Reach for Ribera Mixed Six

Ribera del Duero DO is a somewhat undiscovered but captivating wine region, intertwining traditional practices, passionate people and an utterly unique growing environment which translates into world-class wines.

Sleeping in the mountains of Castilla y León, about an hour and a half north of Madrid, acres of ancient bush vines spread over the high plateau, forming a region in which more than a quarter of the vines are over fifty years old and with significant plantings even older than a century. Antiquity is palpable from vines of this age; broad, grey-black branches snarl around the freshest of leaves and bunches every summer, almost as though they are imparting their wisdom into the fruit. Don’t, however, be fooled into thinking this makes Ribera del Duero archaic and old-fashioned, the people who foster these vines understand their potential.

Daughters Maria José and Carmen Basconcillos, inherited their particular love of wine and their surroundings from their father, farming their 50 ha of vines 1000m above sea level with great respect for their environment; fostering practices promoting biodiversity within the vines and showcasing a deep understanding of how this will create superior wines. Their Crianza is one of my personal favourite wines to drink; spending 12 months in new French oak barrels which lends a clove and woodsmoke complexity to the dense core of ripe blackberry and Victoria plum. The family also produces an unoaked Tempranillo which almost tastes of bramble jelly and is a beautiful illustration of the effects of altitude on grapes. Light, not warmth, is the driver behind photosynthesis and excess heat can actually slow the process down and also lead to a loss of acidity; cold nights paired with increased light intensity in the day at altitude, creates beautifully ripe grapes which have taken their time to gather complexity without losing their freshness. If you have ever tried Hebridean or Scandinavian strawberry, then you’ll understand the mind-blowing effect ripening time can have on flavour!