Bodegas Briego stands for the concept of artisanal family wines in Ribera del Duero. In fact, its Ankal range displays the slogan ‘wine that pays tribute to family tradition‘. The Benito Hernando brothers (Gaspar, Fernando and Javier) have taken over from their father and work with high quality standards that would make their ancestors proud. Their recipe is based on old vines and slow winemaking. Their red Ankal Crianza 2020 comes with the guarantee of an Excellent vintage. A Tempranillo aged for 14 months in oak, it's mouth-filling and fresh on the palate, with very pleasant tannins.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
Consumption time
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
100% Tempranillo
Type of barrel
French and American oak barrels
Type of bottle
Bordeaux
Barrel aging time
14 months
Capacity (cl)
75
Alcohol content (% vol.)
14.5
General Information
Ankal Crianza 2020 (an Excellent vintage) comes from a selection of Tempranillo vineyards in different plots located in the valley of Peñafiel and Curiel de Duero at an altitude of 750 m above sea level, with sandy soils with siliceous stone; and in Fompedraza, at an altitude of 910 m with limestone soils. It was aged for 14 months in French and American oak barrels.
The Benito Hernando brothers, inheritors of a skilful winemaking tradition, are the masterminds behind Bodegas Briego (1992), where they produce wines that represent the best of the Ribera del Duero character. This family are responsible for reactivating wine production in Fompedraza (Valladolid), where they are based and where they manage 80 hectares of their own vineyards, some of whose plots cultivated with Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) are seven decades old. These assets are the result of restructuring and recovering old vineyards located in the municipalities of Curiel de Duero, Peñafiel and Fompedraza, as well as planting new plots in 1988.
These vineyards are scattered between valleys and hillsides – up to 910 metres above sea level – to ensure the best terroir for cultivating Tempranillo. With this recipe based on old vines and slow and respectful winemaking, the firm produces magnificent wines for laying down of which time is a faithful ally for achieving real gems.
Ankal Crianza 2020 (D.O. Ribera del Duero) is ideal with roast suckling pig.
Creators' opinion
Appearance: Clean and bright with medium-to-high pigmentation. Dark cherry-red in colour.
Nose: Aromas of red and black fruit mixed with notes of toast and spice with hints of woodland.
Palate: Mouth-filling and fresh on the attack with very pleasant tannins. The toasty and fruity notes found in the nose reappear together with dairy notes.
The winery
Heirs to a wise winemaking tradition, the Benito Hernando brothers -Gaspar, Fernando, and Javier- have developed the Bodegas Briego project (1992), positioning their wines as true representatives of the finest Ribera character. This family is responsible for revitalizing the winemaking production in Fompedraza, where their base of operations is located and where they manage 75 hectares of their own vineyards, including some plots cultivated with tinto fino or tempranillo vines that are seven decades old. This heritage has been forged by restructuring and recovering ancient vineyards situated in the municipalities of Curiel de Duero, Peñafiel, and Fompedraza, as well as planting new plots in 1988, which now have reached three decades of age.
The search for the best ‘terroirs’ in Ribera del Duero for cultivating tempranillo allows Bodegas Briego to have vineyards with diverse exposures and orientations, both in valleys and on slopes (up to 910 meters above sea level). With this approach, based on old vineyards and slow, respectful winemaking processes, magnificent age-worthy red wines are born, where time becomes a faithful ally in achieving true oenological treasures.
The magazine Magazine & Guía de Vinos AkataVino, along with the jury of the CIVAS competition, awarded the prize for Best Ribera del Duero Wine in 2022 to Briego Gran Reserva 2011.