Bodegas Gormaz Viña Gormaz Ribera del Duero 2009

In Ribera del Duero the prodigious 2009 vintage produced juicy, flamboyant wines, and Bodegas Gormaz has taken every advantage of the multifarious attributes of that exceptional vintage. A deep, vivid purple color, the 2009 Viña Gormaz Ribera del Duero offers up an enthralling bouquet that is ripe with dark berry scents, spring woodlands, and white pepper. Approachable, friendly, and down-right irresistible, this old vine Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero thoroughly enchants the nose as well as the palate. Richly fruity and loaded with flavor, this youthful offering fills the mouth, making it a true pleasure to drink from start to finish. Opulent and ripe, Bodegas Gormaz’s Ribera del Duero offers nary a tannic edge, in spite of its youthful ardor. Consequently, this impressive offering’s best days may still lie ahead. Enjoy it now or lay it down for another year to gain further charm and verve. And as with all red wines from Ribera del Duero, we suggest serving the 2009 Gormaz Ribera del Duero at no more than 66º F.

Given the opulence and seductive nature of the 2009 Viña Gormaz Ribera del Duero, it pairs beautifully with any number of gustatory delights. Some of our favorite accompaniments to this wine include butter and herb roasted chicken, spicy country cassoulet, and traditional paella, made with chicken, shrimp and scallops. The paella came as a bit of surprise to us, but we have come to crave authentic paella with young Ribera del Duero. We have also found this wine to be particularly well suited to tapas, the traditional “small dishes” that are featured appetizers in nearly all Spanish restaurants. Some especially tasty tapas selections to pair with the 2009 Viña Gormaz include duck, quail, or pheasant confit and a white bean and chicken dish with tomatoes, onions, and peppers. Venison stew prepared with carrots and potatoes constitutes another winning partnership. And if cooking is not part of your daily repertoire, a bit of rare artisanal Farmhouse Cheshire, a slice of Spanish Mahon, or a bite of a full-flavored Swiss Appenzeller, replete with an infusion of twenty or more plants and spices, will make any true wine and cheese aficionado forget about his or her lack of culinary expertise. Enjoy!

Bodegas Gormaz has been turning out exemplary Ribera del Duero from old, head pruned Tempranillo vines since 1972. One of the original 16 bodegas of the D.O. Ribera del Duero, Bodegas Gormaz was initially founded as a cooperative consisting of some 360 growers in the Ribera del Duero province of Soria. Today, Bodegas Gormaz is privately owned and managed, and it is fashioning wines that simply should not be missed. Brought to fore by Classical Wines of Spain, Bodegas Gormaz now consists of more than 1,300 acres of vines in Soria. As Soria lies at a very high elevation, it remains the least developed area of the appellation, just beyond the center of commercial development in the Ribera del Duero. Consequently, its vineyards have not been re-planted, and most of the vines at Bodegas Gormaz are in excess of 50 years of age and have been propagated from vine to vine in pre-phylloxera fashion. In other words, the vineyards of Bodegas Gormaz grow on un-grafted rootstock, a rarity in the 21st century. What results is pure, rich, unadulterated Ribera del Duero from 100% old vine Tempranillo.