VivaltuS 2017

A rich and delicate Ribera del Duero wine

The estate

For decades, the Yllera family has been one of the leading wine producers in Castilla y León. In the early 2010s, they decided to produce a unique and timeless Ribera del Duero wine.

After years of searching for the ideal terroir, in 2015 the family acquired the VivaltuS estate, located on the border of the Duero, Cuco and Esgueva valleys. With the help of French oenologist Jean-Claude Berrouet and state-of-the-art winemaking tools, considerable work was carried out to create an emblematic wine that would magnify an exceptional old-vine vineyard.

Exuding a freshness that is truly rare, fine and elegant, VivaltuS offers a new interpretation of Spanish wines and expresses all the nuances of its terroir of origin.

The vineyard

VivaltuS is a Ribera del Duero wine made from a mosaic of terroirs with old vines aged between 70 and 100 years. This terroir includes two exceptional vineyards. The Fuentenebro vineyard is located between 900 and 1,000 metres above sea level. The soil is composed of decomposed granite and red clay, which gives the wine elegance, fruitiness and a good natural acidity. The La Aguilera terroir, with sandy and clay-limestone soils, is located between 840 and 870 metres above sea level and is known for bringing elegance and freshness to the blend.

The vintage

2017 began with a warm, dry winter and spring. The frost episode at the end of April affected part of the vineyard. The months of June and July were just as hot.

Winemaking and ageing

The grapes were meticulously sorted on the vine as well as upon arrival at the winery, by optical sorting, before undergoing a plot-by-plot vinification through gravity throughout the process. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts. The winemaking process was low-intervention and was carried out in a constant search for freshness, finesse and elegance. The wine was aged for 11 months in extra fine French oak barrels (20% of which were new), followed by additional bottle ageing after blending.

Blend

Tempranillo (96%)
Cabernet Sauvignon (3%)
Merlot (1%).

Characteristics and tasting tips for VivaltuS 2017

Tasting

This fresh and elegant wine by Castilla y León has a lively, fruity structure with silky tannins. The smooth and balanced palate draws out to a lasting and aromatic finish.