We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
About This Wine
Antidoto is barely made – given the lightest, cool, simple and short fermentation in concrete vat (fermentation finishes off skins once a certain density is realised). Maturation is gentle and matter-of-fact, in clean old 600 litre barrels for 10 months. 70% of the fruit is from very old vines (there is no white fruit in this blend), and stems are excluded. Bertrand Sourdais is trying to render old vine character as deftly as possible, in particular to avoid over-extraction and excess concentration: “avoiding the tannin avalanche”. The wine is filtered lightly, and not fined.
“A very well organised wine”, as Bertrand says, Antidoto features blackberry fruit, ink and graphite, tobacco and earth in a typical but very calm Ribera del Duero nose. The sense of reserve and harmony continue on a gently rounded, deft palate. Bramble, spice and red florals lead, choc-cherry-game and gently earthy back notes follow. Gentle traces of old-vine heartwood (clove, pepper husk and mace) run through the nose and palate, dangling and wandering, expressing harmoniously through the delicately handled, barely extracted juice. Antidoto is not heroic winemaking, it’s a poem. Understated, understood.
Type | Red Wine |
---|---|
Varietal(s) | Tempranillo |
Country | Spain |
Region | Ribera Del Duero |
Brand | Bertrand Sourdais |
Vintage | 2020 |
Wines of Spain
With 2.9 million acres of land planted in wine grapes, Spain is the most widely planted wine producing nation and second largest producer in the world. Many styles of wine are produced in the country most of which are based on native grape varietals.
The two most famous regions are Rioja and Ribera del Duero for their Tempranillo production. Rioja Tempranillo (the classic) will be lighter and fresher with red fruit flavours as compared to those from Ribera del Duero that are often deep purple, higher in alcohol with more tannins and intense black fruit character. Rioja is also known for producing Garnacha (Grenache), as well as rich, nutty whites from the indigenous Viura varietal.
In the Catalonia region, Spain is recognized for making a sparkling wine in the traditional method but using native grape varieties. This is called Cava. Priorat, a subregion within Catalonia specializes in making still red blends of Garnacha, Carignan and often Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon in a bold and full-bodied style. Together with Rioja, wines from Priorat have achieved DOCa/DOQ status signifying their quality.
Sherry is Spain’s famous fortified wine which can either be completely dry, lusciously sweet or somewhere in between. This is made in the southern region of Jerez.
Other notable Spanish wine styles include: Monastrell (AKA. Mataro/Mourvèdre), produced in the Jumilla region and refreshing white Albariño and Verdejo from north western Galacia.