Rippa Dorii Ribera del Duero Crianza (Spain)

Fancy an alternative to Rioja? Try Ribera del Duero! The neigbouring regions are alike in shared focus on the Tempranillo grape and in their winemaking methods, but where Rioja tends to be red-fruit driven, oaky and smooth, Ribera emerges as the more intense, concentrated black-fruit driven older sibling. 

This Crrianza epresents a step up from the younger Rippa Dorii Roble, and stylistically has more power and more oak character. Aromas of bramble fruit, vanilla, nutmeg and sweet spice. The palate is rich and complex with blueberry and blackberry fruit, ripe tannins and good length.

The 'Rippa Dorii' range is an Ontañón Family project (usually based in Rioja) in Ribera del Duero. Their vineyards are located in the Fuentecén area, in the heart of the Ribera region, bathed by the Duero and its tributary the Riaza river. Here altitudes reach over 900 metres and the climate is harsh, with irregular rain, uncertain frosts, and short and extremely hot summers. A first selection of grapes takes place in the vineyard, where those from the highest and coolest areas are chosen, which have experienced a slower and smoother ripening of the berries. A pre-fermentation maceration of the grapes takes place at 10ºC for 3 days, followed by alcoholic fermentation over 18 days at 22-26ºC. Malolactic fermentation takes place in batches, both in tank at the start of fermentation and also in barrel at its end. The wine matures for 12 months in new oak barrels - 70% French (with different levels of toast) and 30% American.

Rippa Dorii is the Latin form of ‘Ribera del Duero’ – inspiration for the name and label came from the nearby 13th century chapel of Santa Maria de Ripa Dorii, in Torrecilla de la Abadesa. 

Drink this wine alongside dishes with chorizo and hearty vegetable casseroles.