Hugo del Pozzo en Ribera del Duero: Cellar

by: Jorge Ferraez

Hugo del Pozzo is one of the few Latinos (a Mexican immigrant to the US) that owns and produces wine in Ribera del Duero, Spain. An excellent wine indeed; Pinea.

His Estate, which is 80 acres planted with Tempranillo is close to many of the others with great names in Riber: Vega Sicilia, Pingus, Emilio Moro, close to La Horra and Olmedillo de Roa in the municipality of Burgos. Along with his partner Vincente Pliego, he makes around 4,000 cases of Pinea and Pinea 17 (second label). From his annual production, he sells most of his 50 tons of fruit to very distinctive bodega names of the local community, but keeps the best seven tons to make his two wines. He hired a fantastic young winemaker; Isaac Fernandez to make it. Fernandez is a renowned name in the Ribera del Duero community, since his uncle was the winemaker for Vega Sicilia for 30 years. Pinea 17 got 92 pts by James Suckling on its 2013 vintage and is available in the Texas through Central Market (H-E-B) and some smaller wine shops (Pinea 17 $40).

Another surprise was the “Voces” wine made by our good friend Fernando Candelario in Napa. I had tasted it some 4 or 5 years ago, but this time his 2013 Voces with fantastic fruit, ripe currant in a complex and round structure, impressed me very much. It is a wine I would like to try in 5 more years to see how it is evolving.

01

PINEA 2014

  • Region: Ribera del Duero, Spain

  • Varietal: Tempranillo

  • Price: $110

  • Aromas: Red fruit, cassis and tobacco

  • Flavors: Ripe berry, black cherry and currant

  • Impression: Complex, bold and silky textured

  • Structure: Big body and character

  • Drink with: Steak, Pork Chops, Braised Lamb

  • Why I loved this wine? Perfumed and fruit forward

My Rating: 95 pts.

02

VOCES 2013

  • Region: Napa Valley, California

  • Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

  • Price: $45

  • Aromas: Red ripe fruit, currant, fig

  • Flavors: Red fruit marmalade, peppery, chocolate

  • Impression: Complex, bold and perfumed

  • Structure: Big Body, round

  • Drink with: Steak, Carne Asada and street beef tacos

  • Why I loved this wine? Beautiful and impressive

My Rating: 94 pts.

03

DOM. DANIEL RION NUITS-ST-GEORGES “LES LAVIERES” 2010

  • Region: Burgundy

  • Varietal: Pinot Noir

  • Price: $87

  • Aromas: Cherry, citrus jam

  • Flavors: Black tea, earthy notes

  • Impression: Silky and mature

  • Structure: Ample and round

  • Drink with: Duck Confit, Turkey, Grilled Salmon

  • Why I loved this wine? Perfumed and humid, great aging

My Rating: 95 pts.

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