Resalte wines, among the best Riberas of the year by Wine & Spirits

Resalte Expresion 2015,  8 Essences Cuvée Nº1 and Lecco Crianza 2016, are three of the wines produced by the winery that have been published among the first references in the “Year’s Best Ribera del Duero Reds”, a list published by the prestigious American publication Wine & Spirits.

The magazine blind panels tasted 137 new-release Ribera del Duero wines over the past 12 months. The critic for the region, Joshua Greene,rated 46 as exceptional (90+),  among which are the aforementioned wines from this winery.

2015  Resalte Expresión. – 94 points

“The fruit selection for this wine focuses on three towns—Fuentenebro, La Aguilera and Pedrosa—and small hillside parcels where the vines are 50 years old. The juice heads into new barrels (90 percent French) for malolactic conversion and then 18 months of aging. Rather than any overt oak tannins or scents, it is the succulent quality of the fruit that comes through in this wine’s damson-plum richness, layered with savory meatiness and earthy spice. The smoke and chocolate tones that developed over its time in oak are completely integrated into those layers of flavor, the wine all about delicious richness.”

 8 Essences Cuvée Nº 1.  – 94 points

“It has taken Enrique Andrades more than a decade to plan and produce this first release of 8 Essences. During that time, he held back several barrels from the best vintages for this blend, choosing 2011 for its power and ripeness, 2012 for elegance and minerality and 2016 to bring floral notes, fresh fruit and juiciness. Acknowledging that the inspiration for this blend comes from Vega-Sicilia’s Unico Reserva Especial, a wine that nods to the blending traditions of the region, Andrades’s goal was to create a distinctive style for this blend. He describes that style as a contrast of finely aged lots and fresher fruity elements to sustain the wine as it ages further. What he’s achieved is a layered and sophisticated blend, its tense structure yielding notes of ripe black cherries, purple plum, green olives and, yes, some floral notes. There are also substantial tannins, shutting the wine down, needing days of air to fulfill the wine’s promises of fruit richness. It’s a fascinating take on Ribera del Duero and a wine to treasure in your cellar.”

2016 Lecco Crianza.  – 93 points

“Lecco is a selection from vines around 30 years old, when they begin to restrict their yields on their own. This crianza spends 14 months in oak barrels, 70/30 French to American (more used barrels than the wines labeled under the Resalte brand). It’s not just the older barrels and the American oak that makes the wine taste Spanish, however mysterious that description may be. But part of what’s great about this wine is how mysterious it is—to an American, at least. The winemaker, Enrique Andrades, in response to my queries, said his intention is for Lecco to be easy to understand. Also, he hopes it’s easy to drink; and, with that, I would agree: The plump fruit has evolved toward licorice, black plums, a meaty richness in the middle and a delicate, fragrant spice that lasts in the end. That fragrance brings to mind a spice rub for lamb, or the gentle richness of lechazo, the baby lamb you might eat with this in Ribera. Lecco’s savory component would also work well with rabbit paella. The wine’s vibrant energy keeps bringingthoughts of food.”

 

Subscribers to the magazine can access the full list on the Wine & Spirits website. In the following link you can consult the review of Lecco Crianza 2016, with 93 points:

Wine of the Week: Food Tempered Tempranillo

This recognition adds to the outstanding ratings achieved by other Resalte wines in several international publications: 94 pts Decanter Resalte Expresion 2014; Top 100 Wine Enthusiast  93 ptss Resalte Origen 2015; 93 pts Wine&Spirits Vendimia Seleccionada 2016