Fuentespina Crianza 2021
88
Tim Atkin
A family committed to making high-quality Ribera del Duero wines
Fuentespina Crianza 2021 is a perfect example of everything a good Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero should be: fruity aromas, a silky mouthfeel and a long finish. This wine is designed from Tempranillo grapes from vines more than 40 years old and has been aged for 12 months in new American oak barrels.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
Consumption time
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
100% Tempranillo
Type of barrel
New American oak barrels
Type of bottle
Bordeaux
Barrel aging time
12 months
Capacity (cl)
75
General Information
This Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero (where it’s called Tinto Fino) that’s impressed national critics, lovingly cultivated in the Fuentespina vineyards, is the main ingredient of Fuentespina Crianza 2021. A Ribera del Duero with the guarantees of an Excellent vintage grown on 600 hectares of vines more than 40 years old. The grapes were macerated with the skins at 12º C for 72 hours to extract their full aromatic potential. After fermentation they were macerated for a further 20 days to achieve the body and structure needed for ageing. The wine has been matured for 12 months in new American oak barrels.
The winemaking career of Avelino Vegas and his family dates back to 1950. Hailing from Santiuste (Segovia), besides continuing with their white wine-producing firm in the D.O. Rueda, in 1993 they expanded into the Ribera del Duero region to found Bodegas Fuentespina. Located in the district of Fuentespina in Burgos, after which it is named, the winery continues the family’s commitment to producing top-quality wines.
Bodegas Fuentespina controls 600 hectares of vineyards and works very closely with the grape growers to ensure that the grapes reach the winery at their ripest. The whole vineyard is given over to the Tempranillo variety and lies at an altitude of between 700 and 1,000 metres. The average age of the vines is 50 years, and several of the plots were planted between 1917 and 1945. And the soils are deep, calcareous clay. The combination of the age of the vines, the altitude and the soils results in magnificent grapes.
Fuentespina produces more than three million bottles per year and is one of the three wineries belonging to the Avelino Vegas group run by Fernando Vegas, the second generation of the family. The other two are Avelino Vegas D.O. Rueda, based in Santiuste (Segovia), and Avelino Vegas D.O. Ribera del Duero, recently started up in Peñafiel (Valladolid).
Fuentespina Crianza 2021 (D.O. Ribera del Duero) goes with hearty dishes like roast pork or lamb and char-grilled meats.
Creators' opinion
Violet-tinged red with intense pigmentation. Very expressive nose, notes of red and black fruit mixed with hints of vanilla and dairy and dark-roast notes. Potent, pleasant, enveloping and very smooth on the palate with a long, fresh finish.
The winery
The winemaking journey of Avelino Vegas and his family began in 1950. Natives of Santiuste (Segovia), in addition to continuing with their white wine production winery in the D.O. Rueda, in 1993 they made the leap to Ribera del Duero to establish Bodegas Fuentespina. Located in the Burgos municipality of Fuentespina, from which it takes its name, the winery represents the family’s commitment to producing wines of the highest quality.
It has 70 hectares of its own vineyards and an additional 430 hectares of controlled vineyards, closely advising the winegrowers to ensure that the grapes reach the winery at their optimal ripeness. All the vineyards are dedicated to the tempranillo grape and are cultivated at an altitude of between 700 and 1000 m. Moreover, the average age of the vines is 50 years, with several plots planted between 1917 and 1945. The soils are deep, clay-limestone in type. The combination of vine age, altitude, and soil creates an outstanding raw material.
Fuentespina produces more than three million bottles annually and is one of the three wineries that make up the Grupo Avelino Vegas, led by Fernando Vegas, second generation. The other two are Avelino Vegas D.O. Rueda, located in Santiuste (Segovia); and Avelino Vegas D.O. Ribera del Duero, recently established in Peñafiel (Valladolid).