2016 Ausás Bodegas y Viñedos Ribera del Duero Interpretación

In its first year, the 2016 Interpretación is Tempranillo from over 40-year-old head-pruned vines on sand, clay and limestone soils with plenty of stones at 900 meters in altitude. It went through a cold soak and fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel and concrete vats. It matured for 16 months in 225- and 500-liter oak barrels, 40% of them new. I was blown away by the wine in bottle, after tasting the 2017 in barrel. This is Ausás's interpretation of Ribera del Duero after 30 years of experience. He's sourcing grapes from specific growers that he has known for a long time, as he had purchased grapes for Alión from many of them. The wine shows the character of Ribera, a chalky backbone of fine-grained tannins, coated by fruit and berries, an herbal, spicy touch and perfectly integrated oak. There is good freshness, a rare combination of elegance and power and superb balance. My guess is the wine should develop nicely and for a very long time in bottle. 20,200 bottles, 495 magnums, 50 double magnums and five imperials were filled in May 2018.