From: Ribera del Duero, Spain
Varietal: Tempranillo
About this wine
The 2019 Bodegas Resalte ‘Origen’ comes from six different vineyards with an average age of over 30 years old. Grapes were hand-selected during harvest and sent to the winery in small boxes. In the winery, they went through a cooling process to preserve the clusters from oxidation. Each vineyard’s grapes were vilified separately, plot-by-plot to preserve and enhance its identity using a gravity-fed winemaking process, and the final blend was constructed to represent the perfect balance of elements from each vineyard. This wine aged for 14 months in 1/3 new barrels—80% of which are made from French oak and 20% of which are made from American oak—with a careful selection of cooperages and levels of toast.
Bodegas Resalte on the 2019 vintage
“2019 was a particularly dry year. Spring started with an usual cycle. By the end of April, the first sprouts came out, although rain started, they were not very significant. Once summer took over, high temperatures made the cycle to speed up, meaning 1 week of advance in the vegetative cycle. Finally, some rains felt by the beginning of September which helped to reach a balanced ripeness without too much stress. A vintage with low yields and small berries, definitely an excellent vintage, with fine, balanced and long-finish wines. Harvest started in 28th of September in Manzanillo and finished in the 11th of October in Baños de Valdarados”
Taste: Deep aromas of blackberry, black cherry, and plum gain complexity alongside classic regional notes of liquorice, cedar, clove, and leather. These fruit and spice components persist on the palate of this full-bodied wine, which introduces a gentle, balanced smokiness from the oak aging, balanced by good acidity. The wine finishes with length, polish, and texture in the form of ripe tannins.
Pairing: To start, we’re looking to classic regional fare of the area. Ribera del Duero is part of Castilla y Leon, which is sometimes known as "España del Asado" (Spain of the Roast) because of how popular its roast suckling pig and lamb dishes are. Meat and/or chickpea-based stews (sometimes with cabbage) are also common regional fare, along with mushrooms (including portobellos), spiced and smoked cold meats (“embutidos”), and “Patatas à la Importancia”: potato slices fried in a batter of flour and eggs and served with a sauce that usually consists of onions, carrots, flour, olive oil, salt, and white wine or dry sherry (salsa española), or a combination of garlic, parsley, almonds, and white wine known as majao. Other amazing pairing options include steak, burgers, lasagna, your favorite meat or mushroom pizza, carne asada burritos, loaded nachos, and grilled eggplant. The list goes on!
Fried Chickpeas With Chorizo and Spinach
by Mark Bittman
About: Established in 2000, Bodegas Resalte de Peñafiel is nestled in the town of Peñafiel, which is located in the Spanish DO known as Ribera del Duero. Bodegas Resalte makes its reds from Tempranillo and its whites from Albillo Mayor—all sourced from 80 hectares (197 acres) of vineyards planted in a diverse selection of microclimates with various orientations, soil types and elevations.
Ribera wines underscore the purest expression of Tempranillo, Spain’s most well known grape; big, bold and textured, but with plenty of rich, old-world sensibility. The region is home to some of Spain’s most sought after and applauded wines. Riberas are crafted to age, developing complexity over time, yet balancing acidity and generous fruit, they’re unequivocally food-friendly wines to drink young. The spices, dark fruit and smoky flavors of Ribera enhance anything off the grill, roasted meats, and rich pastas. Ribera del Duero wines can best be compared to Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley thanks to those rich and bold flavors, but tend to be more refined and Old World in style, more balanced and with less overpowering oak.
Designation of Origin (D.O.) Ribera del Duero is located in Castilla y León, roughly 2 hours north of Madrid. Before achieving D.O. status in 1982, growers sold grapes to co- ops and wine was sold in bulk. A small group of local growers saw potential for the area and applied for D.O. recognition. The rest is history, and Ribera del Duero remains a relatively young appellation to have such prestige in the wine world.
The vineyards of Ribera del Duero stretch intermittently for over 70 miles along the River Duero. These sprawling lands feature a mix of different soils, exposures and elevations – some as high as a half-mile above sea level. The semi-arid terrain, ample amounts of sunlight and extreme temperature swings from day to night — sometimes a 50-plus degree difference — create optimal ripening conditions for the Tempranillo grapes that define Ribera del Duero wines distinctive character.
Tempranillo, the grape of great pride for the region. Known locally as “Tinto Fino” to distinguish it from other nearby Tempranillo producing areas, it represents 95% of all the grapes grown in the D.O. Old Tempranillo vines are the signature of Ribera. Vines 25 years and older represent about 35 percent of all vines planted — meaning a significant percentage of the vines have roots deep and nourished enough to survive the
harsh climate and produce even yields with minimal worries compared to younger vines. With fruit that tends to be smaller in size, old vines have a reputation for producing more structured and balanced wines.
