I Could Have Been In Ribera del Duero with Jose Moro.....

But instead I was stuck in New York City grid lock for 4 hours after having lunch with Jose just to go 2 miles to the Holland Tunnel. Total time to get home was 6.5 hours, and I could have been in Spain in that amount of time!

Lunch and an opportunity to meet with Jose Moro personally and try his portfolio of wines was well worth my time in traffic.

Emilio Moro wines are located in the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. Ribero de Deuro is the highest appellation in Spain with continental influence, long hard winters and hot hot summers. The topography of this region is divided into three areas. Low Plains, Low and High Plateau with different altitude and soil. Low plains are at 700 meters, low plateau at 800 meters, high plateau at 1000 meters. Each has different soil that brings different characteristics to the wine.

Chalk Soil - brings finesse and elegance to the wine

Clay soil - brings structure and color to the wine

Stony soil - brings more maturity and sweetness to the wine.

Some Moro wine history. Jose’s grandfather started the winery and taught his father how to farm the land. His father passed that knowledge on how to love the wine to the third generation who is now passing it to the fourth generation. Jose worked in the vineyard since he was a child and the love of the land and knowledge shows. Jose says that was the best form of education. Today the 4th generation is working at the winery with his 24 year old nephew Alberto in charge of the American market.

“If you don’t take care of the vineyard, you can’t produce quality wine” ~ Jose Moro

Emilio Moro takes great pride in the Tino Fino and Tempranillo they produce. All the Tinto Fino is grafted onto the rootstock in all their vineyards with a specific clone used by his grandfather. There are 250 acres with this specific clone that produces smaller fruit with clusters that are looser, producing a harvest of grapes with more concentration on flavor and more structure.. The philosophies with the two grapes are totally different.

Tradition is very important, they feel that tradition guarantees the quality of the wine. With tradition comes innovation. That is why they work with 5 different universities to learn more about the tradition and knowledge of the grape clone and selection of native yeasts. To understand the relationship of the terroir.

They also believe in giving back, a social responsibility and created the Emilio Moro Foundation in 2008. “The Wine Help Water” provides and distributes safe water resources to the people with the most needs. They also work with providing education to young people on the risk of social exclusion. Allowing them to develop their skills and knowledge to access the working market. This foundation helps worldwide.

"Tradition, Innovation and Social Responsibility" ~ Jose Moro

At lunch we tasted 5 delicious wines. I didn’t have a favorite as they all were very well crafted and had their own special identity.

2016 Finca Resalso Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero - Very fruity and fruit forward. Hints of clove with a spice of pepper on the finish. The grapes for this wine comes from their youngest vines between 5 and 12 years old. SRP $12

2015 Emilio Moro Tinot Fino, Ribera del Duero - Jose said this was the best vintage ever! Nice fresh young wine. SRP $23

2014 Malleolus Tinto Fino, Ribera del Duero - Rich and dark in color. A mature wine with lots of dark fruit, black raspberry, black cherry, earthy notes, cocoa, well balanced with nice intergration of of oak. SRP $40

2011 Malleolus Tinto Fino, Ribera del Duero - This wine was very complex.It just kept giving. The vines are 25-75 years old. This comes from two vineyards one with clay soil and one with stony soil. You can taste the minerality of soil. Notes of balsamic on the aroma with dark fruit. Lots of black fruit, black currant, black cherry, red cherry. Very nice and soft mouth feel. SRP $160

2011 Malleolus de Valderramiro Tinot Fino, Ribera del Duero - The grapes from this come from 15 year old vines. Spicy aromas, with earthy notes, black fruit, white pepper coffee and a nice rounded finish. This wine has aging potential. SRP $140.

The Tempranillo's of Emilio Moro

Emilio Moro Bodegas is located in the Ribera del Duero, Spain. Ribera del Duero is located in the valley of an elevated plateau of the Iberian peninsula. They have a Mediterranean growing climate with lots of sun, moderate to low rainfall and sudden temperature changes.

The three different types of soil found in the Ribera del Duero all contribute to the different aspects of the wine.  The chalk will give the wine elegance and complexity.  The clay will provide the wine with structure and character and the rocky soils brings maturity and sweetness.

At Emilio Moro, they have been making wine for three generations.  In 1987 Jose Moro, grandson of Emilio Moro decided to establish the brand Emilio Moro and made the winery what it is today.

The family has created their own unique clone of Tempranillo  that is planted throughout their vineyards today. Characteristics of this clone are shorter, narrower, looser clusters and smaller berries. To conserve the natural characteristics of the clone, they farm with no artificial irrigation.

I had the opportunity to taste 3 of Emilio Moro's Tempranillo's ranging from 2011 to the current release 2014.   Each bottle, different with their own personality, but all paired with Delmonico Steak with sauteed onions and peppers and a side of fresh local green beans.

2011 Maleolus - The grapes for this wine are selected from vines between 25 and 75 years old. This 100% Tempranillo spends 15 months in new French oak. Aromas of sour cherry, black cherry, balsamic, a hint of vanilla and cigar box.  The wine was soft on the palate with mature black fruit and a hint of spice on the finish. SRP $44.99

2012 Emilio Moro - The wine bears the name of the creator and is the alma-mater of the winery. This 100% Tempranillo was aged in 50% French oak and 50% American oak with 30% of the oak new and the rest equally split between 2nd 3rd use.  Aromas of blackberry and ripe black fruit.  The palate was soft and silky with dark berry, blackberry and a hint of spice. SRP $24.99

2014 Finca Resalso - The youngest of the wines tasted.  This is the name of the historic vineyard that was planted by the 1st generation in 1932.  A bit fruity on the nose with both red and black fruit, a hint of licorice and a bit earthy.  This wine spent 4 months in 3rd use French oak. On the palate the fresh red and black fruit.  SRP $14.99