Maestro Tejero Vina Almate

Alfredo Maestro Tejero's vineyards are located within the Ribera del Duero D.O., but Alfredo prefers not to participate in the D.O., so the wines are Vino de la Tierra de Castillo y Leon.

About twenty years ago, Alfredo Maestro made the switch to natural winemaking, diverging from the standard approach in Ribera del Duero of adding whatever was necessary, oak, chemicals, specific yeast strains, to make the same accepted style that was presumed expected. The result of that divergence is wines such as this, expressing the land without the obscuring effect of oak, with the unique character that only wild, natural fermentation can provide.

Over the past few years, he has been searching out abandoned or neglected vineyards around the Ribera del Duero and Madrid to convert to, Organic farming. Gradually, Alfredo has increased production, and now has 9 hectares and two small bodegas, one located in his native Penafiel in the Ribera del Duero, and the other in the Navalcarnero area, southwest of Madrid. He has emerged as one of the most lauded and dynamic natural winemakers in all of Spain.

This is a wine that deserves to be called classic Duero, but by Alfredo's choosing, just doesn't carry the appellation name.

The Alfredo Maestro Vina Almate is darkly coloured, opaque and mouth filling with lavender and toffee notes that stay from nose to finish while only tiny bit of reduction, maybe because of the low sulphur, shows on the nose, but quickly disappears to allow a sweet nose of roses, mineral and red berry fruits which lead to a dense palate of plum, cherry and berry compote.