Bodegas Raíz de Guzmán

The bodega was founded in 1998 as the continuation of a project that began in 1985 with the Páramo de Guzmán cheeses. It is in Roa de Duero in the province of Burgos, right in the D.O. Ribera del Duero. The owner is Cayetana Santos, and the wines are made by oenologist Mapi Melado. The bodega also has a tunnel almost a kilometre long.

Only Tempranillo, in every one of its wines we stock, the rosé included. The bodega farms 25 hectares of its own vines, between 25 and 55 years old, plus selected plots in Pardilla and Moradillo. Depending on the wine, the vines grow at 820 to 970 metres. The big swing between day and night slows ripening, which gives the wines more acidity and aroma.

Mainly the time in barrel. The 9 meses spends nine months in barriques, the Crianza 12 to 14, the Reserva 18 to 20 and the Profunda 24 to 26 months. The Profunda comes from vines over 50 years old on the Moradillo plateau at 970 metres, and runs to about 6,000 bottles. Prices rise with it: CHF 19, 29, 35 and 49.

Picking is done by hand and only in daylight, into 15-kilo crates. At the bodega the bunches are sorted first, then the individual berries. Each plot is vinified separately, and fermentation starts spontaneously with natural yeasts. Yields stay below 4,000 kilos per hectare. The cellar holds some 500 barriques, 80 percent French and 20 percent American oak.

A rosé made from 100 percent Tempranillo, from 35-year-old vines at around 820 metres. The name refers to the juice that runs off after a short maceration, without pressing. It ferments at 13 °C at most in steel tanks, with no wood. Expect sour cherry and wild strawberry. It goes well with sushi, rice dishes, carpaccio or goat's cheese. We stock 2024 and 2025, both CHF 25.

The bodega's smallest bottling, made only in very good vintages. There are 500 bottles of the 2017, from vines 60 to 80 years old at 900 metres. The wine spent 36 months in two French barriques, then several years in bottle in an underground cave. Deep ruby, black fruit, leather, about 15 percent alcohol. A wine for rack of lamb or Ibérico ham, CHF 169.

For grilled red meat, game and lamb chops, take the 9 meses, the most affordable way in. The Crianza suits roast lamb, stews and mature hard cheese. For game, hearty meat dishes or aged cheese, open the Reserva or the Profunda. And with sushi, carpaccio or tartare, pour the Rosado de Lágrima.

The 9 meses costs CHF 19, Crianza, Rosado, Reserva and Profunda range from CHF 25 to 49, and the Cayetana 2017 costs CHF 169.