Vina Mayor, Ribera del Duero Reserva 2019

Get to know: Viña Mayor, Ribera del Duero Reserva 2019

A refined and complex Reserva from Ribera del Duero’s prestigious ‘Golden Mile’.

Tasting Note

Deep ruby red with alluring aromas of leather, tobacco, and ripe black fruit, lifted by hints of sweet spice. The palate is powerful yet balanced, showing layers of blackcurrant, plum, and dark cherry wrapped in silky tannins. Notes of mocha, cedar, and savoury spice carry through to a long, graceful finish. Blending 90% Tempranillo with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Concentrated old-vine fruit, meticulous winemaking, and extended barrel and bottle ageing create a wine of real depth, elegance, and longevity.

Top food pairings:

• Slow-braised beef short ribs
• Roast suckling pig with crackling
• Aged Manchego or Mahón

Kate Says

"This Reserva really shows what Ribera does best – it's wonderfully elegant and balanced compared to many Ribera which tend to be very hard, concentrated and tannic, usually needing years of aging to become drinkable. It’s the kind of wine that can turn a dinner into an occasion. A very classy bottle."

Producer Info

Viña Mayor was founded in 1986 and is located just a stone’s throw from Vega Sicilia in Ribera del Duero. It was the first winery in the region to achieve ‘Wineries for Climate Protection’ certification, thanks to its pioneering regenerative viticulture, biodiversity restoration, and use of 100% renewable energy. Today, 22 hectares are certified organic, and the winery has reduced CO₂ emissions by 450 tonnes annually. This estate used to be owned by the same people behind Glorioso and Cosme Palacia in Laguardia, Rioja before it was sold in 2024 to Sogrape. This is one of the most progressively sustainable wineries in Spain, embracing regenerative agriculture (actually improving the ecosystem, reintroducing a variety of native species of plants and animals), water management, energy management etc. 

The 2019 vintage was supervised by Almudena Alberca MW (first Spanish woman to become MW in 2018) who is responsible for massive leaps in quality since she started in 2015. The grapes come from 60-90 years old vineyards on higher elevation plots.

How it’s made:

• 90% Tempranillo, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from 60+ year-old vines at 900m altitude
• Hand-harvested and carefully sorted
• Destemmed, lightly crushed, and fermented in temperature-controlled vats
• 30-day maceration for maximum flavour and tannin integration
• Aged 18 months in oak barrels, followed by up to 36 months in bottle before release

Good to know:

• Region: Ribera del Duero, Spain
• Style: Full-bodied red
• Oak Ageing: 18 months
• Closure: Diam
• Vegan: Yes
• ABV: 14%
• Cellaring Potential: 10–15 years

Why we love it:

This is Ribera with both muscle and polish. Old vines, high-altitude freshness, and careful ageing give it a beautiful balance of power and elegance – equally at home with a feast or in the cellar.