BODEGAS ANTÍDOTO | Antídoto | Ribera del Duero | 2019
tempranillo

We will be evaluating wines in no particular order on no particular schedule. Just stay tuned and you will never miss our reviews. If the wine is tasted more than once, the rating table will be updated so as to reflect all the new impressions and observations.

Bodegas Antídoto is located in San Esteban de Gormaz in Soria, at the center of a nucleus of villages such as Soto de San Esteban, Miño de San Esteban, Matanza, Villálvaro and Alcubilla de Marqués, to the south of the Duero river. The estate’s vineyards are planted on south exposed slopes, on sandy-rich soils with abundant pebbles, thus with good water drainage throughout the year.

Today we are going to review a single varietal tempranillo wine from Spain‘s renown Ribera del Duero region – Antídoto | Ribera del Duero 2019 by Bodegas Antídoto. Tempranillo is a spanish grape variety that for a long time was ignored by the outside world as a slightly rustic grape of strictly local appeal. Nowadays, tempranillo is recognized as a noble grape variety that can make firm, bold and age-worthy wines. It is the main grape variety of red Rioja wines and is known under several aliases: tinto fino or tinto del país in the Ribera del Duero region, tinta de toro in the Toro region, cencibel and valdepeñas in Valdepeñas and Manchuela regions, ull de llebre and ojo de liebre in Catalonia and finally tinta roriz and aragonês in Portugal. When the right tempranillo clone is grown on the right spot of land, without excessive yields and with real care, it can produce incredibly age-worthy wines. In Ribera del Duero this grape variety is vinified in a more modern, concentrated style, with a firm phenolic extract and an intense flavour profile. This particular wine comes from the lands around Soria province (mainly from the Soto de San Esteban area) and is produced from old vine tempranillo grapes, planted on 950 meters altitude on sandy and clay-rich soils. In order to soften the tannins and gain even more complexity and structure, the wine has been aged for 8 months in 600-liters, french oak casks, from which 15% new oak. That said and without further ado, let’s take a look at the wine tasting results.
_________________________________________________________________________
Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

//Visual
colour: deep | opaque ruby color
clarity: hazy | noble ruby shades

//Olfactory
intensity: pronounced & vibrant
fruit character: overripe & dehydrated

On the first nose, this wine unveils a captivating olfactory experience with its overripe and dehydrated fruit character. The foreground boasts a harmonious mixture of wild cherry, blackberry, aronia berry and black plum, accompanied by intriguing notes of dehydrated black cherry and dried black plum. As the aroma evolves, a subtle interplay of tobacco, cloves, anise and nutmeg forms in the background, supported by very appealing notes of toasted oakwood and hints of liquorice. Mesmerizing undertones of slate, tonka seeds, thyme and rosemary adds a new dimension to the wine’s rich aromatic profile, while subtle hints of violets brings a touch of much needed elegance.

//Palate
sweetness: dry | acidity: medium | alcohol: medium+ | tannin: medium | balance: good
finish: medium+ | aftertaste: seedy-rough

On the palate the wine feels bold and muscular, making a strong and lasting impression with its flat acidity and grippy tannins. On the mouthfeel it reveals an overwhelming touch of alcoholic warmth, adding weight and intensity to the overall balance. The fruit character is both overripe and dried, with prominent notes of black fruits at the core. As the wine evolves, subtle hints of earth and oak emerge, leading to a seedy-rough aftertaste that leaves a lasting impression, reflecting the wine’s robust nature. This is a firm and full-bodied wine that offers a powerful tasting experience for those who appreciate a strong and tannic tempranillo.

//Verdict
maturity: developing | needs time – age for 2 to 5 more years
verdict: fine | a highly recommended wine

All in all, this is a powerful and muscular wine with good structure and nice varietal typicity of the tempranillo grape. The wine displays a firm and ample character that reflects its bold nature, yet it also carries a slightly angular and rough edge, giving it an austere and unpolished character. While in its current state, it may lack refinement and finesse, there is an undeniable potential for this wine to further develop and improve with additional time spent in the bottle, which would improve its harmony and round up those rough edges. For those seeking a rich and grippy wine that embodies the authentic essence of tempranillo grape variety, this one is a commendable choice, as it is a wine that delivers muscles and displays a robust but powerful personality.

//Scoring
BODEGAS ANTÍDOTO | Antídoto | Ribera del Duero | 2019
variety: tempranillo
country: Spain
region: Ribera del Duero
rating: 92.8

//Prediction
predicted rating: 90
actual rating: 92

_________________________________________________________________________

This is definitely a fine wine of Spain and, with a total of 92.8 points scored, this wine is right there, among the best wines we’ve rated so far. Check our complete database on the wine rating page, where you can find all the wines that we have tasted and reviewed or go to the about us page and find out more about our exquisite rating system.

Pairing: Based on the wine’s bold, grippy and muscular character, we would recommend pairing it with a flame-grilled rib-eye steak served with roasted potatoes and sautéed wild mushrooms. The wine’s firm structure and slightly rough edges will counter-balance the robust flavors of the steak, while its ample and full-bodied nature will match the meat’s savory textures. The seedy-rough aftertaste and flat acidity of the wine will provide a delightful contrast to the succulent and charred character of the dish, while the earthy undertones and subtle oak flavors will complement the earthy and savory notes of the roasted potatoes and wild mushrooms, creating a harmonious and indulgent culinary experience. Cheers!

_________________________________________________________________________
© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation.