A powerful Ribera del Duero made from Tempranillo, which, despite the hot vintage and a deliberately early harvest, has retained its freshness and precise structure.
Deep, vibrant purple with a dense, concentrated core.
Nose
Intense dark fruit of mulberry, blackberry, ripe plum and cassis, complemented by complex spice notes of cinnamon, black pepper and allspice; above this, earthy tones of cigar box, undergrowth and dark chocolate, along with balsamic accents of rosemary and black olive.
Palate
Grippy, juicy tannins with precise acidity and a firm, almost meaty texture; the concentrated fruit remains dry in outline, framed by liquorice, dark spices and herbs – leading to a long, spicy finish.
Character
Powerful and profound yet never opulent – a structured, fresh Tempranillo with tension and clear focus that consciously stands apart from the region’s more lavish style.
Pairing
Grilled rack of lamb with rosemary, hearty roast beef or game dishes with dark berries and mushrooms.
Notes
The cuvée comes from the finest parcels with high clay content, is fermented in concrete eggs and aged for 14 months in French oak followed by a further 6 months in concrete – a wine crafted like a composition of three vineyard sites.
Tasting note
Colour & appearance
Deep, luminous purple with a dense, concentrated-looking core.
Nose
Dark fruit at the centre: mulberry, blackberry, wild raspberry, ripe plum and cassis. Above this, a complex spiciness of cinnamon, juniper, black pepper and allspice. With air, notes of cigar box, undergrowth and damp forest floor emerge, alongside roasted aromas of dark chocolate, coffee and liquorice. Balsamic herbs such as rosemary and thyme, together with a hint of black olive, add accents – despite all its richness, the nose remains vibrant.
Palate
Grippy, juicy tannins with marked, finely integrated astringency. A clear acidity lends energy and drive. The fruit is concentrated yet never ostentatious – rather dry in outline, framed by bitter compounds and tannins. The impression recalls biting into freshly picked dark berries: intense, crisp, polished like a diamond. Liquorice, dark spices and balsamic herbs thread through the palate.
Finish
Long, spicy and structured – carried by tannin, freshness and aromatic intensity.
Terroir & origin
The plots of Valdemonjas lie on the Golden Mile of Ribera del Duero, between Vega Sicilia and Pingus, at an altitude of 700 to 750 metres. On the north-facing slope, cool nights preserve the grapes’ acidity. This cuvée comes primarily from clay-rich sites with natural moisture in Valdemonjas and El Nogal, where clay, limestone, marl and chalk alternate within a very small area.
Grape variety & vinification
Pure Tempranillo from vines planted in 1998. Fermentation takes place in large concrete eggs, without significant extraction. Malolactic fermentation follows in oak barrels, after which the wine matures for 14 months in 225- and 228-litre French oak barrels, followed by six months in concrete tanks for stabilisation. The 2023 vintage was extremely dry and hot; an early harvest at the beginning of September secured acidity levels.
Food recommendations
The firm structure and spicy depth pair well with rack of lamb with a herb crust, duck breast with pepper sauce or beef fillet in red wine jus. Also a powerful combination with wild mushroom ragout or Manchego.
Special features
Valdemonjas is organically certified and operates entirely self-sufficiently – the award-winning bodega is connected neither to the electricity grid nor to the water supply. Since 2011, Italian oenologist Luca d’Attoma has advised the estate; his style shapes this wine: less extraction, more precise use of oak, freshness rather than opulence. Los Tres Dones – “The Three Gifts” – unites the finest plots from three vineyards.
EN 
DE 
FR 
IT 
