Finca Villacreces

Described by Robert Parker as “the hidden jewel of Ribera del Duero”, Finca Villacreces forms part of the regions ‘golden mile’ alongside their neighbours Vega Sicilia and Pingus. Located in Quintanilla de Onésimo, this stunning estate was purchased by the Antón family of Izadi in 2003. The wines, made by winemaker Ángel Ortega together with Luis Laso, are deep, dark, and focused in style.

The vineyards of Finca Villacreces follow what is called ‘integrated viticulture’, using canopy management and natural treatments, instead of artificial chemicals. The combination of sand, gravel, shingle, and quartz soils encourage low yields of intensely flavoured grapes (around three tonnes per hectare and only two kilos per vine). The estate’s 64 hectares of vines are planted at 735 metres above sea level. 85% of the vineyards are planted with Tempranillo on sandy soils, which impart an attractive fleshiness to the wines. The remaining vines are 5% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, planted on quartz and shingle, giving more mineral complexity to the blend.

‘Pruno’ was developed with the intention of making a Ribera del Duero that could be enjoyed earlier than their flagship wine. It blends 93% Tempranillo with 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot, aged in second and third-year French oak barrels. The Ribera del Duero is more concentrated, with excellent depth and complexity, complemented by red and black fruit notes and hints of spice. ‘Nebro’, the single-vineyard wine, is named after the 1.2-hectare site of the estate’s oldest Tempranillo vines, planted in 1917, three metres from Vega Sicilia. This wine is produced only in exceptional vintages and in very limited quantities (just five barrels).