# Selección de la Familia Reserva (2021)

- **Producer:** Bodegas Nabal
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Tempranillo
- **Region:** Castilla y León, Spain
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €35
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackberry, plum, blackcurrant, cherry, black pepper, liquorice, vanilla, cloves, cedar, toast, smoke, chocolate, leather, tobacco, dried fig

## About this wine

Bodegas Nabal is a family-run winery located in Gumiel de Izán, in the heart of the Ribera del Duero DO. Founded by the Navarro Balbás family, the winery is dedicated to preserving traditional winemaking methods while utilizing state-of-the-art gravity-fed facilities. The 'Selección de la Familia' Reserva represents the pinnacle of their estate's expression, sourced from low-yielding, old-vine Tempranillo (Tinto Fino) plots. These vines, some over 70 years old, struggle in the region's harsh continental climate and limestone-clay soils, resulting in grapes of exceptional concentration, structure, and character.

## Interesting facts

- Sourced from goblet-trained old vines up to 70 years old, planted at altitudes reaching 850 meters above sea level.
- The winery operates entirely on a gravity-flow system to minimize mechanical stress on the grapes and preserve delicate fruit aromas.
- The name 'Nabal' is a portmanteau of the founding family's surnames, Navarro and Balbás, honoring their multi-generational heritage.

## Food pairing

The robust structure, high tannins, and vibrant acidity of this Ribera del Duero Reserva require rich, protein-heavy dishes to soften the tannins. Roasted and grilled meats, particularly lamb and beef, pair beautifully as the fat cuts through the wine's structure, while the oak-derived spices complement earthy mushroom and truffle flavors.

## Wine making process

The grapes are hand-harvested in small crates and undergo rigorous double-sorting at the winery. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks using indigenous yeasts, with gentle pump-overs to extract color and fine tannins. The wine is then aged for a minimum of 20 months in a selection of new and second-use French and American oak barrels, followed by extensive bottle aging before release to meet the strict Ribera del Duero Reserva requirements.