In the glass
Aroma: concentrated dark cherry, cedar, mineral, tobacco, violet, dried herbs
Palate: dark plum, graphite, dark chocolate, dried herbs, mineral, long spice
Telmo Rodriguez's single-vineyard flagship from old Tinto Fino parcels in the Valladolid sector, applying his philosophy of terroir transparency and minimal intervention to produce a concentrated, mineral, age-worthy red.
What it pairs with
-
Roast leg of lamb with thyme
The wine's power and precision call for traditional Castilian herb-seasoned roasts. -
Venison loin with black sauce
Game and the wine's intense mineral-dark fruit character are a natural combination. -
Aged Manchego Viejo
Dense aged cheese mirrors the wine's concentrated mineral and dark fruit.
How to serve Matallana
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Roast leg of lamb with thyme, Venison loin with black sauce, Aged Manchego Viejo. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Telmo Rodriguez, the itinerant Spanish winemaker behind Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez, launched his Ribera del Duero project with the 1999 vintage, selecting old-vine Tinto Fino parcels in the Valladolid sector near Quintanilla de Onesimo for a single-vineyard wine produced with minimal intervention.
- 1999 — Matallana first vintage produced by Telmo Rodriguez from old Tinto Fino parcels in Valladolid sector
Facts
- Producer
- Matallana (Telmo Rodriguez)
- Grapes
- Tinto Fino (100%)
- Classification
- DO Ribera del Duero
- Oak
- 16-18 months in French oak barriques, mostly new
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- €80-150 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8-25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1999
Frequently asked about Matallana
What does Matallana taste like?
On the nose, concentrated dark cherry, cedar, mineral, tobacco, violet. On the palate, dark plum, graphite, dark chocolate, dried herbs, mineral. Structurally full-bodied, high tannins, high acidity with a very long finish. Telmo Rodriguez's single-vineyard flagship from old Tinto Fino parcels in the Valladolid sector, applying his philosophy of terroir transparency and minimal intervention to produce a concentrated, mineral, age-worthy red.
When should I drink Matallana?
Drink 8-25 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Matallana?
Roast leg of lamb with thyme is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Venison loin with black sauce and Aged Manchego Viejo. The wine's power and precision call for traditional Castilian herb-seasoned roasts.
What grapes are in Matallana?
The blend is Tinto Fino (100%). The wine is classified as DO Ribera del Duero.