DO Ribera del Duero
Bodegas Diez Llorente
The Bodega
Located in Roa del Duero, one of the regions most famous areas, Bodegas Diez Llorente represents the culmination of generations of winemaking culture, a family tradition dating back to the 14th century. In those early days the Diez Llorente family utilized underground cellars (bodegas), dug with spade and pick, where wine was stored here wooden barrels. Up through the beginning of the 20th century Rosé or "rosado" in Spanish was the main type of wine produced, but in the early 1950's the family changed its focus to producing primarily red wines from the Tinta del Pais variety (Tempranillo.)
History of Ribera del Duero
The vineyards and winemaking tradition here developed from the medieval monasteries. By the 16th century winemaking, with the Tinta del País grape had become the valley's main economic activity. In the 1650s Aranda del Duero's bodegas are said to have produced 6 million liters of wine. Underground cellars tunneled deep into the earth were vital for giving temperature control and for storing the wine on wood.
Geography of Ribera del Duero
The Ribera del Duero - meaning literally the Duero´s banks - is located in south-eastern Castilla y León, where the upper reaches of the Duero, running from east to west, have cut a broad channel in the high meseta. The main towns are Aranda de Duero, Roa de Duero and Peñafiel. Broadly speaking, the meseta tilts downwards from east to west with an average altitude of 700-850 metres. The DO vineyards lie on either side of a 110-km stretch of the river, straddling Burgos province to the east and Valladolid to the west, with a few vineyards spilling over into southern Segovia. The vineyards lie north and south of the river, running from the banks up to the high-peaks or cliffs where the valley meets the meseta. The vines peter out in the west where the valley flattens out.
The terrain varies considerably. The riverbanks and low-lying land with water lying close to the surface are called campiña (countryside) and terrazas (terraces); the shallow slopes above them, which are among the best for vines, are called laderas (sides), and the steeper slopes, not suitable for planting, are called cuestas (slopes). Above these is the exposed but flatter paramo (meadow), traditionally given over to cereals. Some growers are now beginning to plant on them. Orientation of the slopes is important. Generally speaking, south-eastern facing slopes are the most highly valued.
The key factor in the quality of the vineyard's soil is the limestone and chalk content, which makes up 33% (9% active chalk) of the soil in the west and over 50% (18% active chalk) in the east. Some vineyards have such chalky soils they are almost white.
Soils are complex. In the campiña, on the valley floor, they are alluvial with sand and clay. At the top of the valley sides, or paramos, in the east, they are made up of limestone and chalk, and, in the west, of chalk. To the east, lower laderas are clay and marl, lower cuestas are limestone, clay and marl, upper laderas are limestone and marl. To the west, lower laderas are sand over clay; lower cuestas are marl with some gypsum, and upper cuestas are marly limestone.
Diez Llorente Tempranillo Joven
Made with low-yield, handpicked Tempranillo grapes grown in our family estate vineyards, Diez Llorente Joven shows a lovely cherry red to purple color with flavors and aromas of wild raspberries, blackberries and strawberries. Medium bodied, fresh and lively on the palate with a smooth finish, this well-balanced red is great with all types of meats, pastas and fish.
Diez Llorente Tempranillo Roble "Barrel Selection"
Made with low-yield, handpicked Tempranillo grapes grown in our family estate vineyards, Diez Llorente Roble "Barrel Selection" show a deep ruby to purple color with juicy flavors of dark cherries and wild blackberries. Gentle aging for four months in small oak barrels lends a hint of spice, anise, vanilla and a silky smooth finish. This medium bodied red balances ample fruit with soft tannins and acidity, making it a versatile wine, perfect on its own or paired with all sorts of cheeses, pastas, meats and even salmon.
Diez Llorente Crianza
Made with select, low-yield, handpicked Tempranillo grapes grown in our family estate vineyards, Diez Llorente Crianza show a deep ruby to purple color with flavors and aromas of dark fruits and just a hint of coffee. 14 months aging in small French and American oak barrels lends a touch of spice, licorice, vanilla and a long, smooth finish. This complex, medium to heavy bodied wine combines great depth of fruit, with well-integrated tannins and acidity. Pair it with all sorts of meats, game, cheeses and salmon.
Diez Llorente Reserva
Made from our family estate's very best, low-yield, handpicked Tempranillo grapes, Diez Llorente Reserva shows a deep ruby to purple color with flavors of dark, ripe fruits and just a hint of chocolate. 14 months aging in carefully selected French and American Oak Barriques lends another layer of spice and vanilla. After barrel aging Diez Llorente Reserva undergoes a further 24 months aging in the bottle to polish and round out the wine. Medium to heavy bodied, this complex and elegant wine represents the height of our family's passion, expressing the very best our finest vineyards and winemaking have to offer. Enjoy it with all sorts of meats, roasts, game, and even dark chocolate.
"Spirited Wines of Spain"
