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BODEGAS FELIX CALLEJO

STRIKING TEMPRANILLO FROM RIBERA DEL DUERO


Our notes:

Felix Callejo (pronounced: kal-ay-ho) is located in the heart of the Ribera del Duero region, just north of Roa.
The Callejo family are crafting some of the finest, brightest and flavoursome Tempranillo in the ‘modern Rioja’ movement. The wines are plump, silky textured and full of fruit. The Callejo vineyards are brilliant; between 850-900 metres in altitude, south facing, rich in limestone and located in the excellent Sotillo de la Ribera area. Old vines are the norm. The viticulture is organic and everything here is done by hand, according to the minimal intervention model; manual harvesting, natural yeast fermentation, no fining or filtering. Add the next-gen passion of the two, young, well travelled Callejo siblings (more below) and the results are quite delectable. Supple, fruit pure, expressive and thoroughly enjoyable new wave Tempranillo from the heart of old Castile. It should be noted that these wines represent quite a contrast to the Alejandro Fernandez Tempranillo wines we offer – no less valid, just a different, more silken, fruit pure style.

Callejo’s ‘base wine’, Flores, is a no brainer. Pulpy, fresh and pure with mountain crunchiness, it has a rich vinous core that over delivers for the price. From a 35 year old parcel of vines, the Crianza is a classic, supple, yet punchy Ribera with the Gran Callejo and Seleccion are powerful yet seamless Tempranillo's with almost bottomless reserves of flavour. The 2008 Finca Valderoble is the first release of this brilliant new Callejo label. The story is that in 2004, Jose Felix Callejo returned to the family winery after completing his winemaking studies in Bordeaux and working under Jean-Claude Berrouet at Chateau Petrus. He planted a single vineyard to Tempranillo, Syrah and Merlot on Ribera’s very highest site – on very thin topsoil cloaking a bed of pure limestone. The extreme climate here combined to produce very low yields of two lbs per vine. The vineyard is 100% organic. The harvest is done 100% by hand in small cases and carefully sorted at the winery. The natural yeast fermentation takes place in small concrete tanks and the wine is finished in new French Barriques.

Bodegas Felix Callejo, S.A.

Bodegas Felix Callejo Flores De Callejo 2010
Bodegas Callejo has rolled out some major rebranding of late and it's great to report that the new labels finally do justice to the quality in their bottles. The 'Flores de Callejo' replaces the... read more
Product Code: 9629-750
Bodegas Felix Callejo Crianza 2009
The Callejo Crianza is, from the 2009 vintage, labelled simply 'Callejo'. If the quality of this Bodegas wines just seems to go from strength to strength the 2009 and 2010 releases have seen their... read more
Product Code: 9628-750
Finca Valdelroble by Felix Callejo 2008
Due to a particularly odd piece of Spanish bureaucratic legislation, this wine cannot be labelled Ribera Del Duero, nor in fact can it even be made in the same winery as the other Callejo reds! You... read more
Product Code: 9116-750
Bodegas Felix Callejo Gran Callejo 2004
There is a lot to love about this wine. It's enticing and full of character, brimming with vinous energy and brightness. As Jay Miller also notes, this comes from a 'Perfect 10' Tempranillo vintage... read more
Product Code: 9112-750
Bodegas Felix Callejo Seleccion 2004
A staggering red wine made from 70 year old, bush-vine Tempranillo. Maturation in French oak. Somewhat reminiscent of the best garagist right bank Bordeaux. "The opaque purple-colored 2004 Felix... read more
Product Code: 7466-750