Francisco Barona - Finca las Dueñas Reserva 2020
IN STOCK
$105.00
Considered by many to be the best young winemaker in Ribera del Duero, Francisco Barona grew up in a family of humble viticulturists in Roa de Duero, and as a third generation farmer travelled to Bordeaux to work at Chateau Pavie-Macquin and study at the University of Bordeaux. In 2010 he returned home and founded his estate in Ribera del Duero. Barona's youngest vineyard was planted in 1948, and is leading the charge in Ribera away from commercialization and towards a recovery of what made Ribera del Duero famous - traditionally farmed, old field blended vineyards of Tinto Fino planted at high altitudes.
After a rigorous sorting of the grapes, the bunches are destemmed but not crushed. The grapes are transferred by gravity to open top stainless steel vats where fermentation begins spontaneously without inoculation. Maceration is very gentle and manual punchdowns are carried out once per day during the maceration to limit over-extraction of the concentrated fruit. Malolactic fermentation in new French barrique. 20 months in new French barrique, followed by 20 months in bottle.
“Finca Las Dueñas is the top cuvée from brilliant young winemaker, Francisco Barona, made with Tinto Fino and 25% Bobal and Albillo Mayor from a small parcel planted in 1928 in Anguix. A wine with chalk in its veins, this was fermented with 100% whole bunches before aging in new French oak. Plush, glossy and intense,it has elements of Pomerol as well as Ribera del Duero, all coffee bean, thyme and liquorice on the nose and cassis, blackberry and a liqueur like note on the palate. Very intense, yet beautifully balanced.” - 96 Points, Tim Atkin
Producer: Francisco Barona
Country: Spain
Region: Castilla y León
Varietal: Tempranillo, Bobal, Albillo
Appellation: Ribera del Duero
Vintage: 2020
Size: 750ml