As third generation growers and second generation producers, siblings Martina and Ignacio Prieto Pariente not only run José Pariente, the family winery in Rueda founded by their mother. Last year, they also expanded into Galicia’s Ribeiro region with the purchase of Vilerma.
Before this, they had embarked on a search across various areas of Castilla y León to set up their own project, Prieto Pariente. While they make a Garnacha in Gredos under DO Cebreros and source grapes from Bierzo to make a Godello sold as VT Castilla y León, the rest of the wines come from vineyards in Valladolid. This province is particularly interesting because it includes villages within the DOs Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, Cigales and even León. Given this diversity, their entry-level wine is aptly named Viñedos de La Provincia.
This wine combines the freedom of blending different grapes and regions with the strong character of its vineyards. It is an unusual blend for Castilla y León, with Tempranillo (55%) and Garnacha (45%) in almost equal proportions. The Tempranillo comes from two vineyards: one planted in 1924 in Mucientes (Cigales) and the other, which also contains Garnacha, planted successively in 1946 and 1956 in Pedrosa del Rey (Toro).
The wine is fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks and foudres and aged in foudres and seasoned 500-litre barrels.
With its old-vine pedigree and wallet-friendly price (€13-14), Viñedos de la Provincia is an outstanding entry-level wine, offering depth and character for just a little more than a Ribera Roble. Thanks to the gentle and refreshing influence of the Garnacha, the style is a real winner, more polished than the average Duero red, yet full of substance and appealing texture. A smart buy.
14.5% abv.
23.,000 bottles
€14
Score: 92
Author
Amaya Cervera
A wine journalist with almost 30 years' experience, she is the founder of the award-winning Spanish Wine Lover website. In 2023, she won the National Gastronomy Award for Gastronomic Communication
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