Deep ruby color; cherry, plum, blackberry, raspberry, dark fruit, licorice, clove, spice on the nose and palate.
Dry; tasty medium-plus tannins and excellent balancing acidity (3.55 pH). Medium-plus body. Delightful, smooth mouthfeel. Elegant, delicious. Fruity without being florid. Gracious medium-long finish with no contretemps to evoke displeasure. Decanting is recommended on the label, which I did. 14% ABV
This is 100% tinta del país (aka tempranillo). The vineyard hugs the river Duero—represented on the label. The vineyard is 124 acres; the vines average more than 40 years old. Vines are planted in goblet style and wire-trained. The grapes are hand-picked and collected in small boxes. Grapes are hand-sorted, then taken by conveyor belt, no pumping, so grapes sustain no mechanical damage on the way to the tanks.
Each plot is vinified separately in small tanks. There is five days of cold maceration using dry ice to enhance sweetness of the tannins and intensify color. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks with daily pump overs. The wine spends 15 days in contact with the lees before pressing. The wine from each tank is drawn in barrels, where it undergoes malolactic fermentation. All wines age 12 month in French oak (90%) and American oak (10%); average age of used barrels is 2-4 years. Tanks are blended and the wine then bottled.
Marian Santamaría is the winemaker, assisted by Laura Terrazas Rodríguez. Santamaría began her career at Dominio Fournier more than 15 years ago, then worked at some of the most important regions in Spain—Toro, Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla y León o Rueda, and currently is in charge of the prestigious Beronia Rueda cellars in addition to her position as the chief winemaker at Dominio Fournier. Laura Terrazas Rodríguez worked for the Regulatory Board of the Ribera del Duero D.O, and for several major wine cellars in the region. She has been assistant wine maker at Dominio Fournier for more than a dozen years.
Dominio Fournier Ribera del Duero 2019 is smooth and delicious, especially after the decanting recommended on the label. Fruit-forward. Rich red and dark fruits led by cherry and plum. Well executed in the winery, from cold maceration on dry ice through deft oak regimen. Tasty pure tempranillo play (tinta del país in Spain).
Versatile food wine. Pair with beef dishes, grilled, braised, barbecue; lamb; pork; grilled, barbecued chicken; sausage; tapas; pasta dishes; lasagna, pizza, dishes with tomato-based sauces; Mexican and Tex-Mex food; spicy food. Cheese—manchego is classic; sheep milk cheese; pecorino, idiazabal, roncal; medium and long-cured cheeses; brie and camembert with rind; cantal; aged cheddar; goat cheese—fresh chèvre. $30-35
Gonzalez Byassusa, U.S. importer of this wine website
