Miros de Ribera, one of the wineries owned and operated by Bodegas Peñafiel, is a Ribera del Duero producer located in Valladolid, Spain, not far from the banks of the Duoro River. Located in the Golden Mile, a short distance west of the legendary Castle of Peñafiel, they are committed to bringing to the market an intimate interpretation of the art of crafting wines while embracing the grape varieties of the region, especially Tempranillo and Verdejo. They employ modern winemaking techniques while balancing them with a high respect for traditional winemaking. Yet unlike many traditional producers in the appellation, they use 100% new French oak for ageing their wines, which gives their wines a bit more polish and fresher style while conveying a less notable vanillin component. You may or may not find this attractive, but for those who love fresher wines, this is a bonus. For this feature I’ve reviewed three of the current releases.
2021 Bodegas Peñafiel, Miros de Ribera, Ribera del Duero, Roble (RT90+) Deeply endowed and darkly hued, notes of blackberry, damp forest floor after rain, and brambles with a hint of oak polish mark the fruity bouquet. The palate is slightly tart with sour red cherry fruit taking center stage balanced with vivid acidity and firm tannins on the finish, I would give this a few more years to come together in the bottle. Drink 2027-2034 Tasted September 2024
Miros de Ribera is a Ribera del Duero producer that balances modern winemaking with a respect for tradition. Unlike many traditional producers in the appellation, they use 100% new French oak for ageing their wines, which gives their wines a bit more polish and less notable vanillin. Their Roble is 100% estate grown Tinta Fina, aka Tempranillo, after hand harvesting the grapes are hand destemmed, fermented in stainless and then aged for up to 6 months in oak cask. The 2021 vintage saw just under that threshold. Grapes for this bottling come from various vineyards scattered around the DO.
2019 Bodegas Peñafiel, Miros de Ribera, Ribera del Duero, Crianza (RT93) Significantly darker than the Roble, the 2019 Crianza reveals thunderous notes of deeply ripe blackberry, Ariel Plum, dried lavender, fields of violets and hints of aromatic cedar. The palate is refined and focused, revealing terrific balance with its sumptuous fruit and generous acidity. The finish is defined by the firm tannins and is a bit of an over achiever for the price point. Excellent for mid-term cellaring and a perfect pairing with grilled steak, sausages, and pork recipes. Drink 2026-2034+ Tasted September 2024
Miros de Ribera is a Ribera del Duero producer that balances modern winemaking with a respect for tradition. Unlike many traditional producers in the appellation, they use 100% new French oak for ageing their wines, which gives their wines a bit more polish and less notable vanillin. Their Crianza is 100% estate grown Tinta Fina, aka Tempranillo, after hand harvesting the grapes are hand destemmed, fermented in stainless and then aged for a minimum of 18 months in oak cask. Grapes for this bottling come from estate vineyards at the relatively high elevation of 3,000 feet.
2018 Bodegas Peñafiel, Miros de Ribera, Ribera del Duero, Reserva (RT94) Boasting a deep ruby hue while almost impenetrable looking, this heavily weighted, masculine and darkly fruited hulk shows notes of black cherry compote, ripe spiced plum, bramble berries and damp forest floor. With time in your glass is shows a bit of dark chocolate on the finish. This is a classic Ribera del Duero red in its palate heft as well with its rich, ripe fruit, yet shows no oaky notes and finishes with soft acidity and suave tannins. Drink 2026-2036+ Tasted September 2024
Miros de Ribera is a Ribera del Duero producer that balances modern winemaking with a respect for tradition. Unlike many traditional producers in the appellation, they use 100% new French oak for ageing their wines, which gives their wines a bit more polish and less notable vanillin. Their Reserva is 100% estate grown Tinta Fina, aka Tempranillo, after hand harvesting the grapes are hand destemmed, fermented in stainless and then aged for a minimum of 24 months in oak cask. Grapes for this bottling come from vineyards at the relatively high elevation of 3,000 feet.