Pinot Noir from a tiny family-run estate in Ronda. Founded by Austrian architect Martin Kieninger, the winery works with mostly Austrian varieties and rootstock Kieninger brought from Austria - Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and Pinot Noir, a variety that seems to thrive in the Ronda-. Whole-cluster fermentation with indigenous yeasts and 12 months aging in French oak barrels. Shy nose. Red fruit and herbal notes. Full-bodied and quite bold (15% ABV!) for a Pinot Noir. Not terribly complex. — 4 years ago
A little angry, lean and uneven to start. Needed a night after being open to calm down and integrate. A relaxed rosso drinks better: strawberry, black cherry, red plum, licorice and herbs. I love the classic profile. I never thought I’d say this, but I don’t love the aggressive acidity - probably the result of a cool and difficult vintage - that is waging war with my stomach lining. This lean wine needs food. I’d suggest something richer and fattier than the Ropa Vieja (night 1) and Amy’s frozen vegetarian lasagna (night 2). — 4 years ago
Intense, sharp, saline — 4 years ago
The estate’s flagship wine, Samsara is 100% Petit Verdot from Ronda in southern Spain, a region that is gaining certain notoriety for its Petit Verdot. A late ripening grape variety, Petit Verdot is a minor ingredient in Bordeaux blends where it often fails to ripen properly. But it seems to thrive in warmer regions like Australia, certain parts of California and here in Ronda, where it was first introduced in the early 1990s. Grapes are sourced from El Juncal vineyard, a very cool site at about 2,800 ft elevation, on clay-sandy soils. Fermented with indigenous yeasts (50% whole-cluster) and aged in French and Hungarian oak for 9 months. Dense, dark ruby color. Dark fruit on the nose and palate. Herbal and balsamic notes and a whiff of cinnamon. Complex, structured, very smooth tannins. — 4 years ago
Ripe berry fruit forward. Strawberry, flowers and ceder. — 3 years ago
Super funky yeasty sexy 💕 — 3 years ago
2010 Vintage is delightfully well balanced...smooth full body. — 4 years ago
Molly’s Mexican tasting - November 2019
light easy drinking, skin contact, yum! — 5 years ago
Ming L
I asked the Somm to recommend a wine from Andalusia to pair with the region’s cuisines. Without hesitation, he picked out this bottle from a winery based in Ronda, a town I visited more than 10 years ago and have vivid memories of.
This is the flagship bottling of the winery with 100% Petit Verdot aged 12 months in clay amphorae.
It’s rich and savory just like to cuisine, and also has the lively acidity and aromatic intensity to counter those richness. What a great pairing! — 4 days ago