Bodegas Áster is La Rioja Alta's Ribera del Duero outpost located in the village of Anguix, Burgos. Founded in 1989, it is one of the most innovative wineries in the region with state-of-the-art facilities that produces world class wines at a fraction of the price of its famous neighbours such as Pago de los Capellanes, Pingus and Vega Sicilia.
Tim Atkin MW produces an annual report on Ribera del Duero and believes that Burgos is “where most of the best wines come from” thanks to its extreme environment of short, hot summers, low rainfall and bitterly cold winters. Tempranillo is the main grape, known locally as Tinta del País, that ripens early producing deeper, more concentrated and fuller-bodied wines than are usually found in Rioja.
Finca El Otero is 100% Tinta del País that comes from a select parcel of the estates single-vineyard 'El Otero', where vines have an average age of 80 years old; some of the oldest in the entire region. It is made in only the very best vintages and the 2016 offering received a whopping 96 points by Tim Atkin MW... the same score he gave Dominio de Pingus' "Flor de Pingus" 2018! With such a high score, Finca El Otero 2016 is in the top 30 wines from this years' report; many of which are not even available in the UK.
We have just received our first shipment of this wonderful wine in time for Easter; however, with only 20 cases (6x75cl) available we anticipate it won't be around for long!
Bodegas Áster 'Finca El Otero' 2016 | £38.50 per bottle
"Dark and brooding nose of blackberry and black plum with added mocha and freshly ground coffee undertones. Rich, ripe and round on the palate with silky tannins and impressive purity of further dark black fruits fused with liquorice and toasted oak spice on the marathon finish. Elegant and refined. One sip and it takes me back to my visit in 2016 before the harvest!" Andrew Ray
"Impressive, pure yet concentrated nose of ripe black fruits with added liquorice spice inviting you onto the palette. Wow - serious power and structure with further dark fruit core and plenty of spice with added charcoal, graphite and tobacco notes that are wonderfully balanced giving the wine freshness and a modern, slightly-creamy finish that goes around the block." James Goodhart
"Finca El Otero is the top wine from the La Rioja Alta-owned Aster. Made with grapes grown on clay and limestone soils in Anguix, it reflects the vivacity of an Atlantic year, with stylishly integrated new French oak, good structure and depth, mocha, plum, and blackberry fruit and a surprising freshness." 96/100 Points. Tim Atkin MW
"Concentrated, rich and vivid with tannic blackberry and black cherry fruit. Rich and a bit jammy with a chocolatey edge to the sweet berry fruits. Has some grip on the finish. Modern, ripe and sweetly fruited. This has lots of potential." 94/100 points. Jamie Goode
"A silky, polished red with blackberry and plum character. Flowers, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with creamy tannins and a pleasing finish. Nice structure to this. Another couple of years in bottle will mellow this." 93/100 points. James Suckling
BUY NOW
Prices quoted per bottle, by the case as stated (6x75cl), and includes UK Duty & VAT.
Free Duty Paid delivery available to UK mainland addresses on orders over the value of £200 - standard delivery is charged at £9.95 if order totals below.
