2009 Bodegas Valderiz Valderiz, Ribera del Duero

This is an exemplary RDD with an ideal mix of leather, black fruit, spice and toast aromas. The palate is free-flowing, with balance and power but also elegance. Flavors of oaky toast, mixed spices, licorice and molasses come with ribald berry and cassis, while the finish shows blackened toast, bitter chocolate, warmth and length. 

94 points wineenthusiast.com

Bodegas Valderiz Valderiz is one of those Ribera del Duero wines that quietly wins people over, then never lets go. Made entirely from Tempranillo grown around the village of Roa, this is Ribera with clarity, energy and a strong sense of place rather than brute force. The Valderiz family farm organically and work with old vines rooted in classic Ribera soils of limestone, clay and sand, sitting high on the Meseta where hot days are tempered by cool nights. That diurnal swing is everything here, locking in freshness while building depth and structure.

The winery itself is a modern chapter in a long family story. The Valderiz family has been growing grapes for generations, but it was brothers Esteban and Cristina Valderiz who pushed things forward, committing fully to estate fruit, organic viticulture and a house style that favours balance over excess. Fermentation is gentle, élevage is carefully judged in French oak, and the aim is always to let the vineyard speak before the barrel does.

In the glass, Valderiz Valderiz shows dark cherry, blackberry and plum, with layers of violets, cocoa, sweet spice and a faint earthy note that feels very Ribera. The palate is concentrated but poised, with fine tannins, fresh acidity and a long, savoury finish that hints at tobacco and graphite as it unwinds. It has the depth to satisfy serious Ribera fans but also the polish to win over anyone who thinks the region is all muscle and oak.

This is a wine that loves food. Think slow roasted lamb, grilled ribeye, charred chorizo or mushroom dishes with real umami depth. It also rewards patience, with the structure to cellar comfortably for a decade, gaining complexity and savoury detail with time.