Áster El Espino Ribera del Duero 2020

El Espino is from a selection of Finca Áster's estate vines, that seek to combine power and finesse and showcase the distinctive Ribera del Duero terroir. The Tinta del País (Tempranillo) grapes come from an 87-hectare patchwork of plots, with varying slopes, aspects and soils, all contributing to the complexity and diversity of this wine. Finca Áster is committed to respecting and protecting the environment. In the vineyard, treatments are limited, investments have been made into clean energy sources and water is reused. Insect shelters have been installed in vineyards, promoting environmentally friendly plant health defence, while increasing the biodiversity in the vineyard. The grapes are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness.

The grapes were picked into 20-kg boxes and optically sorted, before undergoing cold maceration, imparting the varietal aromas and vibrant colour. After blending fruit from three plots, El Espino, Fuentecojo and El Picón, 50% of the grapes underwent malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks which helped to soften the palate. The remaining 50% was vinified in second-use French oak barrels, which imparted subtle complexity. The wine then aged in French oak barrels, of which 20% were new, for 12 months, with two manual rackings, followed by a further four months in tank prior to bottling. Vinified in the modern Ribera del Duero style, contemporary and vibrant showing elegance, refinement and balance.