It has moderately high intensity, high tannins, and a long finish. This wine continued to evolve until it was gone!
Best pairings: Red meat or duck accompanied by sauces or fruit compotes, and charcuterie including aged and blue cheeses.
Serving Temperature: 18 degrees Celsius
Price: ~$36 Cdn (incl. Shades of Grape 15% discount & 5% gst)
Serving Tips: Important: The tannins and oak flavors were harsh right out of the bottle. This wine also gains complexity with time. It is key to decant for at least 1 hour by transferring the wine to a decanter, pitcher, or clean flower vase. For more on decanting see article below.
I have compiled all my wine recommendations in one place. I will do my best to keep this up to date. I also include the link(s) to the article in which the wine was featured.
Like what you are reading? Click on the ❤ to let me know it resonated with you!
SOURCES:
Gumiel de Izán (no date) Ruta del Vino Ribera del Duero. Available at: https://www.rutadelvinoriberadelduero.es/en/poblacion-ribera-del-duero/gumiel-izan (Accessed: 29 April 2024).
Nabal - Bodegas Nabal (2023) Bodegas Nabal - Ribera del Duero. Available at: https://bodegasnabal.com/en/nabal_/ (Accessed: 29 April 2024).
Ribera del Duero (2023) SevenFifty Daily. Available at: https://daily.sevenfifty.com/regions/ribera-del-duero/ (Accessed: 29 April 2024).
Ribera del Duero wines. history and style of wines (2022) Wine Tours in Spain - Spain leading wine travel portal. Available at: https://winetourismspain.com/wine-regions/ribera-del-duero/ribera-del-duero-wines/ (Accessed: 29 April 2024).
Field, S.F. MW, (2020) Ribera del Duero red wines: Purity and power, Decanter. Available at: https://www.decanter.com/wine/wine-regions/spain/ribera-del-duero-red-wines-purity-power-425530/ (Accessed: 29 April 2024).
Wine & Spirit Education Trust (2021) D3: Wines of the World - An accompaniment to the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines. Version 1.2. London: Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
Another great piece of history and always great advice! Balancing the price vs. taste is always a challenge. One of our favourite red regions ;)
That Nabal Crianza sounds delicious from your tasting note - think I'd buy the bottle just for the cool label alone!