Antidoto Ribera del Duero 2019

100% Tempranillo. Ribera del Duero is one of Spain's most famous regions, yet it has untapped potential. The reason is simple: many of the best terroirs and oldest vines are in the remote eastern part of the region—the province of Soria—which is still largely unexplored by today’s winemakers. In fact, if it weren’t for a young French winemaker, Bertrand Sourdais, Soria might still be unknown. Bertrand first brought Soria to light with his pioneering wines at Atauta, a village within the province. But when Atauta was sold in 2009 during Spain’s economic downturn, his gaze shifted to his family’s Chinon estate in France’s Loire Valley. Yet, the pull of Spain remained strong, and Bertrand was soon back in Soria, accumulating a cadre of vineyard owners with choice parcels of old vines. The result was Bodegas Antídoto. At Antidoto, Bertrand focused on vineyards that are over 50 years old, with a sizeable percentage that is ungrafted. Just as important, the growers he works with were chosen for their willingness to adopt Bertrand’s strict viticultural standards, including organic viticulture and elements of biodynamics. To Bertrand’s mind, the Soria sub-zone offers a transitional wine type that can—in the right hands—blend Rioja’s fragrance and finesse with Ribera del Duero’s traditional power and depth. For their Tinto, he is using long, gentle macerations to minimize tannin extraction, and no new barrels are employed for aging. The immediate goal is a wine with balance, perfume, and complete tannins. This wine is a crazy bargain due to its price and we can't wait to see what else Bertrand produces. As these ancient vineyards begin to be fully restored it only means the best is yet to come for Antídoto