Convento de Oreja
 Ribera del Duero (Spain)

The Estate
The winery is located near the town of Peñafiel, and its name Oreja (ear) comes from the fact that Convento is located on a bend in the Duero river. This exagerated bend/oxbow is referred to as an oreja or ear shaped. Owner Antonio Vaquero lives and works in Madrid, but hails from Peñafiel, where he has been managing family vineyards. Recently, Antonio and a small group of associates decided to build their own winery, hence Convento de Oreja. 
Convento de Oreja does not own winemaking facilities, but supervises the vinification in a modern facility in Peñafiel. Once the wine has been fermented/macerated, the resulting juice is barrel aged.


Antonio Vaquero


Convento de Oreja's partners

The Vineyard
The vines are 10-15 years old except for a small plot of 40 year old vines. The wines of Convento de Oreja are all 100% Tempranillo. Currently they own 6 hectares (14.82 acres) and manage 12 hectares more. Recently they planted 4 hectares more and all soil types are nutrient poor alluvial soils with a mix of sand and gravel. Deeper down the soil is clay and limestone, good for water retention. For now they make both Joven and Crianza style wines.

The Wine


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#S0EE532002TPM
UPC code: 7 84585 01102 5
2008 Convento Oreja, Roble, Ribera del Duero 6/750ml
100% Tempranillo. The wine has been aged for four months in a combination of 40% French and 60% American oak barrels.
Deep black plum color with violet tones. Ripe fruit on the nose, mostly blackberries and raspberries, intermingled with hints of spice and leather. On the palate, it is warm, fresh and pleasant with a long finish.

"The medium ruby-colored Oreja Roble offers spicy black and bright red fruit aromas. They are followed by a soft attack, light fruit concentration on the palate, and round tannins on the finish."
- i-winereview.com (July 2010), 87 pts

2005 Convento Oreja, Roble, Ribera del Duero 6/750ml
 “This plush red offers ripe flavors of cassis and blackberry, with accents of coffee and spice. The tannins are firm yet fresh. Mineral and sanguine notes add depth. Drink now through 2015.”
- Wine Spectator (Sept 2008), 90 pts
"The 2005 Roble was aged for 4 months in French and American oak. Purple-colored, it has an expressive perfume of blackberry, black cherry, spice box, and saddle leather. This leads to a wine with good richness, layers of flavor, excellent balance, and 3-4 years of cellaring potential. It can be enjoyed now and over the next 8-10 years"
- Wine Advocate (Issue 175, Feb 08), 89 pts

National Retail Price: $22.95 / bottle










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UPC code: 7 84585 00842 1
2009 Convento Oreja, Crianza, Ribera del Duero 6/750ml
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- Wine Enthusiast (May 2012), 90 pts

UPC code: 7 84585 00842 1
2006 Convento Oreja, Crianza, Ribera del Duero 6/750ml
 "The 2006 Convento de Oreja made of 100% Tempranillo exhibits a dark ruby hue and has earthy aromas of ripe black and red fruit and notes of wood spice. Aged for four months in French and American oak, it is soft and velvet smooth on the attack. It boasts concentrated spicy black fruit on the mid-palate and a lingering finish."
- i-winereview.com (July 2010), 89 pts

UPC code: 7 84585 00842 1
2004 Convento Oreja, Crianza, Ribera del Duero 6/750ml
 Intense cherry-red color. On the nose it is complex and elegant with ripe red berry fruit aromas intermingled with balsamic hints of spices and cacao. On the palate it shows well balanced with a delicious finish.
Silver Medal - 2007 edition of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (the worldwide leader of wines and spirits competitions with over 5000 samples participating every year and 200 professional tasters from 40 countries)

 "The 2004 Crianza has a toasty, slightly roasted bouquet of black cherry, blackberry, spice box, and mineral. On the palate the wine exhibits ample ripe fruit, a firm structure, good balance, and a lengthy finish. Give it 2-3 years to evolve and drink it through 2018."
- Wine Advocate (Issue 175, Feb 08), 90 pts
National Retail Price: $33.95 / bottle

#S0CC53202
UPC code: 7 84585 00858 2
2003 Convento Oreja, Crianza, Ribera del Duero 6/1.5L
National Retail Price: $50.95 / bottle