2020 La Capilla Ribera del Duero Crianza

From: Roa de Duero, Burgos, Castilla y Leon, Spain
Varietal: Tinta del País (Tempranillo), Merlot

Taste: From the Producer: “Deep-coloured, glossy and velvety wine. Intense aromas, with hints of fruity freshness entwined with well integrated oak that combines with, but never masks the richness of the Tinta del País variety of the Ribera del Duero. It's fresh, vivacious and elegantly complex on the palate, with creamy nuances and fine toasted notes. Dense, smooth, enveloping polymerised tannins. Subtle and refined. Perfectly balanced to drink now and with the capacity to age in bottle for several years.”

Pairing: This deep-colored and velvety wine, with its intense aromas and well-integrated oak, pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes. For traditional Spanish fare, try it with Iberian pork secreto with roasted peppers or a rich Fabada Asturiana (bean and chorizo stew), as the wine's creamy nuances and fine toasted notes enhance the robust flavors. For American holiday celebrations, it’s an excellent companion to herb-crusted turkey with cranberry sauce or a decadent prime rib roast with horseradish cream, as its smooth tannins and fresh vivacity balance the richness of these festive dishes. It complements grilled meats with a fruit reduction (think blueberry, cherry), butternut squash ravioli with brown butter sage sauce, or braised short ribs with polenta, as the wine's complexity and subtle elegance bring out the best in these savory dishes.



Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage Walnut Pumpkin Butter
Recipe from Kate Reilly
Adapted by The New York Times

About: Finca La Capilla, established in 1998 as Bodegas Robeal by Juan Miñón, is a distinguished winery in Spain's Ribera del Duero region. The winery's inception was marked by planting 160 acres of Tempranillo vines across the municipalities of Roa de Duero, Anguix, La Horra, and Fuentecén. To facilitate production, a 2,000-barrel capacity winery was constructed in Roa de Duero, the hub of the Ribera del Duero denomination.

In 2019, Marqués de Cáceres took over Finca La Capilla. The Forner family has a rich history in the wine industry, spanning multiple generations. Their journey began in 1920 when they founded Vinícola Forner, a family business in Sagunto, Valencia, dedicated to producing, marketing, and exporting local wines. During the Spanish Civil War, the family relocated to France, acquiring two châteaux in Bordeaux: Château Camensac and Château Larose Trintaudon. In 1970, Enrique Forner returned to Spain and established Marqués de Cáceres in the Rioja region, introducing innovative techniques inspired by his Bordeaux experience. Under the leadership of his daughter, Cristina Forner, Marqués de Cáceres expanded its reach and reputation, becoming one of Spain's most recognized wine brands.