Valduero Una Cepa 2019

Valduero Una Cepa is one of the most emblematic wines produced by the historic Valduero winery located in Gumiel de Mercado. A single-variety Tempranillo (Tinto Fino) created from top-quality grapes grown on low-yield vines over 50 years old. To be precise, their 2600 plants produce 2600 kilograms of fruit. That is, each plant produces one bottle of wine and hence its name; Valduero Una Cepa (one vine). The bush vines are not irrigated and no chemical fertilizers are used, just sheep manure. Strict pruning is carried out both in winter and in the growing season, and manual harvesting ensures only the best grapes are chosen. This painstaking process means yields are three times as low as with trellis-trained vines cultivated for high production — but the quality of the grapes is sublime. The fruit is usually harvested during the first week of October collected in small 14-kg crates. The grape must is fermented for nine days at controlled temperatures and then macerated with the grape skins for ten more days. The resulting wine is aged in barrels for 18 months and left to stand in the bottle for a further twelve months to achieve a perfect balance between power and elegance. El Valduero Una Cepa has an intense Picota cherry colour and extraordinarily intense aromas. A complex and balanced wine, it offers a perfect blend of fruit and wood with delightful aromas of toast and vanilla, wild red fruit and leather, spices and lavender. Well-structured in the mouth with a perfect combination of alcohol and acidity, it has a fine elegant finish just as you would expect from a splendid example of great Ribera del Duero red wines.