Ribera del Duero La Mala Dominio de Atauta 2016

Lot presentation

Ribera del Duero La Mala Dominio de Atauta 2016

The wine

La Mala is the name of the small 7,000 square metre parcel that produces this cuvée. La Mala means “the bad one” and refers to the extremely poor quality of the soil. There is hardly 70cm of clay and sand covering the limestone bedrock and because of this the yields are so weak that it would otherwise be considered as non-profitable. However, over the years, the very old, non-grafted Tinto Fino vines, which were planted at the end of the 19th century, have sank their roots directly into the cracks in the rocks, withdrawing the very essence of this terroir from the Atauta Valley. The freshness of this wine can be attributed to the north-facing vines which sit at an altitude of almost 1000 metres. During vinification, everything possible is done to preserve the expression of the terroir. The grapes are harvested by hand, sorted through twice using a sorting table and fermented using indigenous yeast in stainless steel vats, before being left to mature for 18 months in second-fill barrels.
Only 800 bottles are produced each vintage. This wine is fresh, elegant and harmonious, with firm tannins and an intense bouquet of violet and shrubland plants, along with an assertive minerality. A great wine with a distinct character.

About the Producer Dominio de Atauta

Bodegas Dominio Autata is the fruit of a recent project to make wines which reflect the full personality of their valley of origin. The pre-phylloxera Tinto Fino vines are cultivated 1,000 metres above sea level in the province of Soria. The winery has rapidly made a name for itself among the big hitters in the region.