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Home | Producers | Hornillos Ballesteros

Hornillos Ballesteros

Miguel Hornillos (Left) & Javier Ballesteros (Right), Owners & Winemakers (photo by Vinimenta)
Miguel Hornillos (Left) & Javier Ballesteros (Right), Owners & Winemakers (photo by Vinimenta)


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Hornillos Ballesteros Information Sheet
Country of Origin: Spain
Location: Ribera del Duero
People: Javier Ballesteros & Miguel Hornillos, Owners & Winemakers
Supplier: www.oleimports.com


Proprietors: Friends Javier and Miguel Ballesteros, owning 99 Acres of Tempranillo vineyards.

Location: Zone 2; Mibal Wines are produced in the garage located in the town of Roa with vineyards in the adjacent towns of Anguix and Roa at 2,703 ft. altitude in the province of Burgos (eastern Ribera del Duero subregion).

Climate: Continental climate (Zone 2) cold nights and hot days with moderately low levels of rainfall. Compared with the wines from the western part of this DO, Burgos is known for its cooler climate and higher altitude usually producing wines deeper in color, more concentrated and aromatic. Ribera del Duero is higher in altitude than Rueda and Toro with lower temperatures averaging 59.8º F from April to October, with 10.1 inches of rainfall. The continental climate gives grapes a long ripening season resulting in wines with greater aromatic intensity and complexity. Temperatures in Hornillo Ballestero's vineyards are higher than neighboring producers such as Vizcarra and Torremorón, making the Mibal wines a bit richer and denser in style.

Soils: Both Javier and Miguel own different vineyard parcels composed of diverse types of soil and texture. Javier with 49 acres of 75 years old vines in the town of Anguix is planted on loam soils composed of 40% sand, 40% fine gravel particles and 20% thin dry clay with low fertility of organic matter at less than 5%, preventing excessive vine growth. Yields at 2.2 lbs. per vine and small berry size, give high skin to juice ratio with deep pigmentation, rich and intense flavors and balanced levels of ripe tannins. Miguel with 50 acres of 35 years old vines on average is located in the town of Roa. Depth of soils provide a buffer against drought but are well drained, composed of sand and limestone with small particles of clay but poor in organic matter at less than 1% though yields are further controlled by early May pruning. Consistent quality fruit is grown yearly and outstanding wines made from vintage to vintage.

What makes Mibal wines unique? The climatic conditions of high altitude and cool climate within Ribera del Duero. The low fertility of the soil giving low yields. Small production of each cuvee at less than 1,000 cases. Miguel and Javier are only one of 5 garage "garriste" winemakers in Ribera del Duero.
Items
Hornillos Ballesteros 2005 Tempranillo 'Perfil de Mibal' Net Price Reviews —
Reviews
Hornillos Ballesteros 2005 Perfil de Mibal (Tempranillo)
Rating: 91+

The 2005 Perfil de Mibal was aged for 16 months in new French oak. A glass-staining opaque purple, it offers up an impressive perfume of pain grille, espresso, scorched earth, incense, and blackberry. Full-bodied on the palate, this dense, packed effort has significant tannin balanced by a boatload of savory fruit. Powerful but very promising, potential buyers should plan on cellaring it for 6-8 years at a minimum. It will have a drinking window extending from 2015 to 2030.

- The Wine Advocate (6/30/2009)

Hornillos Ballesteros 2004 Mibal Seleccion
Rating: 93

The 2004 Mibal Seleccion is a barrel selection of the best lots and spent 14 months in French oak. It further raises the bar with its saturated, glass-coating purple color, super-expressive, exotic nose of pain grille, spice box, wild blueberry, smoked meat, and licorice. On the palate, this thick and opulent wine has gobs of spicy black fruit flavors, enough structure for 4-6 years of further evolution, and a beautifully delineated, long finish. It should drink well through 2020. A true “garage” Bodegas (the winery is in a garage in the town of Roa), these small production cuvees of 100% Tempranillo are uniformly outstanding.

- The Wine Advocate (2/1/2007)

Hornillos Ballesteros 2005 Mibal Seleccion
Rating: 93

Saturated red color. Intensely mineral nose displays dark cherry, cassis, iron, graphite and baking spices. Deep and chewy, with primary dark fruit flavors and smoky Asian spice qualities. Really stains the palate, and there's no excess fat here. Very nicely balanced, and built to age.

- International Wine Cellar (10/1/2008)

Hornillos Ballesteros 2006 Mibal Tempranillo
Rating: 92

100% Tempranillo aged for 12 months in French oak. It is opaque purple with a super-expressive nose of mineral, spice box, cedar, leather, blackberry, and licorice. Dense and layered, it has gobs of sweet fruit, incipient complexity, several years of aging potential, and a lengthy finish.

- The Wine Advocate (8/31/2008)