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Bid on this bottle of Vega Sicilia Ribera del Duero "Unico" Reserva Especial 1991, 1994, 1999 (2012 Release) (93RP). Wine Advocate: "I must confess that I am not such an ardent supported of the Reserva Especiale as others. It is not that I dislike the blend, but I find it less intellectual satisfying without a temporal "anchor" i.e. vintage. This 2012 release of Unico Reserva Especiale is a blend of 1991, 1994 and 1999. It has an immediately seductive bouquet of macerated cherries, lavender, marmalade and candied orange peel. It has wonderful definition and purity. The palate is medium-bodied with lush, rounded tannins on the entry. Vibrant dark berries, maraschino, orange peel and a dash of Chinese 5-spice all vie for attention, whilst the finish is elegant, sensual and beautifully defined. This is very alluring and for want of a better word?sexy. Drink 2013-2025+." (08/2012)

Aromas of elderberries, cedar and a touch of red berries. The palate is medium- to full-bodied and elegant, with polished, fine-grained tannins and a defined finish. Drink or hold. (JGA)

The bottled 2023 PSI is faithful to the final blend I tasted last year before the wine was bottled. It's juicy, ripe and approachable, a little showier and headier, not quite reaching 14% alcohol but almost. This year, it has some 10% Garnacha in the bottled blend, some of it mixed with Tempranillo and some of it on its own. They are planting more Garnacha for the future. It feels like a very classical old-time Ribera del Duero wine, with elegant rusticity that I love. It's perfumed and floral with notes of decayed flowers. Twenty percent of the wine matured in barrels while the rest matured in oak vats, for some 14 months. The tannins are polished, and it feels like the time in bottle has done it good; the PSI tannins usually need time. They are resolved quite quickly, but the wine does need a bit of time. (LG)

Sourced from different vineyards across Ribera del Duero, the 2023 Tempranillo was aged for up to 16 months in barrels, 60% American oak and the remainder French, with one-third new. Fine oak frames a fruit profile that moves between freshness and liqueur-like ripeness, joined by flowers, wild herbs and a subtle toasted note. The palate tells a different story: agile and silky, with delicate tannins, a touch of chalky grip and juicy freshness that adds dimension. In a house style often shaped by richness and élevage, the 2023 vintage brings unusual energy and precision. Tempranillo remains a benchmark of modern Ribera. (JH)

The 2022 Alión comes from a year they considered to be a challenge; it was warm and dry and ripeness didn't follow the usual pattern: late vineyards ripened earlier and early vineyards took longer this year. Their obsession was to keep the freshness in the wine, so they did a softer vinification and employed more careful use of oak, using larger volumes and other materials like concrete to tame a powerful and solar vintage. The nose is serious and even has some austerity. The wine is obviously juicier and rounder, with 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.89 and 4.58 grams of acidity, but it has very good balance overall. The tannins are round, polished and slightly dustier than other vintages, and the wine has a tender mouthfeel. (LG)

Plum ruby red, nuanced and subtle with an emphasis on fragrance and lift, violet, peony, rose, finessed tannins, poise and intensity, raspberry and redcurrant fruit. Savoury, subtle, joyful. I love seeing what Telmo Rodriguez can do in Ribero del Duero, and so will you. He's been producing this wine since 1998, with the grapes from the northern area of Sotillo de la Ribera down to Pardilla in the south, 11 vineyards covering 21.5ha across five different villages. Native yeast fermentation.

Dark and brambly aromas with hints of violet leaf, blackberry, clove and basalt. The youthful palate is taut with powerful, ripe tannins. An excellent release. *Silver Medal - 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards*

Very mineral nose, showing crunchy blue fruits, crushed stones and a touch of violets. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, with focused, delineated tannins, tight fruit and a firm finish. Great expression from this singular region. Drink now or hold. (JGA)

Aromas of hazelnuts, chocolate, pine cones and fresh blackberries follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate with firm, tight-grained tannins and a long, firm finish. The woody tannins will need time to integrate and soften. (ZS)

Bid on this magnum of 2004 Alión (Vega Sicilia) Ribera del Duero (1.5L).

The entry-point red from this La Rioja Alta-owned bodega in Anguix uses Tempranillograpes from three different parcels on the estate - Fuentecojo, La Cueva and Otero Joven.Perfumed and elegant for a wine with 15% alcohol, it has coffee bean-scented 75% newFrench oak, plenty of structure and body, layers of plum, fig and blackberry and a chalkyundertone.

The 2022 Albillo Mayor hails from the Atauta Valley in Soria, Ribera del Duero, specifically from a vineyard planted in the late 19th century. Yellow with a golden sheen. The oxidative, fruity nose offers peach, acacia, fennel, aniseed and stewed pear notes. Dry and ample with a chalky texture and tart acidity, the finish is vibrant, satisfyingly lengthy and complex. This is a delicious white from Ribera del Duero. (JH)

Gorgeous aromatics, fresh and vibrant with pure floral character. Juicy on the palate, very fresh with delicious blueberry and raspberry fruit. *2024 Decanter World Wine Awards*

A plush and fabulous expression of variety and provenance with well-integrated alcohol, tannin and acidity. Will continue for several years and mellow. Be warned – one glass will be quickly followed by the next. *Gold Medal - 2021 Decanter World Wine Awards*

95+ points. The 2023 Flor de Pingus spent eight months in oak barrels, and this year they introduced six 2,000-liter oak vats for the élevage of part of the wine, which represents around 15% of the volume. It matured in the oak vats for 12 months (the élevage was a little shorter in 2023 for all the wines). Peter considers this his most personal project because he had the chance to select the vineyards. In the Pingus wine, the place is very strong, so he doesn't have to do much. But Flor had an evolution: the massal selection is aromatic and pretty and chosen to make a more expressive wine, and adding Garnacha made it quite unique. For him, 2023 is a good interpretation of the year in La Horra, with purity, good definition and notes of cherries; it's elegant and not heavy. It has the texture of Tempranillo, keeping the elegance. It was a very dry year, and despite the extreme year, the way they work in the vineyard—organically and biodynamically—keeps the wine fresh; the tannins are not harsh, and it's juicy and has a clean, fresh and long finish. They avoided the risk of too much concentration in 2023. It's a wine of tension. (LG)

The unbottled 2024 Antídoto is pure Tinto Fino (they used the grapes from the white vines for the rosé) that fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured for nine months in 600-liter French oak barrels, 25% of them new. It packs a punch at 14.7% alcohol and is juicy and full-bodied but balanced; they did a very soft vinification, and it's a more fragile vintage. It's very primary, with some toasted notes that suggest waiting a bit more. It still has grip and some tannins but feels more fine-boned. (LG)

Bid on this bottle of 1962 Vega Sicilia "Unico" Ribera del Duero (100RP, 97JS, 96VN, 95DC). Wine Advocate: "The 1962 Vega Sicilia possesses quite astonishing purity on the nose with candied dark cherry fruit, eucalyptus, kirsch and a touch of cinnamon. This is what you might describe as a -perfect bouquet-. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannin, seamless and satin-like in texture: an Unico that is shimmering with untrammeled greatness. Youthful, vivacious and utterly compelling, this is a profound wine that even after four decades is surfeit with precocity. Undoubtedly, this must be one of the greatest Spanish wines to have graced this planet. 87, 600 bottles produced. Drink now-2020+ Tasted January 2012. (NM)" (08/2012)

Bid on this 2-bottle tasting lot; including 1-bottle of 2010 Dominio de Pingus "Flor de Pingus" Ribera del Duero (1.5L) (94JS, 94ST, 92RP, 91WS) and 1-bottle of 2011 Dominio de Pingus "Flor de Pingus" Ribera del Duero (1.5L) (93ST, 91RP). Of the 2010 Dominio de Pingus "Flor de Pingus" Ribera del Duero (1.5L), James Suckling writes: "This is very firm and fresh with mineral, stone and violet. Dark fruits too. Full body, silky tannins and a long and flavorful finish. " (07/2015)

A deep, complex nose, led by black cherry liqueur and chocolate with hints of coffee beans. Full and rich, but able to balance intense fruit with deft use of oak. Still so young and vibrant, there's great potential to evolve in bottle and gain complexity. (AA)

The eponymous 2022 Dominio de Atauta wants to showcase the character of the valley, selecting the best terroirs, mostly on clay soils. 2022 was super dry and a little warmer than average; but a very dry end of the season made things very challenging, and for the first time ever, they started harvesting in September. The wines are riper and more opulent, less vertical than in cooler years. It has a clean and attractive nose, with some restraint and elegance. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins. (LG)

The 2022 Hacienda Monasterio is a blend of 86% Tinto Fino, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Malbec. They only got 170 liters of rain and suffered five heat waves—what happens in Ribera is accentuated at the Monasterio estate—but they were able to manage it quite well. Since 2018, they have been harvesting earlier, in early September, because they have managed to achieve ripeness a little earlier, and it shows in the wine, which has 14.5% alcohol on the label (perhaps a little lower in the real analysis, but they need to round up to half a degree on the labels). The skins were thick, so the vinification was softer to avoid too much extraction. They also did a longer aging in barrel; it's usually 15 to 17 months, depending on the lot, but this year, the average was 17 months and it helped. In contrast, they did a shorter élevage in 2023, because it was what the wine called for. The nose is harmonious and shows no heat or excess ripeness (or oak), and the palate is silky with surprisingly ripe and round tannins, escaping the excess grip I found in many 2022s in the zone. (LG)

Bodegas Torremorón is located in Ribera del Duero, in the tiny hamlet of Quintanamanvirgo, a village of fewer than 100 residents where little has changed over time. The name Torremorón refers to the ancient underground cellars carved deep into the limestone beneath the town, used for centuries to store and age local wine. Founded in 1957 by a group of growers, the winery remains the center of village life today: about 85 residents work at the bodega, while the rest run the bar across the square. The vineyards surrounding Quintanamanvirgo form the backbone of Torremorón. Planted between 1914 and 1934, these bush-trained Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) vines produce small, concentrated berries that offer both depth and complexity. The site sits at almost 3000 feet above sea level in a high-desert climate known for dramatic diurnal temperature shifts, a key factor in preserving acidity, aromatics, and structure. Torremorón’s philosophy is simple: let the raw material speak. The combination of high elevation, limestone soils, and strong day–night temperature swings preserves freshness and clarity. Vinification is carried out entirely in stainless steel to maintain purity and avoid oak influence. Torremorón is crafted with a clear purpose—to showcase the unadorned purity of old-vine Tempranillo, without oak or stylistic embellishment.

Aroms of plush dark chocolate, fresh blackberries and touches of graphite, roasted red peppers, fine sweet spices and minerals. Juicy and nicely chewy, with a medium to full body and a long finish. Tightly wound tannins, but there is no hint of over-extraction. 100% tempranillo (ZS)

Dark fruit, spices and thyme with stony austerity. Medium- to full-bodied, leaning toward medium. Incisive and fresh. Vibrant and cohesive with an angular palate and very focused, chalky tannins. (JGA)

A little reserved at this early stage, you can feel the hew and heft of the tannins keeping everything in check. There is a sense of precision and crafted architecture, concentrated but with the lightest of touches. Energy and power, dark black fruits, exceptional quality. 21.5ha across eleven vineyards, winemakers Telmo Rodriguez and Pablo Eguzkiza. Harvest September 22 to October 6 after an exceptionally dry season, native yeast fermentation in oak vats and stainless steel tanks.

This wine has a nose of pomegranate, cranberry, clementine and lemon thyme. A note of rose petal underlies flavors of cherry pie, anisette and orange zest that are set into a bed of wooly tannins that stick around for a while. *Wine Enthusiast Best Buy* (MD)

Jesús Sastre describes this stylish Crianza as "the motor of the bodega". Stylishly aged in a combination of French and 30% American oak, this has impressive old-vine concentration, plenty of colour, intensity and presence, fleshy tannins, fig and blackberry fruit and the acidity that's a feature of many 2021 Ribera reds.

Lard and grilled meats as well as new leather and spiced blackberries. Tightly wound and almost full-bodied with fine-grained tannins and a long, structured finish. Well-made. (ZS)

Bid on this 3-bottle lot of 1996 Bodegas Mauro "Vendimia Seleccionada" Castilla y León (93ST, 92JD, 90RP, 90WS). Int'l Wine Cellar: "Medium ruby. Brooding aromas of cassis, black raspberry, tar and menthol. Sweet, dense and impressively deep on the palate; urgent flavors of blueberry, blackberry, licorice and menthol. Powerfully structured for aging. Finishes with major, dusty tannins and superb length. (ST)" (11/2001)

Bid on this bottle of 2004 Emilio Moro "Malleolus de Sanchomartín" Ribera del Duero (97WS, 96RP, 94VN, 92W&S). Wine Spectator: "As if chiseled from granite, this massively structured red is powerful and unyielding. But beneath the tannins are rich, expressive flavors of blackberry, licorice, tobacco, espresso and mineral, and even floral and citrus notes. Excellent balance and a clean finish leave the wine in elegant focus. (TM)" (11/2007)

Peter Sisseck admits that he was worried about the 2023 vintage in La Horra, but is very happy with the finished wine. Combining grapes from five parcels - Barroso, El Castillo, El Pino, Fuentenarro and Fuentes - totalling 49 hectares, Flor is what he calls "our village wine", showing impressive finesse in a hot growing season, succulent tannins, flavours of blackberry, red cherry and ginger spice and a violet top note.

The 2014 Único is the second wine in a row from a cooler, so-called Atlantic year, although the harvest was considerably less wet than 2013. Sourced from the best 40 hectares on the Vega Sicilia estate, covering a total of 30 parcels, this is a stunningly floral, complete, layered Tinto Fino with lily, wild rose and mountain herb aromas, subtle French and 25% American oak, some added backbone from 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a palate of bramble, black cherry, Asian spices and tobacco embellished and freshened by a bright, chalky finish.

The vintage released in 2025 is the 2021 Alión, a year to remember, one of the best in recent times. 2021 was relaxed and textbook in all senses, with snow in the beginning of the year, a mild spring disturbed only by frost in Pesquera that didn't affect other villages and a relatively cool summer that slowed things down, and the grapes ripened to perfection without rain after September. They used grapes from 13 different villages throughout the Ribera del Duero, from a total of 130 hectares. The grapes were cooled down for 24 hours, and once destemmed, they were put in the oak and stainless steel vats, where they underwent a five-day cold soak and then native fermentation through a "pied de cuve." The wine has 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.81 and 4.8 grams of acidity (tartaric). It's very fresh and fruit-driven, with the balance and elegance of the cooler year, and it's a little austere, with very elegant and polished tannins and a different quality, when the grapes ripen slowly. (LG)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2014 Vega Sicilia "Valbuena 5º Año" Ribera del Duero (96JS, 96RP, 96VN, 94DC, 94JD, 93WS). Vinous: "Vivid ruby. A highly perfumed, complex bouquet displays smoke-accented cherry and black currant liqueur, vanilla, pipe tobacco and incense qualities, along with exotic spice and mineral overtones. Sweet and deeply concentrated, offering expansive dark fruit, floral pastille, chewing tobacco and spicecake flavors that become livelier and pick up a hint of cola with aeration. Seamless, focused and lively for its lushness, finishing very long and sweet, with building florality and fine-grained tannins lending gentle grip. (JR)" (02/2021)

This has a polished and complex nose of poached plums, dark cherries, tea leaves, graphite, milk chocolate and a touch of caramel. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm yet creamy tannins. Caressing, seductive and ripe, but with underlying freshness. 97% tempranillo and 3% cabernet sauvignon. Tasted from magnum. The normal bottle will be released 2023 and the magnum in 2025. Try after 2023.

Very ripe with plum, spice and dried-flower aromas, as well as chocolate, fresh flowers and sandalwood. Coffee and hints of meat. Sort of decadent. Full-bodied with round, creamy tannins and an intense, juicy feel. Unique cedar and walnut undertones. So delicious now, but one for the future, too. (JS)