R&G Ribera del Duero Crianza 2011  is made from 85% Tempranillo and 15% Merlot

Intense, dark ruby color. Alluring aromas of cinnamon, spices, lavender, and black cherry lead to a smooth-textured, nicely balanced wine. It is rich, concentrated and fleshy and shows elegance and complexity. On the palate, it shows silky tannins, with a succulent structure and excellent depth.

Vineyards:
The grapes used to produce Rolland Galarreta Ribera del Duero grow in vineyards located on the highest vineyards in Ribera del Duero, at an altitude of 915 metres. During the summer -a key time for the ripening of the grapes- altitude acts as a buffer for extreme weather conditions. Out of the 83 hectares owned and contro- lled by Bodegas Valtravieso, we have selec- ted some of the best vineyards and grapes that grow in poor rocky soils with a high limestone content. These factors contribute to higher acidity levels in the grape, which enables the production of more balanced, markedly fruity wines.

The harvest:
The 2010 harvest in Ribera del Duero could be one of the greatest recorded in many years. The year started cold, with plenty of rain in the winter. A cool spring gave way to the hottest summer in the last few years. October started with rain and was followed by cool autumn weather and relatively low temperatures. These favorable factors meant that grapes arrived at the winery in excellent conditions.

Vinification:
The selection of grapes is done on the vineyard and later at the selection table. The stalks are then removed from the grapes without squeezing them. Grapes are maintained in controlled conditions, with long macerations at low temperatures in oak casks with the cap submerged. The must is naturally pumped over using gravity in order to achieve the best extraction of polyphenols. The pressing is carried out using pneumatic presses and a vertical press, and the malolactic fermentation then takes place in French oak casks. This wine has been bottled without filtration.

Varietals: 85% Tempranillo and 15% Merlot
Vine age: >35 Years Old
Fermentation Temperature: 25-29ºC
Fermentation & Maceration Period: 19 Days

Alcohol content (vol.) 14%
Acidity total (gr/l) 5.07 gr/l
pH 3.8
SO2 free (mg/l) 25 mg/l
Winemaker Michel Rolland

Review:

"The 2011 Ribera del Duero is bigger in style than the 2010. It reveals a well-endowed , layered palate with prominent notes of dark berry fruit and loam. It's fruit forward but has firm tannins and will benefit from a bit more time in bottle. -Mike Potashnik and Don Winkler"
- I-WineReview (October 2014), 90 pts