(2021) The first of two wines from Ribera del Duero producer Protos, from their brand new rosé-dedicated winery in higher altitude Cigales is a bright, very pale pink blend of Grenache and Tempranillo. It opens with confectionery and pear-drop notes, before a palate that also feels a touch too confected for comfort: jammy strawberry and decent acidity adds up to a quaffable but not distinguished drink that feels to me to be rather too 'manufactured' for commerical appeal. No UK stockist listed at time of review.
(2021) No UK listing as yet for this second offering from Protos's new rosé project, which is very, very different from the 'Aire de Protos' in colour, a deep cherry pink to light-red. Made mostly from Tempranillo, there's lots of bubblegum and raspberry on the nose here, much more obvious red fruit character, though still a little tanky pear-drop too. The palate is sweet and creamy, with a dollop of residual sugar I think. I find this just a touch cloying, though there is acidity and generally good balance as well as plenty of flavour.
(2018) Like its big brother, the Seleccion Especial, this blends Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah and is aged in French oak for a year. Still deep and dark on the nose, it is a little softer and creamier, more focused on spicy black fruits. The palate has a similar combination of sweetness and roughening tannins: its perhaps a little sweeter in fruit profile but also a little more rustic in the finish, but is a pleasing big mouthful of wine at the price that would be good with casseroles or a juicy steak.
(2018) What an extraordinary wine: 10 years of ageing, 100% Xarel.lo, again a selection of the best base wines, but from a single vineyard. This also has zero dosage. There is a hint of bruised fruit on the nose, and carrying through to the palate, hints of seeds and nuts, with honey and lovely toasty character, then the palate freshening up really nicely, long, very fine, the complexity of the aged Xarel.lo overtaken by a cool, clear, fruit and acid finish. This wine has potential to be part of the new classification for single vineyard wines, introduced last year by the Consejo.
(2018) Made from 100% Xarel.lo and aged 24 months on lees. Waxy, almost Riesling-like character, fennel and sesame seeds, very Cava. Beautifully made, lots of flavour and tangy freshness. No UK stockist listed at time of review; stockist quoted ships from Spain.
(2018) Made in stainless steel tanks and 100% Verdejo, this is the pungent, straightforward, Sauvignon Blanc-like face of Verdejo, from vineyards planted in 1998. Elderflower and passion fruit on the nose leads on to quite a full, texturally rich palate, where some creaminess has been formed by lees ageing, the fruit spectrum from tropical to a lime-like, slightly waxy finish that is citrussy and clean with plenty of ripe fruit sweetness.
