Francisco Barona - Ribera del Duero 2024

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.

This is primarily Tinto Fino (Tempranilllo), intermixed in the vineyards with Garnacha Tinta, Albillo, Bobal, Jaen, and a host of other field blended indigenous varieties.

Francisco owns 45 Ha. of old field-blend vineyards planted in the villages of Roa, Anguix, Pedrosa de Duero, and La Aguilera between the years 1908-1948.

Barona abstains from the use of chemically synthesized fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides, and does not irrigate. He works where necessary with cover crop to support the plant's natural defenses and to fix nitrogen in the soil. Barona does not defoliate to ensure that the clusters ripen in the shade.

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. Aged for 16 months in new French barrique.

"A Ribera del Duero native, Francisco Barona focuses on the oldest parcels from surrounding villages to make his few but exceptional bottlings. He has a new white made from field blends of traditional varieties. These are some of the best wines in the region." - Jeb Dunnuck

"A field blend of 11 parcels, mostly Tinto Fino with Garnacha and Albillo Mayor, the 2024 is fresh from the rains of the year, with more acidity than the previous vintage. Terroir and varietal-driven, it’s not masked by concentration, offering extreme elegance, a touch of spice, and pure red fruit, with approachable tannins and balanced acidity. The silkiness of the texture resonates, as do the floral, fruity aromatics of the Garnacha, structured to age a decade or more while revealing its finesse already. Drink 2028-2038." - 98 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

Producer: Francisco Barona

Country: Spain

Region: Castilla y León

Varietal: Tempranillo

Appellation: Ribera del Duero

Vintage: 2024

Size: 750ml