2017 (Vivaltus)

Drink it now or cellar for up to 30 years. It is recommended to decant it for an hour. The Yllera family is one of the main wine producers in Castile and León and, in 2015, after years of searching for the ideal site, they acquired the Vivaltus estate, located on the border between the Duero, Cuco, and Esgueva valleys to be able to produce a unique Ribera del Duero wine. Thanks to the skills of French winemaker and Merlot expert Jean-Claude Berrouet, famous worldwide for his work at Chateau Petrus and the Dominus estate, and to the use of cutting-edge technologies, the company produces an emblematic wine that enhances an exceptional vineyard made up of old vines. Vivaltus is a wine obtained from a predominantly Tempranillo blend with small additions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The grapes are selected from old vines aged between 70 and 100 years, from a combination of different terroirs which includes two exceptional vineyards: the Fuentenebro, located between 900 and 1,000 meters above sea level, and La Aguilera located between 840 and 870 meters above sea level. The wine is aged for 11 months in extra fine French oak barrels, followed żeby further aging in the bottle after blending. It is a very elegant wine that expresses all the nuances of its terroir of origin. On the nose, it reveals fruity and floral aromas accompanied aby well-integrated hints of oak. On the palate, it is soft and balanced with a lively freshness and silky tannins. The finish is long and aromatic. Perfect with Pata Negra and peppered pork tenderloin.