Winemaker Notes
Dark cherry color with garnet rim. Intense nose of black fruit, licorice, light toasted, vanilla, spices, mineral and balsamic notes. Good acidity, with great balance of fruit and oak. Persistent and harmonious finish.
Pair with red meats, truffle dishes, smoked meats and fish, also pretein with heavy sauces and cured cheeses.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2020 Protos Reserva 5º Año is 100% Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero. It was aged 18 months in French (80%) and American (20%) oak—new and one-year barrels—followed by 42 months in bottle before release. Garnet in color, it offers balsamic notes, graphite, underbrush, black fruit and a hint of cherry and blackberry on the nose. The oak provides a subtle flavor foundation. Tannins are present, with a smooth wood tone on the palate. Classic Ribera profile.
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Wine Enthusiast
Scents of blue and purple fruit set the tone, giving way to smooth, jammy flavors on the palate. It's an easygoing wine—tannins are there, but never intrusive. No need to overthink this one, though there's enough complexity to keep it interesting.
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James Suckling
Spiced dark plums, cherries and hints of chocolate and minerals on the nose. Chewy but still vibrant fruit, with a medium to full body and tight-grained tannins. Juicy, granular and long. Better in two more years.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2020 Protos 5 Años Reserva is a dark ruby color and opens with aromas of cedar and sun-dried stones. On the palate, it reveals bright, lively red fruit flavors layered with subtle oak nuances and refined tannins. This distinguished Ribera del Duero red pairs beautifully with a well-spiced Spanish pork stew (estofado de cerdo), where the slow-simmered flavors and paprika notes complement the wine’s depth and vibrancy. (Tasted: October 30, 2025, San Francisco, CA)
The history of Protos dates back to 1927, when 11 viticulturists established the “Ribera del Duero” winery, with an avantgarde vision of preparing quality wines under one brand. Over ninety years later, this spirit still lives on and continues growing year upon year. At Protos, we take pride in our roots, using only our native varieties, Tempranillo and Verdejo, and in 1982, allowing our brand “Ribera del Duero” to be used for the recently established Ribera del Duero Denomination of Origin.
Genuine commitment to quality, controlled vineyards, limited yields, manual harvest, barrel aging and a rigorous control of the entire elaboration process, give our wines global prestige.
This commitment to quality is demonstrated through the brand’s ongoing reinvestment in research and betterment of their vineyards & wineries. This eagerness to keep evolving and adapting the wines with the outmost respect to the land, have ensured Protos as one of the most well-known and reliable brands by consumers the world over.
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.