Winemaker Notes
Protos 9 Meses Tempranillo, a red wine that embodies all the character of the Tempranillo grape.
Bright cherry color with purple rim. Fresh on the nose, where black and red berries blend together with spicy, slight toasted notes and cocoa from the barrel ageing. Very smooth and silky feel, balanced and soft tannins.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Some sweet spices and subtle coffee aromas on top of the rich cherry and blackberry fruit. Structured and chalky, with a medium to full body and a fresh, medium finish. Good fruit with sharp, vibrating tannins. A structured and balanced Ribera del Duero. Tempranillo. From organically grown grapes.
-
Vinous
The 2022 Tempranillo 9 Meses Protos is made from 100% organically grown fruit in Ribera del Duero and was aged in American and French oak. Ripe fruit, a balsamic note and medium oak influence define the nose. The palate shows new tannins and lightly herbal undertones, marking a warm vintage.
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2022 Protos 9 Meses is a sturdy Tempranillo. This wine exhibits aromas and flavors of fragrant spices, dried blackberries, and hints of sandalwood. Pair it with roast turkey topped with crisp bacon. (Tasted: February 22, 2025, San Francisco, CA)
Notoriously food-friendly, long-lasting and Spain’s most widely planted grape, Tempranillo is the star variety of red wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. The Rioja terms Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva indicate both barrel and bottle time before release. Traditionally blended in Rioja with Garnacha, plus a bit of Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano, the Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero typically stands alone. Somm Secret—Tempranillo claims many different names depending on location. In Penedès, it is called Ull de Llebre and in Valdepeñas, goes by Cencibel. Known as Tinta Roriz in Portugal, Tempranillo plays an important role in Port wine.
Ribera del Duero, Spanish wine region, is located in northen Spain’s Castilla y León region, just a 2-hour drive from Madrid. While winemaking in this area goes back more than 2000 years, it was in the 1980s that 9 wineries applied for and were granted Denominación de Origen (D.O.) status. Today, more than 300 wineries call Ribera del Duero home, including some of Spain’s most iconic names.
Notable Facts Ribera’s main grape variety, Tempranillo, locally know as Tinto Fino, is perfectly suited to the extreme climate of the region, where it must survive scorching summers and frigid winters. Low yields resulting from conscientious tending to old vines planted in Ribera’s diverse soils types, give Ribera wines a distinctive depth and complexity not found in other Tempranillos. Rich and full-bodied, the spice, dark fruit and smoky flavors in a bold Ribera del Duero will pair well with roasted and grilled meats, Mexican food and tomato-based sauces.