Bodegas Portia Roble Tempranillo Ribera del Duero, Spain 2019 (750ml)

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Aged for 3 months in French oak.

Bodegas Portia is Grupo Faustino’s most recent winery project and is the 7th winery in the group. Located in the heart of Ribera del Duero, the Portia winery is a display of modern design, winemaking function and artistic detail. The brand offers very small production wines - intense, energetic & balanced. Bodegas Portia has more that 600 acres of own vineyards in the historical zone known as the 'Golden Triangle' of the Ribera del Duero D.O., focusing on the areas of Roa, Sotillo de la Ribera, Gumiel de Mercado, Gumiel de Izán, and Villanueva de Gumiel, all at an average altitude of 850 meters. Higher zones (900-1000 m above sea level) have limestone and calcareous soils poor in minerals and nutrients, while the lower zone soils are based on clay and stones, rich in nutrients, and are more permeable. Old vineyards between 85 and 100 years old are bush vines and are harvested manually. The concept of Bodegas Portia is to create an extraordinary and modern expression of Ribera del Duero, placing the vineyard and grape at the forefront. The winemaking approach is centered around avoiding the excess influence of oak, prioritizing the preservation of freshness, and maintaining fruit aromas through a gentle extraction process. Since the initiation of Familia Martinez Zabala's project in Ribera del Duero, the committed team, led by the current winemaker Raúl Quemada, has been looking for the finest vineyards in different altitudes and with diverse soils. The architectural genius of the winery aligns with their commitment to sustainability. The unique construction of the building allows to utilize of gravity for grape transportation and minimizes the need for excessive movement of wines. An extraordinary barrel hall, situated below ground level, provides natural and optimal conditions not only for aging wines but also for crafting wines without stabilization and with reduced sulfite levels, thanks to its consistent temperature. The winery features small fermentation tanks to facilitate a meticulous extraction of grape aromas. Each of Bodegas Portia's premium wines, categorized under Vinos de Autor, embodies the winemaker's distinctive style and reflects the unique characteristics of the terroir.

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Bodegas Faustino, one of the ‘First Families of Rioja’, was founded in 1861 by the Martinez family and is actively managed today by the 4th generation Martinez daughters. Faustino received its recognition from the first export of Faustino Reserva wines in the 1960s. Today, it stands as best-selling Gran Reserva in the world, and the iconic bottle featuring Rembrandt's art has become the symbol of the excellence of Rioja wines. Faustino wines are now enjoyed in more than 140 countries. All Faustino labels feature the portrait of Nicolaes van Bambeeck, painted by master artist Rembrandt van Rijn in 1641. Bambeeck was a wealthy merchant who made his fortune trading Spanish wool, spices and wine. Bodegas Faustino is the one of the largest vineyard owners in Rioja with 650ha of vineyards – primarily in the Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Alta regions spanning Laguardia, Logroño and Mendavia y Oyón, which accounts for 50% of all Faustino production and 100% of Faustino Gran Reserva and Reserva. Additionally, it maintains longstanding partnerships with growers who share a commitment to excellence. All vineyards are controlled by Faustino team with the latest technologies. Bodegas Faustino is focused on signature quality and consistency across vintages, bringing the latest technologies to the winemaking process. This includes a meticulous approach to use yeasts from the vineyards, inert gases and control of oxidation in every stage of winemaking. All the work in the cellars is focused on shaping the future of wine with a 10-year perspective. The Faustino team strives to create wines that are perfect to be enjoyed now and with ability to stand the test of time. Famous for its patience, Bodegas Faustino releases wine only when they have achieved the perfect balance. Inspired by vineyard, Bodegas Faustino has committed to adopting ecological viticultural practices, fostering natural biodiversity in the vineyards, and prioritizing energy efficiency, as well as responsible water and waste management. In 2023, Bodegas Faustino achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first winery in Rioja to be certified as Sustainable Wineries for Climate Protection (SWfCP). This certification not only acknowledges the winery's commitment to environmental sustainability but also highlights its efforts in addressing social and economic aspects of sustainability within the winery and its partnerships.