Finca Valdelroble 2021

A red wine that brings together power and freshness. Deep purple in the glass, full-bodied and juicy, well structured and carried by an acidity that is medium yet lively enough to create tension. Drinkability and depth in one wine.

The grapes come from a parcel at 930 metres altitude, on the Páramo, the high plateau above the Duero valley. Limestone soil is typical of this plot; the higher the vineyards in Ribera del Duero lie, the more limestone they generally contain. High-altitude sites above 900 metres were once considered frost-prone, and the grapes did not always ripen fully. Today, these cool sites rank among the finest and most sought-after in the region, as they create a contrast to the day's intense sunlight and yield fresher, more tense musts.

75% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) and 25% Merlot from organic viticulture. Fermentation takes place in concrete tank, after which the wine ages for 18 months in 500-litre oak barrels. The oak remains beautifully integrated; the Merlot component can be felt in the soft mouthfeel.

The bouquet offers blueberry and blackberry, along with an earthy minerality. On the palate, this clear impression continues: silky, velvety texture, fine tannins, dark fruit that feels both ripe and fresh. The finish is long and delicately spicy.

Bodegas Félix Callejo in Sotillo de la Ribera is among the pioneers of an elegant, terroir-driven Ribera del Duero. Four siblings run the estate, José Félix and Noelia in the cellar, Cristina and Beatriz in sales; the 55 hectares of vineyards lie between 830 and 930 metres. The estate has farmed organically since 2000, with cover crops between the rows, spontaneous fermentation, and early harvesting for tension rather than higher alcohol. In 2021, Tim Atkin named the estate's winemaker "Winemaker of the Year".