Bodegas Antidoto Ribera del Duero 2022

A combination of Chinon and Spain

Bertrand Sourdais grew up among the vines in Chinon, but was the first to make a name for himself as a winemaker in Spain. He now combines the best of both worlds with a winery in Chinon (Domaine de Pallus) and two in Ribera del Duero (Antídoto and Dominio de Es).

Sourdais is not a man of the beaten track. He makes his wines in Ribera del Duero in Soria, the most remote and difficult to access province of the region, wedged between two mountain ranges. The weather conditions are quite extreme, with a risk of hail and spring frost. The plots with old canes are spread out and at high altitudes. Not a wine region for large production, especially for wines with character.

Bertrand harvests the tinto fino (the local name for the tempranillo grape) for this Antídoto mainly in Soto de San Esteban, in no fewer than 550 different plots located at an altitude of about 950 meters. The vines are between thirty and a hundred years old and are planted on sandy pebble soils, which gives the wine aroma and supple tannins.

After manual picking, fermentation and maturation take place for eight months in French oak barrels, 15% of which are new. It produces an intense, characterful and elegant Ribera del Duero, which is smooth and fresh enough to drink straight, but also full and powerful enough for the table.