Aguila Picaro Clarete

Aguila Picaro ClareteClarete is a beautiful, almost lost tradition of Ribera del Duero now being revived by a couple of adventurous bodegas. It's a predominately a blend of Tempranillo and Albillo with a tiny percentage of the usual old vineyard vinous diversity; Bobal, Garnacha, Tempranillo Gris, Pirules, Jaen, Malvasia and others. Both red and while grapes are co fermented then pressed to barrel for fermentation which can take up to 9 months in the cold underground

Clarete is a beautiful, almost lost tradition of Ribera del Duero now being revived by a couple of adventurous bodegas. It's a predominately a blend of Tempranillo and Albillo with a tiny percentage of the usual old vineyard vinous diversity; Bobal, Garnacha, Tempranillo Gris, Pirules, Jaen, Malvasia and others. Both red and while grapes are co-fermented then pressed to barrel for fermentation which can take up to 9 months in the cold underground caves of Dominio del Aguila. It's bottled after an addition 16 months in barrel without fining or filtration.   

On the nose Picaro Clarete shows the gorgeous white florals and gentle fresh cut fennel notes of white Albillo, but it's backed with small berry fruits peaking through. The palate is both alive and textured, complex and tightly structured. There's enough bright red fruit here to drink happily now but it's structure, intensity and balance point towards a long life.