Ribera del Duero: Panel tasting results

The Tinto Fino selected for this is from some of the estate’s oldest vines grown at altitude, about 800m, on particularly poor and stony soils. Indigenous yeasts are used in fermentation which takes place in stainless steel tanks. The wine spends 18 months in new French oak which frames this elegant and complex wine. Beth Willard: Lifted, perfumed rose floral notes with delicate raspberry and red berries. The elegant palate has intensity. David Williams: Polished and fine, with high tones: keenness and grip colliding to mouthwatering effect. A nice burst of rosehippy clarity on a clean and cleansing finish. Diana Rollan: Fragrant, with plum, cherry compote, violets, cocoa and dried herbs. Elegant, lifted and complex, round silky tannins, mouthwatering and textured style, super-enjoyable.

Aalto was established in 1999 by Mariano Garcia, winemaker for 30 years at Vega Sicilia. His philosophy was minimal intervention and maximum expression of the vineyard. For this wine, grapes are harvested from vines up to 80 years old, all organically farmed, from nine villages, low yields giving intensity and concentration. Seventeen months in French and American oak ensure a wine for the long haul. Beth Willard: Seductively fruity nose with flinty, stony character, even a touch of blood orange. Deep and concentrated with a lot of oak and acidity, but in balance. David Williams: Prominent oak, but high quality and integrated with the high-toned, ripe fruit. Savoury and engaging with satisfying richness and texture, with a long finish. Diana Rollan: Elegant and balanced with red berry notes of cranberry and raspberry, a touch of vanilla and dark chocolate. An appealing, polished style that keeps on giving: superb.

Classic Ribera from a producer in one of the region’s wildest and most rugged areas, the valley of Atauta. The bodega works with pre-phylloxera vines, 130-190 years old. These vineyards are located at 940m-1,010m, resulting in fresh acidity and elegance. To balance the wine’s lively backbone, it is fermented in either large wooden vats or concrete, then aged for 14 months in French oak. Beth Willard: A really complete wine with beautiful fruit, precision and great balance. The oak is fine and lightly toasted so doesn’t dominate the fruit. Tannins are supple, the palate velvety. David Williams: Keen and succulent: mulberry and cherry with a little bittersweet hit of blood orange and citrus pith. Complexity, and substance. Diana Rollan: Blackcurrant, liquorice, violets and plum compote. Muscular and concentrated with good balanced acidity and a savoury, herbal character.

Viña Mayor, on Ribera del Duero’s ‘Golden Mile’, is part of the commercial group which includes the historic Rioja bodega Cosme Palacios. With a focus on sustainability – it is the first winery in Ribera certified Wineries for Climate Protection – the Secreto wines are born from high-altitude vineyards, grapes for this wine coming from vines grown at 900m, more than 60 years of age, on sandy, clay and chalky soils. Beth Willard: A very fresh and elegant example of Ribera. Aromas of redcurrant, tannins well managed, ripe and soft. Crisp and lively finish, great energy. David Williams: Bright and lifted: cherry and raspberry, dark plum. Succulent, and an almost airy palate with incisive acidity and fine, grippy tannin. An elegant take. Diana Rollan: This has an intense floral character, red berries, raspberry and cranberry with a herbal touch. Vibrant and elegant with silky tannins. Very enjoyable.

A wonderful expression of Marta Maté’s 100-year-old vines in Tubilla del Lago, the northernmost town of Ribera del Duero, as well as vineyards in Gumiel del Mercado at 930m. This is the most extreme growing region in the DO, within the province of Burgos. The winery follows biodynamic principles in the vineyards and then ferments in concrete with indigenous yeasts to preserve fruit integrity. The wine spends 14 months in French oak, with a further 6-12 months in concrete. Beth Willard: Really intense dark berry fruit with a touch of liquorice. Rosemary and fennel herb notes add complexity to the palate. Serious structure and oak framing really hold the wine together. David Williams: Intense, deep, very dark fruit but with that lovely Ribera contrast of dark fruit and bright acidity: almost rosehip-like. Appetisingly mouthwatering, with tannins that are grippy but ripe and polished. Diana Rollan: A very appealing nose shows notes of blueberries, Morello cherry, tea leaf, cedar wood and dried herbs. Rich and powerful but balanced, with mouthwatering acidity inviting you to keep drinking. Classic style.

This Tempranillo comes from vines grown at above 1,000m, specially selected for this cuvée. With vineyards around the towns of Manzanillo, Torre de Peñafiel and Fuentenebro, the producer is focused on expressing the character of each parcel and takes a lot of care in selecting only the best grapes in the vineyards, then a second selection in the winery. Fermented at low temperatures to maintain freshness, this polished wine then spends 12 months in 500L French and Hungarian oak. Beth Willard: Red berry fruit, very ripe and juicy. Some herbal notes on the nose and well integrated oak on the palate. Very elegant and somewhat restrained. Beautiful red fruits on the finish. David Williams: A touch of vanilla layered onto strawberry and mulberry both baked and fresh. Textured but ripe tannins build, keen acidity coming through to carry a long, savoury and fruit-filled finish. Vibrantly fruity. Diana Rollan: Rounded elegance of cedar wood, blackcurrant, vanilla, pepper and dark chocolate. Balanced, with refreshing acidity, subtle polished tannins and a round silky finish. Superb.

Aromatic with notes of blackcurrant, violets, tobacco leaf and orange peel. Gently maturing but still vibrant and fresh. Firm, savoury and sweet with integrated tannin and mouthwatering acidity. Persistent cherries and red fruit.

Perfumed and vibrant notes of red berries, raspberry, cedar wood and dried herbs. Restrained, elegant with fruity, silky tannins and a touch of oak. Vibrant acidity. Textured and well-balanced with a spicy, tapered finish.

The child of an irregular vintage, with both cold and hot spells, this has an elegant, mineral tannic framework that lends it verticality and poise throughout. The crunchy red and blue fruit is cloaked in salty liquorice, cardamom, nutmeg and clove, with sage and tarragon playing in the background. Wet stone freshness and a subtle smokey layer of tobacco add both depth and lift. Great focus and pleasantly chalky texture.

Blackcurrant, blueberries, tobacco leaf, cocoa, mocha and cola nut. Mineral and stony with grippy, ripe tannins and refreshing acidity. An intense wine that offers immediate pleasure as well as ageing potential.

Intense aromas of roasted coffee, vanilla and a touch of cedar wood and cigar. Ripe blackberry and a hint of spice with layers of jammy red fruit and cinnamon. Bright and savoury with polished and textured tannins.

Fragrant red and black fruit with notes of blueberry compote, cherry and liquorice. Concentrated fruit, fresh and vibrant acidity. The graphite quality from the oak melds with ripe tannins, leading to a savoury, herbal, toasty finish.

Violets, blackberry, kirsch, cocoa, vanilla and graphite. Weighty and mouthfilling. A brown sugar-like texture, yet dry and compelling, with dark and fleshy fruit. Crunchy, vibrant with ripe tannins and a complex finish.

Elegant with perfumed violets and blueberries, graphite and a touch of vanilla. A hint of strawberry and mulberry; rendered tannins. Balanced with a slightly meaty character and quality, toasty oak. Elegant spice, and rounded finish.

Attractive, elegant and perfumed on the nose. Dark berries, chocolate, cedar, white and black pepper. Juicy, plush and rich with ripe, polished and chalky tannins. Savoury and spicy on the finish. Very enjoyable.

Plum, raspberry, and blueberry fruit with hints of cedar wood and baking spices. Textured and well-balanced with silky, ripe tannins and a savoury oak character. Campari bitterness on the finish.

Hedgerow berry fruit with blood orange citrus, chocolate, coffee bean and floral notes. Intense with a bittersweet character. Meaty with rounded, silky and polished tannins. Bright, mouthwateringly fresh finish.

Dark cherry, raspberry, liquorice, graphite and leather. Bright with a steely backbone, fresh acidity and delicious chocolate notes. A burst of red-cherry acidity and chewy dark currant skin-tannin; long, oaky finish.

Bramble fruit, liquorice and sweet spice. Creamy, sumptuous fruit, like blackberry and mulberry infused with cinnamon. Mature, balanced tannins with youthful freshness and lively acidity. Spicy with a fruit-filled and oaky finish.

Opulent and jammy with notes of blueberries, plum, cassis, liquorice and mocha. Well-balanced with a tart, blood orange pithiness. Ripe, round and lifted with delicate tannins and an elegant freshness.

Earthy, underbrush aromas with hints of fig, raspberry compote, cherry and herbal overtones. Bursting with red plum, spice and a mouthwatering layer of sour fruit. Peppery tannins and a toasty, warming finish.

Classically jammy with dark fruit with notes of red berries, herbs, wildflowers and a touch of vanilla. Laced with savoury, grippy tannins, refreshing acidity and an appealing, spicy finish.

Refined and red-fruited nose with notes of leather, orange peel, rosemary and cocoa. Showing age development, with delicate cherry and mulberry fruit. Fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity. Long with an earthy finish.

Intense and perfumed, with notes of red berries, dried herbs, tobacco and vanilla. Savoury cherry fruit gives way to grippy, plentiful tannins with an oaky texture and a freshly acidic backbone. Intense and sinewy.

Opulent yet elegant jammy, dark fruit aromas. Plum compote, sour cherry, liquorice and cocoa, with a fruity and fresh core. Intense, toasty and herbal character, with a warm finish.

Exuberant blueberry, blackberry, damsons, liquorice and mocha aromas. Juicy with forceful intensity, sweetness and toasty oak. Balanced acidity gives way to an attractively dry and ripe finish.