Winery: | Casa Abril Selections |
Vintage: | 2014 |
Winemaker: | April Cullom & César Muñoz |
Type of Wine: | Red |
Bottles Produced: | 1500 Per Year |
Region: | DO Ribera del Duero |
Composition: | Tempranillo (aka, Tinto Fino or Tinta del País) Per Year |
MSRP: | $36 |
ExWorks (at Bodega): | |
Searcher ID/Link: | Open (in New Window) |
Alma de Vino, the Soul of Wine, Place & People
Varietal: Tempranillo 100% (organically farmed)
Aging: 24 months French oak (25% new)
Place: Located in the northeast corner of Ribera del Duero, 120 miles north or Madrid, small parcels of century-year old vines at 3.000 feet are tucked away in Soria and Burgos provinces; the climate is extreme with harsh winters and scorching summers but thanks to the altitude temperatures during the summer drop at night, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly resulting in soft tannins, good acidity and bright fruit.
People: César Muñoz “rescued” these century-old abandoned vines and April Cullom collaborates with him to achieve the expression of the “soul” of these Tempranillo vines in Ribera del Duero.
Viticulture: hand-harvested, sustainable farming; 100+-year old bush-vines, small parcels in Baños de Valdearados (Burgos) at 900 meters, produces intense fruit with good structure while the parcels in Bocigas de Perales (Soria) at 998 meters, result in grapes with floral notes and hints of minerality thanks to the 1.5 meters of gravel in the soil supported by clay below which helps to maintain moisture in the summer.
Winemaking: wine is produced at Bodega Montebaco in Valbuena de Duero. April Cullom and César Muñoz crafted a blend of the two parcels of Tempranillo; maceration takes place in 8,000 liter oak vats with manual pump-overs; malo-lactic fermentation follows in French and American oak barrels, and later spends 24 months aging in French oak barrels (25% new) with a presence of lees to conserve the personality of the wine; no stabilization or fining resulting in a possibility of presence of sediment.
Artwork was curated by April Cullom and created by her uncle Sergio Gonzalez Tornero, whose family originated in Nájera (Logroño, Spain). His “alma” met the “alma” of aunt Adrienne Cullom in Paris and the rest is history. This painting reflects the wine’s bold yet elegant expression of old vine Tempranillo grapes from Ribera del Duero.
Blackberry, a hint of raisin, mild char and lemon-peel aromas make for a fine bouquet. This is lively, punchy and chewy, with big tannins. Blackberry, chocolate, loamy earth, toast and peppery flavors finish long, baked, ripe and with the potential for an even better future.
Vineyard Size: | 10 hectares |
Soil Composition: | Gravel, sand, alluvial, limestone, clay |
Training Method: | Goblet "bush vines" |
Elevation: | Blackberry, a hint of raisin, mild char and lemon-peel aromas make for a fine bouquet. This is lively, punchy and chewy, with big tannins. Blackberry, chocolate, loamy earth, toast and peppery flavors finish long, baked, ripe and with the potential for an even better future. |
Exposure: | North |
Harvest Date: | 10/07/2019 |
Fermentation: | Alcoholic fermenation takes place in 25,000 liter stainless steel tanks |
Maceration Technique:: | Maceration takes place in 8,000 liter oak vats with manual pump-overs |
Length of Maceration: | 15 days |
Malolactic Fermentation: | Malolactic fermentation in French and American oak barrels |
Ageing in Months: | 24 Months |
Alcohol: | 14.5% |
pH Level: | 3.65 |
Residual Sugar: | 2.3 g/l |
Acidity : | 5.02 g/l |
After her third year in college studying abroad at the University of Madrid, Atlanta-born April Cullom traded in the southern US for southern Spain, a move that led to a career in wine. April has cultivated relationships with rising-star wine makers over the past 15 years while promoting and educating trade, press and consumers about Spanish wines as a certified Spanish wine expert and educator. April’s experience, “love affair” with Spain for the past 30 years combined with her passion for the country’s wine and food was the inspiration to create a selection of wines from various parts of Spain under the Casa Abril and Alma de Vino labels – a true labor of love.
Each wine strives to reflect the “terroir-trilogy” of the expression of the varietals based on the climate, the soil and the topography of the place where grapes are grown. April and the family enologists from each winery have created the wines together, striving to reflect the local nuances of the vineyard while respecting Mother Nature.
April's credentials include WSET Advance with Honors, Certified Spanish Wine Expert.