2018 Vivaltus, Ribera del Duero, Spain

The 2018 Vivaltus is a Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero. Garnet-red in the glass. The nuanced nose presents sour cherry, fresh plum, and wild herbs framed by a cedar box. The palate is dry and nimble, with polished, reactive tannins that are young right now but will grow more velvety to complement the energy and juice. This is an enticingly indulgent wine for consumers looking for elegance that ends with a thyme and bay leaf flourish. The 2018 is a new approach for Ribera del Duero.

Drink 2023 - 2040

Hold 2 years or carafe for 4 hours.

Muscular, slate-hewn tannins have a rugged quality where nothing is overpowered by oak, yet they hug the palate, making their presence felt. Serious tannic architecture that softens through the mid-palate to show creamy raspberry and red cherry fruits, spiced aniseed, fennel and liquorice root, sinewy tannins, totally moreish.

Aged in 25% new oak, 10% amphora, and the rest in neutral barrels. Jean-Claude and Jeff Berrouet are consultants, along with winemaker Montxo Martinez and owners Marcos and Carlos Yllera. Old vine Tempranillo, including some dating back to pre-Phylloxera, sat at between 750m and 1000m altitude from a selection of their vines and those of local growers.

Drink 2023 - 2040

The vintage to be released is the 2018 Vivaltus, which feels very shy, primary and closed and is developing at a glacial pace. The wine is elegant, subtle and insinuating, yet to develop the perfume and exuberance the 2016 has in the nose. It has a leafy twist that gives it freshness, and it has velvety tannins, great balance and elegance. It has the ingredients and the balance between them to develop nicely in bottle, but seeing how the 2016 is singing today, it would be a shame to pull the cork from the 2018.

Drink 2024 - 2032