NIC Ribera del Duero 2009, Tempranillo, Spain

Wine Advocate: 97 Points

Bodega J. A. Calvo Casajus –

Bodegas Casajus is located in Quintana del Pidio, which is in the foothills in the northern portion of the Duero valley that shapes the Ribera del Duero appellation. The boutique bodega is family owned and operated with only one employee, Jose Alberto Casajus.

Jose Alberto was trained as a winemaker, but he is also the village baker. His day begins around 4:30 AM when he opens his bakery to bake the bread for the 50+ local villagers. He closes the bakery around 9:00 and walks down the street to his bodega where he makes his three wines. History – Bodegas Casajus is known for its vineyards, all of which were planted in 1920, making them among the oldest vineyards in Ribera del Duero. Mariano Garcia, the famed winemaker from Vega Sicilia, identified Quintana del Pidio as his first choice for sourcing grapes for his Aalto project.

Tasting Notes –

Bright purple color. Ripe blackberry and plum aromas and flavors with vanilla coming later in the glass. Zesty minerality. Smooth on the palate. Long smooth finish. Imported since: 2005

Appellation: Ribera del Duero

Composition: Tempranillo

Soil: mixed with a high concentration of sandy loam and many small stones

Elevation: 2800 feet

Vineyard practice: dry farming, organic without certification

Vine Age: 96 years

Yield: 0.91 tons per acre

Harvest Dates: October 16 by hand with a selection table

Fermentation: 10 days in 500 liter oak casks at 77 degrees F with natural (or wild or indigenous) yeast and malolactic in clean 500 liter casks for 20 days at 66 degrees F

Aging: 24 months in new French Allier oak casks and 12 months in bottle pH: 3.63 Residual Sugar: 1.7 grams per liter Alcohol: 15.0% UPC: 7 50428 20149 6