Bodegas Protos, Ribera del Duero, Reserva, 2020

Hailing from the renowned Ribera del Duero region, Protos Reserva is a distinguished red wine crafted by Bodegas Protos. Founded in 1927 in the town of Peñafiel, Valladolid, the estate rightfully takes its name from the Greek word for "first," honoring its legacy as the pioneering winery of the region. The wine's exceptional character is forged by a Mediterranean climate with strong continental influences. Here, low rainfall, harsh winters, and dramatic temperature shifts between day and night ensure a slow, deliberate ripening of the grapes. Crafted exclusively from Tinta del País (Tempranillo) vines perched at altitudes of 750 to 900 meters, the grapes are carefully hand-harvested in small 20kg boxes. To complete its journey, the wine undergoes a meticulous aging process: resting for at least 18 months in French and American oak barrels, followed by a minimum of 24 months refining in the bottle before release.