Martin Berdugo Gran Reserva
Gran Reserva is the ultimate oak aged Tempranillo wine from Ribero del Duero.
This wine spends 30 months in oak; 50% in 225lt French barriques and 50% in American casks before resting in bottle.
Martin Berdugo are a modern, progressive, family company; easily witnessed by the contemporary architecture of the winery and their labels. Less obvious though is their constant evolving and experimentation with the wine making.
Martin Berdugo looks for improvement at every harvest and have a passion to bring what they call an “element of difference” to those who share their taste and wine philosophy: one of style, flair, communication, discovery and “the creation of unforgettable moments”.
Elegant primary fruit aromas have evolved into a bouquet typical of mature Tempranillo, redolent of violets. The years have tamed the tannins, giving this wine a smooth mouthfeel and a finish that echoes the stony gravel of its plot in the vineyard that surrounds the winery.
Food pairings: a perfect complement to traditional Spanish cuisine, such as slow-roasted suckling lamb, paella and the finest mature cheeses such as manchego.
About the Producer
Bodegas Martin Berdugo
Matrin Berdugo was founted in 2000 and their estate consists of a single 87ha vineyard of Tinta Fina (Tinto del Pais or Tempranillo) grapes located and surrounded by the Duero River; a major part of the vineyard is on alluvial beds covered with large stones.
The altitude at 800m is significantly higher than vineyards in Rioja, where the highest is at 700m. Cooler climate and more sun result in thicker skins, hence the difference in style from the same gape varietal.
The quality of the wines is influenced by a number of natural factors and, importantly, an attitude that “everything counts”
- meticulous spring and summer pruning: vines planted on a north-south axis have the leaves on the east facing side take off to maximise the morning sun, whereas those on the west are left to provide some shelter from the strong afternoon rays.
- the use of leading edge technology: weather predictions and micro climate observations come from ‘weather stations’ and sensors situated throughout the vineyards.
- terroir profiling and help in grape selection for the harvest uses aerial mapping and satellite photography.
A devastating fire in 2013, where they lost most of their stock as well as the winery gave an opportunity to remodel the buildings, so now all wine-making is gravity fed with no pumping.
The whole estate has been converted to organic production – the first 11ha were certified in 2020, the rest is expected to be in 2025.
The location of the cellar – surrounded by the vineyard – guarantees the reception of the manually harvested grapes in optimal conditions, where after the wine is vinified in sixteen 25,000 litre stainless steel vats and aged in 360, mainly American, oak barrels.
