In September we were thrilled to welcome back award-winning wine writer and Master of Wine Tim Atkin to Ribera del Duero, ahead of the compilation of the 2023 Ribera del Duero Top 100 Selection and his annual Ribera del Duero report. Over the course of his two-week visit, Tim tasted just under 600 wines from a variety of vineyards, describing this visit as his “most extensive yet.”
During his visits to 58 bodegas, Tim tasted mainly red wines from all over the region, each with a unique profile, personality and philosophy – from bold, well-balanced, textured wines brimming with rich, old-world sensibility, spice, dark fruit and smoky flavours, to the younger, more fruit-forward, lighter wines. He also tasted an increasing number of rosés and whites that showcased the freshness and diversity of the region.
“The more I visit the region, the more I am convinced of its quality and its diversity, despite the fact that it is overwhelmingly planted with just a single red grape: Tempranillo. Although the whites are getting better and better by the vintage, it’s the reds that are mostly responsible for the region’s well-deserved worldwide reputation”, comments Tim upon his return.
“I spent more time than ever walking through vineyards and discovering how unique the wines can be from different villages, vineyards and sub-regions”, he continues. On his walks through the vineyards, Tim got a close-up look at the 100-year-old vines at Bodegas Marta Maté in Tubilla del Lago; he tasted delicious wine at one of the region’s highest vineyards, Dominio del Soto which is situated at 900m altitude; he had an inside look at viticulture in the vineyards of Vina Pedrosa; and he experienced the warmth, passion, knowledge and sense of humour of the winemakers wherever he went.
As well as visiting some of the most historic parts of Ribera del Duero such as Peñaranda de Duero, Tim also spent time discovering new talent and led an exceptional blind tasting of Ribera del Duero wines that scored more than 95 points in the 2022 Ribera del Duero selection. Tim Atkin MW is one the world’s most well-known, acclaimed wine experts and over the last four years he has been a great advocate for Ribera del Duero’s wines. “I made a number of new discoveries this time and it’s time that people began to appreciate just how much Ribera del Duero has to offer right now.”
The 2023 Top 100 Selection by Tim MW will be available for the trade to taste at the Top 100 Selection Tasting, taking place at Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH on Tuesday 14th November from 12pm– 5.30pm. The tasting will be open to consumers from 6 – 8pm. Register here.
For further information, please contact Katie McAteer – katie@cubecom.co.uk
