Ausàs

The New Project from Vega Sicilia’s Former Technical Director

You may not have heard of Xavier Ausàs, but there’s a good chance you have heard of this winemaker’s previous employer. Ausàs worked at Vega Sicilia and its neighbour, Alión, for 25 years (with 17 of these as Technical Director). During his first seven years, Ausàs was mentored by the legendary Mariano García, undertaking the kind of education money cannot buy. Now, with 35 vintages under his belt in the region, you could say that what Ausàs does not know about Ribera del Duero is hardly worth knowing.

Ausàs purchased his first parcel of vines in 2021 in Nava de Roa: a very poor, stony terroir at 700 metres altitude (Xavier had been working with this fruit for many years at Alión). He praises the site for contributing delicate, blue floral aromas to Interpretación’s blend.

Xavier Ausàs left Vega in 2015 to concentrate on a small consultancy business while setting up his own, Burgundian-sized family Domaine. The following year, to much acclaim, Ausàs launched his first vintage of Interpretación. The building blocks for which are a number of old-vine, high-grown Tinto Fino parcels concentrated around Ribera’s central belt.

Ausàs purchased his first parcel of vines in 2021 in Nava de Roa: a very poor, stony terroir at 700 metres altitude (Xavier had been working with this fruit for many years at Alión). He praises the site for contributing delicate, blue floral aromas to Interpretación’s blend.

Having worked with his growers for other domaines for many years, Xavier’s professional relationships have evolved into lifelong friendships. There are no contracts and Ausàs is involved in the day-to-day viticultural decisions: a partnership reflected in his label’s logo, a pair of cupped hands. Ausàs varies his purchases and winemaking depending on the character of the vintage. The stony terroir of Nava de Roa brings elegance and blue flowers. Gumiel del Mercado, with its clay soils, delivers fruit generosity and acidity. Moradillo de Roa (Ausàs’ highest source at 950 metres), brings power, freshness and structure, while the clay/limestone soils of Roa de Duero provide “a chalky sensation in the mouth and minerality.” says Ausàs. While much of Ribera is bewitched by new barrels, Ausàs is notable for its refined use of oak. The grapes are subject to a cold soak and fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel and concrete vats before aging for 14 months in French oak (just 30% new) in two sizes: half in 225-litre casks and half in 500-litre demi-muids. The wines are vinified by parcel and blending takes place just prior to bottling (unfiltered).

In a region known for reds of blind power, Interpretación stands out for its keynote fruit purity, vibrant aesthetic, fine-grained texture and long, chalky structure. Ausàs believes muscle in Ribera del Duero is a given but searches for the elusive combination of both strength and elegance. He’s off to a flying start.

The Range

Ausàs Ribera del Duero Interpretación 2020
Added

Ausàs Ribera del Duero Interpretación 2020

Interpretación has been and will remain 100% Tempranillo (or Tinto Fino, as it is known in Ribera) sourced from some of Xavier Ausàs’s favourite villages in the region. Moradillo de Roa—Ausàs’s highest source at 950 metres—brings power, freshness and structure, while the white blanqueros soils of Roa de Duero provide “a chalky sensation in the mouth and minerality”, says Xavier. Gumiel del Mercado, with its clay soils, delivers fruit generosity and acidity, and the stony terroir of Nava de Roa at 700 metres brings elegance and blue flowers. Xavier purchased this last site in 2020, and it now makes up 40% of the blend. While much of Ribera is still bewitched by new barrels, Ausàs is notable for its refined use of oak. The grapes are given a cold soak before fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel and concrete vats. The wine ages for 14 months in French oak (just 30% new) in two sizes: half in 225-litre casks and half in 500-litre demi-muids. The wines are sensitively vinified by parcel, and blending takes place just before bottling (unfiltered).

“2020 marks the fifth vintage of ex-Vega Sicilia winemaker Xavier Ausàs’ own project and continues the run of impressive releases. Based on grapes from his own vineyards in Nava de Roa, with the remaining 60% sourced from growers in Gumiel de Mercado, Moradillo de Roa and Roa itself, this is a plush, perfumed, well-balanced Tinto Fino, with aromas of Asian spices and chocolate, a palate of tangerine and blackberry, supple tannins and an undertow of acidity. 2024-32.”
95 points, Tim Atkin MW, Ribera del Duero Special Report
Ausàs Ribera del Duero Interpretación 2020
Added

“The moment I put my nose in the first glass, I was taken to the Ribera del Duero of yesteryear. Power with elegance, and despite the fact that I tasted all these components from new barrels, the wines were pure and clean and with no noticeable oak.” Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate (on the 2017 Interpretación)

Country

Spain

Primary Region

Ribera del Duero, Castilla y Leon

People

Winemaker: Xavier Ausàs

Availability

National

While you're here

Welcome