After establishing themselves in the market with their selection of young wines, winemakers Vina Mayor have undertaken extensive steps in their search for the highest quality and are making a definite effort in favor of cask aged wines.
To this end they carry out very strict selections of the best Tempranillo.(omit “of its class”). “El Secreto” is the jewel in the crown of the institution : a signature wine and a sign of how those Ribera del Duero wineries have earned their reputation as high-quality wine makers in that region of Spain.

 

Some years after they originated back in 1987, Bodegas y Vinedos Vina Mayor revealed their best kept secret: they launched a signature wine that combined the power and meatiness of the Ribera del Duero with the elegance and smoothness provided by a dedicated and enthusiastic artisan.

It is the great wine “Secreto de Vina Mayor”. According to Carlos Barcelo, oenologist to these winemakers, located in Quintanilla de Onésimo (Valladolid) the best grapes are set aside, waiting peacefully for the optimal moment of maturation.
They are then collected with extreme care, bunch after bunch and the best of these grapes are selected at the selecting table, this wine was intentionally created and made entirely from the Tempranillo grape, better known in the region of Ribero del Duero as “Tinta del Pais”.
The grapes come from a selection of vineyards more than 15 years old and from chosen plots of land with vines more than 40 years old.The resting time in barrels goes up to 18 months, which is similar to bottle preservation. A Reserve which follows the rule.

 

TASTING NOTES
Secreto Reserva 2001
Bodegas y Vinedos Viña Mayor
DO RIBERA DEL DUERO
COLOR : Clean and intense, cherry red in the center.
NOSE : Seductive and very complex bouquet, rich with sweet and honeyed notes (vanilla, clove, cinnamon, chocolate and bilberry). Intense yet gentle perfume of red fruit jam, a touch of elegant oak with mineral finish.
PALATE : It attracts attention because of its freshness and meatiness. It surprisesfrom first taste to its long aftertaste. It is pleasant and well structured, with a smooth tannin level. The fruit notes reappear with hints of clove. The vintage Reserve 2001 produced 11,700 bottles thanks to a gentle, wet winter, a chilly spring and finally a dry, sunny summer with fresh nights right up to the grape harvest.

The Ribera del Duero Regulatory Board described this year as “excellent”.One of the keys to “The Secret” is to be found in the vintage harvest which is handpicked in 44 pound boxes and selected before entering the wine cellar. The resulting grape juice after being swiftly crushed and pressed ferments inside a 4,800-gallon stainless steel tanks, covered with a cooling jacket.

Fermentation at a controlled temperature precedes an extended maceration and a malolactic fermentation before being aged in new French oak barrels.This wine symbolizes a quality change for the winemaker, providing a new era for one of the most popular wines in the region, the Vina Mayor.

In fact it became the most awarded wine during its first year. It is a wine for special occasions, with an average price of 30 dollars in the United States. Because of its organoleptic warmth and versatility it goes with a surprisingly large range of dishes, from starters to red meats, roasts stews or vegetables.

Since the end of the 80’s, the Vina Mayor winery is present in Ribera del Duero, one of the biggest “Denominacion de Origen”, the official classification of Spanish wine regions. Involved in this project is Hijos de Antonio Barcelo, a company with a century of experience. Founded in 1864, it is a prestigious name in quality market wines and has a clear international vocation. Four generations have worked to keep the project going.

Moreover, top oenologist, Guy Guimberteau, a leader in the wine world, was one of the advisers to this winery.Since its foundation, Vina Mayor has remained faithful to its principles : “excellent ground conditions, limited production and discerning product development. In line with these principles the investment policy underwent a new course in order to provide the company with the necessary technology to reach the desired quality level.

Strong investment during the last few years has provided the wine cellar with the latest technological installations. The facilities are now a well thought out combination of traditional and modern techniques. 40 stainless steel tanks, automatic pumps and double cooling jackets to control the temperature, as well as tanks for special productions have been installed, and there is a calm barrel park containing 7,000 units of American and French oak which is regularly updated.

This venture into technology together with the knowledge and experience of the person in charge of the “Bodegas” has permitted Vina Mayor to join the ranks of those making quality wines.

 

For example, “El Secreto” : with this wine Vina Mayor stopped making young wines.

 

They are concentrating more on making wines that are in demand with an oak presence but without hiding the potential fruitiness of the Tempranillo grape. A total of 22 acres of Tempranillo forms the landscape near the Duero river. It is a land of chalky soil, reddish brown in color, rich in chalk and iron, ranging from sandy silt to stones.

 

All these elements make this land very suitable for the production not only of tannic and aromatic wines, but also of wines with good graduation and acidity appropriate for aging in barrels.

In addition, the company controls another 370 acres of the region, owned by private wine growers. The control is meticulous. The technical department seeks low-production old vines to maintain the winery’s quality parameter.The winery, a majestic building situated on a hill, is where the company produces the brands El Secreto, Vina Mayor y Vina del Frade.

The annual production is commercialized : 75% in Spain, with other countries like USA, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland and Japan taking the 25% that is left.

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