Ausàs is a new project from Javier Ausàs. While most of us in the states are not familiar with him we definitely know his work, he was the head winemaker at Vega Sicilia and the technical director for their other properties for the last 17 years. With over 23 working at Vega Sicilia Javier has a deep understanding of the region, it’s vineyards and Tempranillo. This wine, the only wine he makes for this project is a blend of several plots from across the region as to get the broadest range of aspects from Tempranillo, lighter soils, higher elevation plots, plots with more clay and others that are real chalky. This is a wine of beauty and power, just as you would expect.

Interpretación is Tempranillo from over 40-year-old head-pruned vines on sand, clay and limestone soils with plenty of stones at 3000 feet in altitude. It went through a cold soak and fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel and concrete vats. It matured for 16 months in 225- and 500-liter oak barrels, 40% of them new. The grapes are sourced from specific growers that Javier has known for a long time, as he had purchased grapes for Alión from many of them. The wine shows the character of Ribera, a chalky backbone of fine-grained tannins, coated by fruit and berries, an herbal, spicy touch and perfectly integrated oak. There is good freshness, a rare combination of elegance and power and superb balance.

Dark fruit, liquorice and blueberry aromatics, not in the least oaky. Elegant, pure and refined overall. Fine-grained tannin adds texture and interest, overlaid by black fruits and running through the palate is the keynote freshness of this producer's philosophy.