Ronsel do Sil
Ribeira Sacra, Galicia, Spain
Ronsel do Sil is situated in one of the world's most extreme grape growing regions, the Ribeira Sacra DO of northwestern Spain. With vineyards planted throughout treacherously steep slopes (ranging from 300 to 700 meters above sea level), all pruning, maintenance, and harvest is carried out by hand on old terraces built by the ancient Romans called Bancales. Maria José Yravedra is an absolute visionary for the region, producing wines that not only show incredible varietal integrity, but she accomplishes this through natural farming and biodynamic principles, making around 45,000 bottles a year from their 10 hectare estate. Her philosophy is based on what she calls 'heroic' viticulture, reflecting a sincere balance with nature, though love and compromise with the land. Aside from composting each year with gorse (the last harvest's pruning and remains), sheep graze the vineyards once a year to add their natural flare and keep excess plants at bay. In the cellar, an absolutely minimal approach is the secret to each perfect bottling, with a gravity flow system instead of pumps, all old wood and concrete use for aging, and very little sulfur additions, letting the native grapes of the area tell their individual story
Our Selections
Ronsel do Sil Ribeira Sacra Tinto Mencia vel`uveyra 2021
The Ronsel do Sil Vel’uveyra comes from the estate’s steep terraced vines that range between 10 and 60 years in age and are picked at a range of altitudes. Vela`uveyra, which means “to gaze at the vineyards” in the local dialect, is predominately Mencia, with small amounts of Garnacha and the local Negreda, all from granitic soils. The grapes are hand harvested and brought into the cellar for a cold (pre-fermentation) soaking, before fermenting spontaneously in 5,000-liter oak foudres, followed by 8 months of aging in concrete before bottling. The wine is delicious with spicy dark fruit on the nose. Medium body with good clarity. Dark core. Blue/purple with a watery edge. Has the Syrah like character typical of Mencia. Hint of white pepper and brambly fruit. Fresh on the palate with good acidity. Only 12.5% alcohol. This northwestern Spanish red is versatile with a range of dishes and could even bear a little chill.
Ronsel do Sil Ribeira Sacra Tinto Merenzao Alpendre 2019
The Ronsel do Sil ‘Alpendre’ Merenzao comes from some of the steepest slopes of the region, situated at 500-750 meters above sea level, and all from east facing mountainsides with a 50% slope. This dramatic terroir is full of granite and slate soils and 50 year-old Merenzao vines. Merenzao is the local name for Trousseau, the grape that has gained fame in the Jura.. Hand harvesting is mandatory here, and can also be very dangerous, due to the steep slopes. Spontaneous fermentation is done in 2500 liter oak foudres. Once complete, the wine is racked into a handful of neutral French oak barrels of 228 and 500 liters where it rests for six months before bottling (only 1,700 bottles were made).
The resulting wine is alive and expressive with a light color, a sweet, bright nose of strawberry and black pepper. Crackling with energy, there is an elegance to the wine that reflects the house style. The palate is long and seductive, with fresh raspberry and black cherry notes, hints of spice and flowers. The finish is long with bright and mouth-watering acidity. 13.5% alcohol.
Ronsel do Sil Ribeira Sacra Tinto Caino Longo Al Pie de Canon 2017
The Ronsel do Sil Al Pie del Cañón comes from three distinctly different grape varieties that all carry the first name of Caiño: Caiño Bravo, Caiño Longo, and Caiño Tinto. In 2016, the winery made three different wines from these three grapes and learned about the characteristics of each. The resulting wines however seemed to be incomplete. The 2017 Al Pie del Cañon is a blend of the three Caiño varieties. After a careful vineyard selection, the grapes were destemmed, fermented, and aged together in one single 300-liter barrel for 8 months. Bottled with only a touch of SO2, this intriguing wine comes together in the glass with an incredible essence of these ancient varieties. Smoky aromas, licorice, and black fruits jump from the glass followed by a similar profile on the palate. Deep and dark in the mouth with plenty of fruit and structure, yet light and bright acidity. This is a delicious red wine that seems to be the very essence of the region, combining both power and finesse. 12.5% alcohol.
Ronsel do Sil Ribeira Sacra Blanco Godello vel`uveyra 2018
The Ronsel do Sil Vel’uveyra Godello comes from some of the estate’s higher elevation steep vineyard sites that range from 25 to 50 years old. The grapes always are hand-harvested, and are a blend of 3 native varieties of Galicia: 85% Godello, 10% Treixadura, and 5% Dona Branca. Once brought to the cellar, the grapes are gently pressed and naturally ferment in both 300 and 600 liter French oak barrels, where they then rest (with no battonage) for 6 months before bottling. The aromatics are deep with not only fruity and citrus notes, but also lifted floral tones and hints of wild herbs. The wine is very full and creamy in the mouth, yet fresh and alive with white stone fruit, incredible acidity and with a long finish of nuts, crushed rock, and citrus fruits.
Ronsel do Sil,Ribeira Sacra Blanco Dona Branca Ourive 2018
The Ronsel do Sil Ourive comes from a stunning, high-altitude (550 meter) vineyard in the Val do Bibei sub zone, consisting of bush trained Dona Branca vines. The incredibly steep, terraced slopes mean that grapes can only be hand harvested. The fruit is brought to the cellar for a 24-hour maceration with the skins before pressing and a natural fermentation in 300-liter used French oak barrels. The wine was allowed to rest for six months in these same barrels, with no battonage, and then was bottled with only a touch of SO2. This white is a stunning example of the local Dona Branca grape.
Very clear pale straw in color with subtle aromas of apricot and white flowers and just a hint of wood. On entry, the palate is medium with some lemon fruit and a hint of bitterness. The texture fills out dramatically with air and the aromas gain in intensity with layers of spice, tree fruits and floral notes. This is a serious, complex, white wine that would pair well with cream-based poultry or fish dishes, and with strong cheeses. Only 12% alcohol.