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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.

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.