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Ludovicus
Ludovicus
Ludovicus is an estate-bottled wine made by Celler Vinos Piñol. This mineral, spicy Mediterranean red will surprise you. Ludovicus drinks like a $25 bottle, but costs $15. The wine is made from organically grown grapes in Terra Alta, a high-elevation region located south of Barcelona. ‘Ludovicus’ refers to a Roman soldier who planted vineyards in this area; hence the grape growing tradition in Terra Alta began with the Romans. The story of Cellar Vinos Piñol mirrors the ascendance of Spanish wines in world markets over the past ten years, a story of how a reverence for old, treasured vineyards and the best family traditions have been combined with new winemaking methods to make the finest wines possible. Similar to Yecla and Vinos de Madrid, Terra Alta is one of Spain’s up-and-coming wine regions with an identity built on exciting projects and progressive innovation. Juanjo G. Piñol and Toni Coca are the winemakers. Juanjo’s mother Josefina remains in charge of the family cellar.
What makes this wine unique?
Ludovicus is a wine made in a style that appeals to both new world and old world palates. People who like Cab, Syrah, Malbec and Zinfandel love Ludovicus. Organically grown grapes are produced by the renowned fourth generation Piñol family estate.
Rating history:
2008 90RP; 2004 90RPGrape:
40% Garnacha, 15% Tempranillo, 15% Cariñena, 20% Syrah and 10% Merlot.
Pairing Suggestions:
This ripe, juicy, vibrantly big-fruited red wine is a real crowd pleaser, and Ludovicus’s easy drinking nature makes it a versatile wine, either with meat and pork main courses or with more casual tapas or small plates. Of course, this wine is also a great sipper on its own.
Vinification and ageing:
The grapes are picked and brought to the winery in the early morning hours, and bunches are de-stemmed and crushed. Prior to fermentation, the must undergoes maceration for 4 days in 10,000-liter tanks at a cool temperature of 43°F. Once fermentation begins, maceration on the skins takes 25 days. Afterwards, malolactic fermentation is carried out in stainless steel tanks. The wine is aged for 3-4 months in 300-liter French and American oak barrels.
Production:
9,000 cases are made; 7,000 for the U.S.
Location, Soil, Climate:
The vineyards are located a few miles south and west of Priorat, within the Terra Alta DO (Zone 5) in Catalunya’s Tarragona province in northeastern Spain. In this remote region, the winemaking tradition dates back to the Romans, around the 2nd or 3rd Century. The winery and vineyards are in the town of Batea, situated at 356 meters (1,168 ft.) elevation. The soils are composed of 95% limestone and 5% clay. For climate, the average temperature from April-October is 67.3ºF. The hot day and warm-to-moderate night temperatures make Terra Alta a drier and warmer region than Montsant or Priorat. These conditions produce bright purplish-garnet hued wines with greater weight and ripeness than wines from other areas within Zone 5. The low average yearly rainfall of 16.3 inches is less than neighboring regions.
Tasting notes:
Ludovicus offers a glass-coating deep crimson hue with an expressive nose of cherry, blueberry, and blackberry. Mouthfilling, succulent, and flavorful, this tasty effort is a sensational value for drinking over the next 1-2 years.
Alcohol Content:
14.0%
UPC Code:
810411010679
