Viña Pilar Clarete 2020

S. Bordthäuser 10.12.21

At the age of 16, Félix Callejo had to take over the winery after the sudden death of his father. Together with his wife Pilar, he raised the wines of the Ribera del Duero to a new level, which condensed in 1989 in the foundation of the current winery. Today, the winery in the province of Burgos is run by their four children. The wines thrive at altitudes between 830-950 metres above sea level, which, combined with the resulting temperature amplitudes and the lean sandy and limestone soils, provides the region with the best conditions for elegant and fine Ribera wines.

In Sotillo de la Ribera it was a tradition for a long time to produce Claretes wines, i.e. light-coloured red wines. For this, Tinto Fino was grown, harvested and fermented together with the regional white Albillo Mayor. With the Viña Pilar Clarete, Felix Callejo wants to revive this old tradition. The name is a tribute to Callejo's wife Pilar, whose Latin name means "support for her loved ones".

The cuvée of 50% Tinto Fino and 50% Albillo Major comes from the single vineyard El Pajarito and El Lebrero. Grown on sandy loam and limestone soils at an altitude of around 920 metres, the grapes were harvested manually into small boxes, fermented spontaneously with natural yeasts after five days of cold maceration and then aged for 8 months on the fine lees in concrete eggs and 500l barrels.

The year 2020 started with a dry and very cold winter - typical for the region. There was a regular supply of rainfall in April, May and June. The summer did not turn out to be particularly hot during the course of the year.

Bright raspberry red with light reflections

The Rosado from Tinto Fino, respectively Tempranillo, and Albillo Mayor smells wonderfully intense. The 2020 example reveals clear notes of strawberry, sweet cherry and raspberry. Rosehip as well as a little rooibos give it its very own, characterful side, which comes out better and better as the temperature rises. It also presents nuances of green walnuts and some fresh autumn leaves. Chopped walnuts, green pepper and some cedar wood also provide ethereal and balsamic accents. On the nose, it literally rests in itself.   

On the palate, Bodegas Callejo then clearly succeeds in bringing the findings from the nose onto the haptic track. It clearly lives from a certain spiciness. Associations with walnuts and pepper are also obvious on the palate. The fruit is omnipresent, but does not play the main role. Its pressure on the palate as well as the tight structure with a very warm middle are the main actors. Winning, warming and with a lot of feel-good factor, it knows how to convince. Its fine tannin gives it a solid backbone that also allows for positive bitterness. The fruit is far from kitsch.