Protos '27 Ribera del Duero 2022

Bodegas Protos is famous worldwide, yet just 3% of the estate’s production make it into Protos ’27. A landmark cuvée from their oldest vines, it pays tribute to their founding year, complete with a replica of the original label.

Born in 1927 and originally named Bodegas Ribera Duero, this iconic winery gave its name to the DO in 1982 and renamed itself ‘Protos’ – Greek for ‘the first’. The debut vintage made an instant splash, winning Gold in Barcelona. And the 2022 release Protos ’27 honours that legacy, outshining the original with five Gold medals and 95 points at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Only made in limited quantities, Protos ’27 comes from ancient vines – some a century old and perched over 800m high. Aged 16 months in French oak and matured in bottle in the two kilometres of underground cellars beneath Peñafiel castle, it’s delicious now but will cellar well too.

“Deeply inviting inky blackcurrant, black plum and blackberry melds flawlessly with the cinnamon spiced oak that folds into the ample structure. Long and cellar worthy” 95 points, Decanter World Wine Awards.