Pesquera and Vega Sicilia (Spain’s most expensive wine) also coming from the Ribera del Duero region in the centre of northern Spain, we feel this wine is in excellent company, though is rather less expensive! Like them, it is very dark in colour, with a powerful nose of blackberry and liquorice and on the palate is big and bold with a huge tannic grip. The gentle black fruit flavours lend balance to the wine. It is long and lingering in the mouth.
Price per bottle £9.95
Wine type Still Red Country Spain Region Ribera del Duero Drink before end 2008 Vintage 1999 Grape Tempranillo Ideal food Chilli con Carne, Risotto with Mushrooms Bottle size 75cl Code 310576
Bodegas Santa Eulalia Bodega Santa Eulalia was founded in 1950 by Teofilo Reyes, who went on to achieve lasting fame with Pesquera and then his own bodega. Santa Eulalia was bought by the Frutos Villar family who had an established negociants and wine-making business of about 100years. Their first estate was in the DO of Toro, then in Cigales and thirdly Bodega Santa Eulalia in 1988 in the Ribera del Duero. The grape is Tinto Fino as Tempranillo is locally known, grown at an altitude of about 700 metres. The contrasting temperatures of cold nights and mornings and very hot days enable the grapes to produce thick skins, rich in tannins and polyphenols (colouring pigment) that are imparted to the wine during maceration and pressing. Aged in American oak for 1 year and in bottle for a further year prior to release enables the wine to be called Crianza.