Cillar de Silos El Quintanal 2006
I'm starting to think this wine will become a must buy every year, sure I've only had two vintages but they are compelling wines at a bargain basement price (for an imported wine anyway). Deep dark red/purple. Aromas of dark cherry and blueberry, some spice and earth. Really nice mouthfeel, lots of lush soft tannins and savory flavours of dark cherry, black current and plum with a touch of pepper and nutmeg. A strong finish and good balance throughout. Very classy for the cash. 89 Pts.Dave Worthington, Tinto y Blanco
The El Quintanal project only started in 2004 and is the result of small cooperative of Ribera del Duero growers (80 ha, all Tempranillo) putting their best fruit in the hands of winemaker Oscar Aragón from the cult, family-owned winery Cillar de Silos. Their aim is to make a fruity and easy-drinking Tempranillo with just a touch of barrel ageing to soften the wine further and make it ready for drinking now.
Sourced from a collective of 80 ha of vines, the grapes were destemmed, crushed and cold macerated six to eight days. Fermentation occurred in stainless steel tanks at 28°C after which there was another period of six to eight days of post-ferment maceration. Once pressed from the skins, the wine was transferred to French oak barrels where malolactic conversion was encouraged and the wine was aged for three months before being bottled.
