Under $20

94 points James Suckling
Refined nose with peppery and earthy undertones to the savory berry fruit, subtle vanilla and orange. Minerals as well. This is firm and quite long on the palate, with medium body and a traditional, nicely rustic twist at the end. Really poised and persistent, showing precision and finesse. One of the best Reserva expressions lately from Marques de Riscal? A joy to drink now, but will hold well over the next 10 years.

Tempranillo sourced from a vineyard planted in 1970 in Rioja Alavesa. This dark purple wine unfurls with aromas of dried plums and balsamic over an oaky layer. Dry and rich on the palate, the firm tannins are enlivened by an ethereal mouthfeel—a warm, flavorful and overwhelming wine.

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 Jeb Dunnuck
A village wine sourced from estate sites in San Vicente de la Sonsierra and Labastida, the 2021 Crianza is all Tempranillo grown in an extreme diversity of soils. Freshness and finesse are the markers of the area, and both are well represented here. Medium-bodied power supports generous, velvety layers of ripe raspberry complemented by an undercurrent of chocolate and wood spice. Pretty, there’s a hint of saline and leather that lead to a lengthy finish. This should drink well over the next decade.

92 points Wine Advocate
The pure Tempranillo 2021 Crianza, a modern classical red from a great year, shows the power, elegance and freshness of the year, with pristine fruit and very integrated oak after it spent 14 years in barrel, some of them American. It has tension and the elegant tannins from the year. It's approachable and will also be long lived. This is one of the finest years for this red that represents very good value. 400,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2024.

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

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.

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.

Cherry, leafy and vanilla notes mingle in this juicy red. Light tannins and lively acidity impart a gentle balance. Not muscular but harmonious. Drink now through 2023. 50,000 cases imported.

"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.

Organic

Marques de Riscal's Crianza is fresh, fruity wine with a lovely attack, reminiscent of red fruit mingled with the coconut and vanilla aromas from the oak. Full and supple with a long finish. A wine with character which showcases the quality of the grapes used to make it.

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.

91 points Wine Advocate
The 2022 Viña Real Crianza was produced with 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano that fermented destemmed in stainless steel and matured in French and American oak barrels for 13 to 14 months. It achieved 13.7% alcohol, has a pH of 3.55 and 5.4 grams of acidity. This is a champion in drinkability, with enough complexity and depth, and is balanced and polished. It's very enjoyable, quite fruit-driven and a bit vinous. A surprise for 2022. 650,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2025.

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.

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.

91 points Jeb Dunnuck
The 2022 Selvanevada Tinto is terrific, with a ripe, medium to full-bodied, concentrated style revealing a darker core of fruits, some leafy herbs, graphite, and spicy notes, solid mid-palate depth, and ripe, building tannins. A serious wine, it will evolve for a decade. Maturity: 2024 - 2034.

91 points Vinous
The 2022 Tinto Selvanevada is 75% Tempranillo, 19% Graciano, 3% Garnacha and 3% Mazuelo from the Ebro riverbank vineyard in Laserna, Laguardia, Rioja Alavesa. Aged for seven months in oak barrels, this garnet red wine features blackberry and elder along with wild herbs and a liqueur-like touch. Dry and grippy on the palate, it is intense with reactive tannins, lingering long on its fruit notes. This is a rich wine to hold for a couple of years.

91 points Wine Spectator
This fluid red offers a pleasingly plump core of chopped black plum and raspberry flavors reined in by a sinewy frame of fine-grained tannins. Fragrant hints of lavender, rooibos tea leaf, vanilla and dusty spices lace the fruit profile and linger on the finish. Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha. Drink now through 2029.

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.

93 points James Suckling
Showing plenty of cherries and plums, this is solid and crunchy with a touch of white pepper and potpourri. Fine tannins on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Juicy, pristine and pure with a medium-long finish full of fruit. A blend of tempranillo and graciano. Drink from 2026

85% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano
For 12 months, it was aged in 500-liter oak barrels, although 10% of the volume was preserved in concrete.

Organic / Biodynamic

The oak is very integrated and neatly folded into the fruit. A nicely balanced wine which is very fruit driven with chalky fine-grained tannins. The palate is medium to full-bodied with notes of ripe berries and herbs with a spicy twist.

Dominio de Eguren leases vineyards and controls viticulture under long term contracts in D.O. Manchuela. This fruit is blended with estate grown young vineyards from Rioja & Toro. 100% Tempranillo fermented in stainless steal and aged for six months in used French and American oak barrique.

Vivid ruby. Ripe red and blue fruits and a suggestion of pungent flowers on the highly perfumed nose. Silky, seamless and focused on the palate, showing energetic lift and solid punch to the gently sweet blueberry and raspberry flavors. Supple, even tannins build slowly on the finish, which hangs on with strong, spice-tinged persistence.