Introduction: Bodegas Protos is one of the founding pillars of the Ribera del Duero — not just one of its oldest producers, but the very cooperative that gave the denomination its name. Founded in 1927 by eleven childhood friends from Peñafiel who pooled their families' viticultural heritage and their love of the land into a shared enterprise, Protos — from the Greek for "first" — was the first winery established in the region and in 1982 ceded the "Ribera del Duero" name to the denomination's regulatory council. The winery's original cellars, carved beneath the medieval castle of Peñafiel, remain in use today, now supplemented by a striking modern winery designed by architect Richard Rogers. The Protos '27 is the house's personal tribute to those eleven visionaries — a single-vineyard, old-vine Tinta del País aged entirely in new French oak, carrying the same label as the original 1927 bottling.

Terroir: The grapes are drawn from old vineyards in the province of Burgos, planted over 50 years ago on the high-altitude plateau that defines the Ribera del Duero. The appellation sits at elevations averaging 2,500–2,900 feet above sea level, with an extreme continental climate — scorching summers and bitterly cold winters — and a diurnal temperature range of up to 40°F during the growing season. This dramatic swing between day and night temperatures is the key to Ribera del Duero's distinctive combination of dark, concentrated fruit and vivid natural acidity. The old vines' deep root systems tap into the region's clay-limestone subsoils, drawing complexity and mineral tension that younger plantings cannot replicate.

Appearance: Intense cherry red with vivid violet hues — deep, bright, and youthfully energetic in the glass.

Nose: Elegant and expressive, with ripe black fruits — raspberry, blackberry, and dark cherry — leading alongside subtle lactic and balsamic notes that add freshness and lift. Sweet spice, roasted coffee, and a fine toasted quality from the new French oak barrel fermentation weave through the fruit without overwhelming it. Complex and inviting throughout.

Palate: Full-bodied and richly concentrated, with excellent balance between ripe fruit and the wine's natural acidity. Flavors of blackberry, dark cherry, and candied black fruit are framed by smooth, round tannins that speak to both the old-vine source and the careful 20-day maceration with multiple daily pump-overs. The 16 months in new French oak — in which the malolactic fermentation also took place — integrates seamlessly, adding structure and spice without dominating the Tinta del País fruit.

Finish: Long and genuinely pleasurable, with dark fruit, sweet spice, and a mineral backbone that keeps the finish focused and dry. The tannins resolve gracefully and the finish remains fresh and mouthwatering well past the fruit.

Food Pairings:
🥩 Meat: Roasted Castilian lamb (lechazo asado), grilled beef tenderloin, or slow-braised oxtail stew
🥦 Vegetarian: Porcini mushroom and Manchego risotto, roasted peppers with olive oil, or a hearty lentil and root vegetable stew
🧀 Charcuterie Board: Aged Manchego, Iberian cured meats, smoked paprika marcona almonds, quince paste, and Medjool dates

Overall Impression: The 2022 Protos '27 is a classically structured Ribera del Duero that wears its heritage proudly — concentrated, fruit-forward, and built with enough tannic architecture and natural acidity to age comfortably for a decade. It is simultaneously an homage to the winery's founding and a statement of where Ribera del Duero's best Tinta del País can go when given old vines, new French oak, and the patience of 12 months in bottle before release. Serve at 63–64°F; drink now through 2030.

Alcohol by Volume (ABV %): 14.5%
Farming Practices: Conventional viticulture; old vineyards over 50 years old in Burgos Province; hand-harvested in 20kg boxes; cold chamber pre-fermentation preservation Producer Name: Bodegas Protos
Old World / New World: Old World
Country of Origin: Spain
Region: Ribera del Duero DO — Peñafiel, Valladolid / Burgos Province, Castilla y León Grape Varietals: Tinta del País (Tempranillo) 100%
Vintage: 2022
Wine Style: Dry Red — Full-bodied and richly structured, with a dark, concentrated old-vine Tempranillo profile shaped by high-altitude continental terroir and new French oak fermentation and aging. Classic in style, built for the table and medium-term cellaring. Winemaking Techniques: Hand-harvested in 20kg crates; cold pre-fermentative maceration; alcoholic fermentation with selected indigenous yeasts in stainless steel vats; 20-day maceration with multiple daily pump-overs; malolactic fermentation completed in new French oak barrels; aged 16 months in new French oak; 12 months additional bottle aging before release
Pack Size: 750ml
Container Style: Glass bottle
Closure Style: Verify on bottle