With careful production and 12 months of ageing in American and French oak barrels, Finca El Empecinado Crianza 2021 elegantly reflects the most authentic Ribera del Duero. It has been rated 90 points by James Suckling and Guía Peñín and is a safe bet to enjoy without hurry.
Finca El Empecinado Crianza 2021 is a Ribera del Duero produced entirely from Tinta del País grapes and offers character, balance and a well-integrated oak ageing. Hand harvest and plot selection help shape a serious wine, with 12 months in American and French oak barrels, designed to gain roundness without losing freshness.
The grapes come from 40 hectares situated between 800 and 920 metres above sea level, an environment that adds expression and a slow maturation. With vineyards of average age around two decades, the vineyard is tended with care and restrained yield, something that is often noticeable in the final concentration of the wine.
Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Real began its journey in 1997 in Castrillo del Duero, very close to Peñafiel, within a landscape that invites serious wine tasting. Associated with the Barbadillo group, the house combines tradition and vineyard care to craft red wines with their own identity, such as this Finca El Empecinado Crianza 2021, which very much conveys the spirit of Ribera del Duero.
Pairing
Finca El Empecinado Crianza 2021 pairs very well with a grilled beef ribeye steak or a braised partridge.
Serving temperature
Consumption time
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
100% Tempranillo
Type of barrel
American and French oak barrels.
Type of bottle
Bordeaux Bottle
Barrel aging time
12 months
Capacity (cl)
75
Bottling
09/2022
Total acidity (g/l)
5.60
Sugar
0.56
pH
3.63
Alcohol content (% vol.)
14.5
Allergens
sulphites
Winemaking
Finca El Empecinado Crianza 2021 is a Tempranillo with precise and classical production. In the winery, the grapes underwent a pre-fermentation maceration of 3 days before starting a alcoholic fermentation of 12 days at 24 °C, a process that promoted extraction of colour, aromas and structure without losing freshness. After racking, performed on the tenth day after the end of the alcoholic fermentation, the wine also completed the malolactic fermentation in October 2020.
The winemaking took place in tanks, with two rackings in tank, and aimed to preserve the frank expression of the fruit and the identity of the Tinta del País. The result meets a sober and well-defined production, focused on balanced extraction and on a controlled fermentation that reinforces the wine's character.
Aging
12 months' ageing in American and French oak barrels.
Description
Finca El Empecinado Crianza 2021 comes from a selection of plots in the Ribera del Duero with vines of about 20 to 25 years, located over 40 hectares between 800 and 920 metres above sea level.
Age
The vineyards are young, with an average age of between 20 and 25 years.
Viticulture
The grapes come from a selected harvest from plots located between 800 and 920 metres in altitude, where the winery pursues a traditional viticulture, paying particular attention to vineyard management and aiming for a yield of 4000 kilos per hectare. The harvest is carried out manually in vineyards with an average age of 25 years, trained as bush vines and espalier, with pruning in bush vines and double cordon, reflecting precise work geared towards preserving the quality of the Tempranillo and the natural balance of the plant.
View
Ruby red with great depth, edged with cherry and purplish tones, and subtle blue hints that give it liveliness and shine.
Nose
The nose reveals ripe dark fruit. It is intense and straightforward. Subtle dairy notes emerge, adding smoothness. In the background, vanilla, cocoa and smoke notes coalesce, giving a deep and well-defined aromatic profile.
Mouth
It has great breadth on the palate and a very sweet tannin that envelops the palate with a gentle, well-structured texture. The ripe fruit interweaves with notes of dairy, cocoa and vanilla, while the well-balanced acidity brings freshness and tension to the overall profile, finishing with a long and persistent finish.
Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Real is the cherished project of the historic Barbadillo, a company founded in 1821 by the Barbadillo family, originally dedicated to the production of manzanillas and finos, and now transformed into a winery group with a strong international presence. With roots in Burgos, the Barbadillo family fulfilled their dream of creating a winery in their homeland with Vega Real.
Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Real began its journey in 1997. It is a medium/small-sized winery located in Castrillo del Duero, very close to Peñafiel, in the heart of the Valladolid section of the Ribera del Duero, next to a bend in the Duero River and surrounded by centuries-old poplar trees. Vega Real revives artisanal methods in winemaking and stands out for its meticulous vineyard management, with perfectly identified plots. It owns 80 hectares and also works with vineyards from the best winegrowers in the area. It produces the brands Vega Real Roble, El Empecinado, and Vaccayos.
