MundoVino Portfolio Book

Convento San Francisco | Kon-Ven-Toh San Fran-Sis-Ko |

DO Ribera del Duero (Castilla y León), Spain

Convento San Francisco was founded in 1998 and today is owned by the Pitarch Rodriguez family. The winery is a restored thirteenth-century monastery in the fortress town of Peñafiel; the building’s fastidiously preserved historic walls and structural details make it an architectural treasure, one that belies the modern workings within. The wines are made by the talented Raquel Acebes, who has worked at the winery since 2003 and was elevated to head winemaker in 2013. Convento San Francisco’s grapes are sourced from forty-six different plots in Ribera del Duero. These sites have been carefully selected to balance the region’s three soil types. In Olivares del Duero and Quintanilla de Arriba, the soils are calcareous while in Peñafiel, the soils become sandier. Farther east, near Burgos (Gumiel de Mercado), the sites are at their highest elevations and the soils are sandy with alluvial and marlstone components. Each site is selected for its altitude, latitude, and soil composition. The vineyards contain old vines ranging from twenty to one hundred and two years of age, 50 percent of which predate phylloxera. Roble is a pure expression of Tempranillo sourced from the old, gnarled vines of high-altitude vineyards in the Ribera del Duero. This area is celebrated for its rich cultural history—a component that contributes greatly to the essence of the final wine. Aged for twelve months in 300 L French and American oak barrels, this wine is a brilliant dark ruby in color. Roble exhibits a beautiful, perfumed nose of intense black cherry, violet, sweet spice, and leather. This wine has a full body with velvety tannins that develop into a long, persistent finish. 2012 : 91 W&S | 2011 : 88 WS Convento San Francisco The flagship wine is a blend of 90 percent Tempranillo and 10 percent Merlot from old vines, 50 percent of which predate phylloxera. The wine is fermented in small stainless steel vats and punched down twice daily by hand. It is aged in French and American barrels, 75 percent new, for twelve months and aged in bottle for two to three years, giving it “Reserva” status. This wine is neither fined nor filtered. Very deep in color, it has a nose of black fruit, tobacco, anise, and clove, with excellent structure and a lingering finish. 2011 : 90 WS | 2010 : 91 WA | 2009 : 90 WA, 90 WS, 90 D | 2008 : 90 WA | 2006 : 91 WA, 93 W&S | 2005 : 93 WA Convento San Francisco Reserva Especial A wonderful expression of Tempranillo (90 percent) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10 percent) that is only produced in years when the harvest is especially good. This wine is fermented in 90 percent new French oak and 10 percent American oak for sixteen months; each barrel is sampled but only those displaying the finest characteristics are selected for bottling. Vibrant ruby-red in color with a violet rim, this wine has supple aromas of ripe forest fruit and spice with excellent minerality. On the palate, the Convento San Francisco Reserva Especial delivers a solid structure with smooth and elegant tannins. 2005 : 92 WA | 2004 : 94 WA Roble | Ro-Blay |

WINES OF SPAIN

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