I have always been a big fan of Spanish wines
and very rarely am I ‘wowed’ by a wine that I have never tried before but
yesterday I tried Bodegas La Horra wines for the first time and I was really
impressed with the quality and craftsmanship of the two wines they produce – Corimbo
and Corimbo I.
Bodegas La Horra is situated in the Ribera del
Duero region of Spain, an area that (for me anyway) has always made exceptional
wines but yet still lacks the same popularity that regions such as Rioja enjoy.
The winery is actually owned by the guys at Bodegas Roda but, not content with
the stunning wines they produce there in Rioja, their foray into the Duero has
culminated in the production of these two outstanding wines.
Their first official vintage was in 2008 when
they only produced 40,000 bottles of the younger wine ‘Corimbo’ whilst the first
vintage of their top wine Corimbo I came around in 2009 with a production of
26,000 bottles. Both wines are 100 per cent Tempranillo with the Corimbo seeing
12 months in oak as opposed the Corimbo I which sees 16 months in oak.
Speaking to Arancha Busnadiego, export manager
for both Bodegas La Horra and Bodegas Roda, she told me that; “We have one of
the most prestigious wines in Rioja with Roda and now we want to create one of
the most prestigious wines in the Ribera del Duero”.
“Our focus is on the best location, with mature
vines to grow the best grapes to make the best wines”, Ms. Busnadiego went on
to say.
The wines are exactly what I look for in a
Spanish wine, full of body and deep fruit – not the overly extracted, fruity
and jammy wines – but with finesse, power, elegance and a velvety smooth
palate. They’re manly wines that have great structure and great weight.
“Our first official vintage was in 2008”, says
Ms. Busnadiego. “But 2009 was when it really all started with great wines. 2009
was an excellent vintage for us”.
The wines themselves are built for durability
and will, according to Arancha age majestically. I am going to stock a few
bottles of both in my cellar and watch them age as it’s not often you get to
buy up great wines from the birth of a winery and watch the wines develop over
time.
“We really want the wines to reflect the history
of the vintage that they came from”, says Ms. Busnadiego. “Our wines are fruity
and soft tannin wines. We don’t make entry level wines, we want wines that will
age for years and years”.
These are, honestly, some of the best wines I
have tried from the Ribera del Duero, the kind of wines you taste once and
never forget. For sure I will be picking a few up and holding on to them until
next winter to give them a little aging and to relax in the cellar during the
summer months when I generally drink white or rosé wines. I would highly
recommend you do the same!
Bodegas La Horra wines are available in Hong Kong
from Victoria Wines www.victoriawines.com.hk
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