2016 Vivaltus Magnum, Ribera del Duero DO

The eponymous 2016 Vivaltus was really impressive. I was already amazed at the unbottled sample, and the finished wine seems even better! It's a blend of Tempranillo with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, mostly from old vines. It fermented in stainless steel with neutral yeasts and aged for around 12 months in French barriques, 20% of them new. But there's no oak in the nose, which is ethereal and perfumed, elegant and nuanced, with notes of violets, wild berries and herbs. The palate shows ultra-refined tannins and comes through as beautifully textured, with a fine, chalky minerality, very good precision, clean and focused flavors and a long, tasty finish. This is really amazing. 16,000 bottles were filled in July 2018. “One of the most exciting new projects there. This project is under the guidance of world-famous winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet of Petrus fame, who has opened their eyes to completely new (or should I say old…) ways of working to produce wines with finesse and elegance, changing the way they work. In their first year, 2016, they have produced one of the most exciting new Ribera del Duero wines in recent times.” The Wine Advocate – Issue 238 August 2018 – Luis Gutiérrez robertparker.co

What a debut! Even given the distinguished track record of Bordeaux-based consultant Jean-Claude Berrouet, this is a remarkable wine that is part of a welcome new trend in Ribera del Duero. Elegant and refreshing, it has very fine tannins, floral top notes, subtle oak and just a hint of leafiness from 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Releasing the wine through the Place de Bordeaux with five years of age gives you some idea of the ambition that owner Yllera has for this superb cuvée.