Ribera del Duero Pesquera Crianza 2020
Alejandro Fernández

The late Alejandro Fernandez defied conventions by establishing his Ribera del Duero winery in 1972. Armed with a pioneering spirit and a love for wine, Alejandro and his wife Esperanza embarked on an unconventional path that would reshape the region's wine industry and gain global recognition. By the early 1980s, his Pesquera winery shook up the Spanish wine scene, forcing authorities to rewrite the rulebook - granting Ribera its official Denominación de Origen (DO) status in 1982. Across the Atlantic, Pesquera's allure grew, captivating the hearts of American wine lovers and garnering high praise from critics. The iconic Tinto Pesquera, hailed as the 'Petrus of Spain' by Robert Parker, earned a cult following among enthusiasts worldwide. In 2008, Ribera del Duero proudly achieved the elevated Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) status, solidifying its position alongside the esteemed regions of Rioja and Priorat.

Viticulture/Winemaking Style: If it ain't broke, don't fix it... the Fernandez-Rivera family know this all too well. When Robert Parker wrote about Pesquera, comparing it to Petrus, winemaker Alejandro Fernandez's shot to Spanish wine stardom. He could have been tempted to modernise the winery and increase the production 10-fold, but he stuck to his roots and carried on making the best wines in the Ribera del Duero.

Grape Varieties: Tempranillo/Tinto Fino

91 pts by Tim Atkin