Events

93 points James Suckling
A pretty nose of raspberries, cassis, fresh herbs, vanilla and sweet spices. It’s medium-bodied with round tannins. Creamy and fruity with chocolatey character on the mid-palate. Supple finish with excellent length. Tangy acidity. 100% tempranillo. Drink or hold

92 points Wine Advocate
Their young and fresh red 2018 Vina Alberdi, already a Reserva (Crianza in Spain), matured in oak barrel for two years in new barrels for the first year and in used barrels for the second year. During the elevage, they racked the wine manually from barrel to barrel four times. 2018 was a year of lower alcohol and more freshness in the wines, and they thought the wines were not designed for the long haul; so, they didn't produce any other wine, and so the only wine from 2018 IS VINA ALBERDI! Which means that all the Tempranillo grapes that were destined for 890, 904 and all the other wines went to this wine. They didn't use the Garnacha (which was sold in bulk). So, this is a super- Vina Alberdi, which shows more Crianza style in this cooler vintage but with very good depth and complexity, perhaps a more modern and fresher style. The wine has a seamless palate and a juicy texture, with more color than other vintages, more intensity, more fruit... It has grapes from very good vineyards and poor soils that were never destined for this wine. Highly recommendable and very versatile. It has potential to age.

91 points Wine Advocate
The fruit-driven, ripe and heady 2019 Vina Real Crianza was produced with 90% Tempranillo and the rest between Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo and Graciano from a vineyard in the Sonsierra zone (call it Rioja Alavesa if you like). It has 13.75% alcohol and a pH of 3.6 and is polished and easy to understand and like. It has plenty of tannins; it calls for food. The oak is soft and integrated.

93 points James Suckling
High-toned, floral aromas with orange peel and crushed blackberries. Medium-bodied with tight, chewy tannins that are polished and intense. Serious length and focus. Very drinkable now, but even better in 2024

91 points James Suckling
A fruity and plummy nose with lots of cherries, strawberries and some spices. Ripe, crunchy and fruit-expressive on the medium-bodied palate rounded by firm and nicely chewy tannins. Not complex, but has good length in the finish.

Winemaker Notes:
"Cherry colour with garnet rim, bright and intense. Red fruit expression, powerful, elegant, dry stone, coca bean, creamy oak, hints of spices. Powerful, flavourful, fruity, good acidity, smoky aftertaste, toasty, long finish."

In 1927, a group of 15 vine-growers banded together to create the Cooperativa Ribera del Duero (which translates as "Bank of the Duero River"). They were the first to make a wine called "Ribera del Duero", and as regional pioneers, eventually gave their name to the DO when it was created in 1982. Generations later, this cooperative is producing some of the most highly acclaimed wines in Spain under the name "Protos", meaning "First" in Greek.

In 2008, Protos reached another milestone with the completion of its state-of-the-art winery by renowned British architect Richard Rogers. A modern architectural gem, the winery is built into the mountain just beneath Penafiel Castle, at once complementing and contrasting the ancient landmark.

LOCATION OF VINEYARD
Protos has two wineries in the heart of the Ribera del Duero: Penafiel (near Valladolid) and Anguix (near Burgos). Their third winery, La Seca, is where they make Verdejo in the neighboring Rueda DO near Valladolid. Protos owns 100 hectares of vineyards around its wineries and has partnerships with several local growers who supply additional grapes.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY
Protos has the unique distinction of offering wines from two DOs, producing fresh, aromatic Verdejos from Rueda in addition to varietal Tempranillos from Ribera del Duero. Harvesting is entirely manual, and production is gathered in 20-kilogram boxes (just over 44 pounds) to aid in ensuring only completely healthy, whole grapes reach the fermentation tanks. Protos has also implemented an extensive R&D program to test the effects of different types of barrels on its wines.

In both DOs, Protos leverages its generations of winemaking experience, cutting-edge technology, and philosophy of "Quality above all" to produce exceptional wines.

Jose Serrano Carlos Guzman graduated from the L´Ecole Nationale Superieure Agronomique in Montpellier, France, with a degree in viticulture. Following graduation, he served as winemaker and technical director at several estates, including Bodega Cooperative de Morales de Toro (DO Toro), Bodegas Marques de Riscal (DO Rueda), and finally Bodegas Roqueta (DO Pla de Bages). He became Winemaker Director at Bodegas Protos in 1999.

93 points Vinous
An intense Sonsierra wine with a modernist touch, the 2020 Crianza is 100% Tempranillo sourced from San Vicente de la Sonsierra and Labastida, Rioja. Aged for 14 months in oak barrels, this purple wine presents aromas of violets and cherry against a balsamic and herbal backdrop. Dry, juicy and compact on the palate, the taut, fine-grained tannins lead to a lingering, mouthwatering finish. This is a well-crafted Rioja with an enticing style.

This has aromas of black fruit, blueberries, dried oysters, grilled herbs and mushrooms. Its full-bodied with firm, fine tannins. Savory and structured with excellent energy. Drink or hold.

90 pts Wine Spectator
A smooth texture masks good concentration in this juicy red, with a firm structure. Ripe cherry and plum flavors mingle with coffee and toasty notes, showing touches of herb and loamy earth.

Ruby red colour with medium depth rim. Intense, fresh aroma. Complex notes of plum, enveloped against a very enjoyable balsamic undertone. Delicate leather and spicy touches that recall a subtle toastiness enhance the wine's finesse and elegance. Its broad, well-rounded tannins and ripe fruit provide a balanced, full-bodied mouthfeel. A pleasant, luscious and tasty wine in mouth. - Winery

Organic

90 points Vinous
The 2022 Red Cosecha Senorio de P. Pecina is a blend of 95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano and 2% Garnacha sourced from the Sonsierra in Rioja Alta. The fragrant blackberry nose also features herbs and balsamic notes, accompanied by hints of menthol, cherry liqueur and a faintly ethereal touch. Dry and grippy on the palate, it flows with a cleansing, juicy finish. This is a new-wave Rioja red.

Pedro Pecina makes this young wine in a traditional unoaked style, although he destems the grapes before fermentation. It's a lot of wine for the price, made from Tempranillo with 5% Garnacha and Graciano and oozing plum and black cherry flavours. Wonderfully vibrant, sappy and alive.

Winemaker Notes:
Montecillo Crianza consistently wins ‘best value’ wine awards, around the world. Established in 1874, Bodegas Montecillo is one of the oldest wineries in the D.O. Rioja. Montecillo maintains its ancient underground ‘bodega’ where hand stacked bottles remain undisturbed until reaching optimal roundness. Montecillo wines are crafted to enjoy a long bottle life; they continue bottle ageing longer than those from other wineries in the region.

Elegant and attractive cherry red, with a good depth and intensity of color. Ripe fruit on the nose, particularly strawberry preserve. Subtle flavors interlaced with notes of sweet oak that are reminiscent of black liquorice. Broad entry in the mouth, rounded and with great presence. Th­is is when we really notice the high quality of the oak, thanks to tannins that are well integrated with the ripe fruit, making the wine silky with a long, pleasant aftertaste.

Ideal with grilled meats, charcuterie, vegetable and pulse based stews, tapas and canapes.

"Ruby red colour with a golden rim. Bright and deep. Complex aromas. There is a great balance between the fruit (cherries, black plums, ripe blackberries) and the clean nuances of the wood (clove, pepper, vanilla and coconut). The nose is further enriched by the aromas that develop during bottle ageing. Smooth and balanced on the palate with a full, elegant feel and a long, lingering finish." Winemaker notes

Aged for 18 months in American and French-oak casks (50%). Rounded off for 18 months in the bottle cellar.

92 points James Suckling
Quite an understated and traditional bottling of Rioja, showing red and black berries, hints of dried mushroom, peppercorns, dark earth and tobacco on the nose. Chewy and juicy on the medium-bodied palate, showing a fresh array of berries and plums. Drinkable now, but better from 2025.

93 points James Suckling
A classical, typical Rioja Alta red with elegant notes of vanilla, coconut, smoked spices and strawberries. Refined and suave, with fine tannins and a long, creamy finish. Juicy and elegant. Really approachable now, but give it two more years to get more mushroom complexity.

92 points Wine Advocate
The younger wine here is the 2020 Vi¤a Alberdi, a versatile version of the Haro reds. It was produced with Tempranillo fermented in stainless steel and matured in American oak barrels for two years (it's sold as Reserva in international markets and Crianza in Spain). It has 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.6 and five grams of acidity. It has a classical nose of ripe fruit, American oak and spices, the subtle notes of forest floor, still young. The palate is velvety and very balanced with polished tannins.

Organic / Biodynamic / Natural

92 points Wine Advocate
The 2021 Los Cantos de Torremilanos, a village red from Aranda del Duero, was produced with Tempranillo and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. It 2021, the longer cycle allowed for good ripeness and more development of aromas and flavors. It has 14.5% alcohol, keeping the freshness, and it's balanced and tasty, with very integrated oak after 16 months in 225-liter oak barrels. 113,000 bottles and 1,000 magnums produced. It was bottled in November 2023.

Finca Torremilanos continues with their environmentally minded approach. Not only are their 198 hectares certified organic and biodynamic, but they go beyond that and installed solar panels in 2023 that cover 40% of their electricity needs. Production is 500,000 bottles.

Organic / Biodynamic

Aged for 8 months in French oak barrels to bring out the tinta del país, this Valdehermoso is full of character, with intense aromas of well-ripened wild fruits and underlayers of spice and a certain smokiness. It is well-rounded on the mouth, with much of its body coming from smoothly presented tannins. It is very fruity with a hint of wood, and has a pleasant, lingering finish.

Organic

100% Cencibel, the local clone of Tempranillo. The alluring aromatics immediately envelop the senses, fresh red berries and subtle floral components waft from the glass. The dark core gives the impression of power and heft but the solid backbone of acidity provides lift, a weightlessness on the palate. Texturally lush with juicy blackberry and currant characteristics and a long finish that is dry. The balance from start to finish in this wine demonstrates the touch of a talented winemaker. This wine will surely earn a plethora of new fans.

Organically grown grapes in the village of Villarrobledo and El Provencio. 75+ year old vines (Castilla-La Mancha). Hand harvested. The grapes are destemmed, and then fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tank. Maceration lasts until the end of alcoholic fermentation, with regular wetting of the cap. The wine is then pressed into centenarian local clay tinajas (amphora). The wine ages in tinajas for 3 months followed by 2 months in used French barrels and then 6 months in bottle before release.