Description

Alexander vs The Ham Factory | DO Ribera del Duero, Spain

Alexander vs The Ham Factory is Casa Rojo’s flagship expression of Ribera del Duero, crafted from 100% Tinto Fino — the local name for Tempranillo. Powerful, complex and beautifully balanced, it represents the culmination of Casa Rojo’s long relationship with this dramatic region of extreme temperatures, which the winery describes as the “land of fire and ice.”

The grapes come from selected vineyards around Vadocondes and the Aranda de Duero area in Burgos. These high-altitude vineyards sit at around 900 metres above sea level, where cold nights and warm days help the grapes develop concentration while retaining the acidity that gives the finished wine its remarkable freshness.

The team harvests the Tinto Fino by hand and carefully selects the fruit before fermentation. The wine then matures for around 20 months in oak, building depth, structure and complexity while allowing the ripe fruit character of Tempranillo to remain at its heart.

On the nose, Alexander vs The Ham Factory reveals liquorice, white pepper, ripe plum and compote-like fig. Despite its considerable volume and concentration, the palate remains balanced and surprisingly fresh thanks to its natural acidity. The texture feels generous and polished, while the long finish brings together ripe fruit, spice and the complexity developed during oak ageing. These are the characteristics Casa Rojo highlights for its current release.

This is a serious Ribera del Duero with plenty of power, but it never relies on weight alone. Freshness, ripe fruit, spice and careful ageing create a sophisticated Tempranillo that feels generous, structured and elegant.

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🍇 Key Details

• Region: DO Ribera del Duero (Spain)
• Grape: 100% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo)
• Vineyards: Selected vineyards around Vadocondes / Aranda de Duero, Altitude approximately 900 meters
• Harvest: Hand-harvested
• Ageing: Approximately 20 months in oak
• Alcohol: 15% Vol.
• Style: Powerful, complex, fresh and elegant
• Serving Temperature: 16–18°C
• Contains Sulfites

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🍷 Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Intense, deep red with youthful violet tones
• Aroma: Liquorice, white pepper, ripe plum and compote-like fig with complex notes from oak ageing
• Palate: Full-bodied and generous yet fresh and balanced, with polished structure, good acidity and a long, persistent finish

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🍽 Food Pairing

• Roast lamb
• Grilled or roasted beef
• Venison and game
• Slow-cooked meat dishes
• Rich sauces and braised dishes
• Mature cheeses

These pairings follow the recommendations for the wine, which specifically include roasted or grilled red meats, large game, meat stews, complex sauces and mature cheeses.

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💎 Why We Love It

A serious Ribera del Duero with impressive depth, but the freshness keeps all that power beautifully under control. Rich, polished and complex — exactly the sort of Tempranillo to open for a special dinner.

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About the Producer

Casa Rojo began in 2009 with a very different idea of what a Spanish winery could be. Rather than starting with one estate and one region, the team set out to explore Spain through its native grape varieties, travelling between distinctive wine regions and creating individual wines that reflected each place.

That journey took Casa Rojo from the Atlantic to Ribera del Duero and the Mediterranean. Instead of forcing one house style onto every wine, the project focuses on the grape, landscape and personality of each region.

Alexander vs The Ham Factory represents Casa Rojo’s most ambitious expression of Ribera del Duero. The winery describes it today as the culmination of 20 years of work in the “land of fire and ice” and the Gran Reserva of the Casa Rojo family.

The project focuses on Tinto Fino grown in the high-altitude vineyards around Vadocondes and Aranda de Duero. At around 900 metres, the vineyards experience the demanding conditions that give Ribera del Duero its distinctive combination of concentration and freshness.

Alexander vs The Ham Factory brings that philosophy together in one bottle — ripe and powerful enough to deliver the intensity expected from Ribera del Duero, yet with the freshness, balance and elegance to make it much more than simply a big red wine.

Explore more in our Red wine collection.