Viendos Y Bodegas Garcia Figuero

Viendos Y Bodegas Garcia Figuero

We arrived after breakfast and were met by three family members waiting in front of their winery. The family patriarch Jose Maria Figuero, his son in law, Felipe Martin Cabezon, and his daughter Cristina Martin Garcia. Jose Maria said that harvest was on today and that we should jump in his car for a ride to the vineyard where hand harvesting was taking place.

Jose Maria was married in 1961 and for forty years he was a grape grower focused on producing the best fruit that came from the region. It was not until 2001, at the age of sixty-five, that he decide to build his winery facility.

When we arrived at the rows being harvested, we came across a multi-generational gypsy family, who were handpicking clusters of Tempranillo and placing them in wicker baskets. The family has been working harvest at Figuero for more than twenty-five years. The gypsy grandmother was wrapped in black garments and clearly camera-shy. Her younger grandsons were the reverse, making gestures and poses for my camera. It was clear that the family was quick and careful workers. You could see that Jose Maria had a warm feeling for the workers.

Feature : Ribera del Duero

Feature : Ribera del Duero

Viendos Y Bodegas Garcia Figuero

We were met in the vineyard by Jose Maria’s son Antonio, the vineyard manager who was the point man for all the vineyard staff that day. Felipe is the winery’s general manager, and his daughter Cristina is an enologist.

After taking pictures we travel back to the winery for a brief tour and tasting. The family told us about the area’s rich history and the importance of the monks in the region.

Wines Tasted:

Tinto Figuero-Figuero 12 2019 ***** $30

100% Tempranillo- La Horra y Roa area. The vines were planted between 1965 and 1995. Hand harvest in wicker baskets. Aged for twelve months in new and used oak barrels (5% American oak, 95% French oak). Dark purple color. Aromas of intense black fruit, blueberry, and blackberry. Flavors of blackberry, plum, and leather. This is a lush and velvety wine. Two hundred and forty thousand bottles were produced.

Tinto Figuero-Figuero 15 Reserva 2018 ***** $49

100% Tempranillo- La Horra y Roa area. The vines were planted between 1910 and 1965. Single Vineyard bush vines. Aged for fifteen months in new oak barrels (40% American oak, 60% French oak). Deep cherry color. Aromas of blackberry, black pepper, and cigar. Flavors of deep lush blackberry and plum. Persistent finish with velvet tannins. Twenty thousand bottles were produced.

Tinto Figuero-Milagros De Figuero 2018 ****1/2 $75

100% Tempranillo- Paraje del Camino de los Frailes area. The vines were planted between 1940 and 1956 near the Duero River. Hand harvest in wicker baskets. Aged for fourteen months in 500L new oak (100% French). Dark ruby color. Aromas of raspberry, strawberry, nutmeg, and balsamic. Flavors of spicy raspberry with silky tannins. Less than ten thousand bottles were produced.

Tinto Figuero-Figuero Noble 2018 ****1/2 $129

100% Tempranillo- Torrosillo plot with thirty-five-year-old bush vines. Aged for twenty-one months in thin grain (French) oak. Deep cherry garnet color. Aromas of raspberry, and plum. Licorice and cinnamon. Flavors of juicy dark fruit with velvety tannins. Sixty-nine thousand, nine hundred bottles were produced.

At the time of our visit, the winery was looking to appoint a new US importer.

Viendos Y Bodegas Garcia Figuero

https://tintofiguero.com/