Bodegas Uvaguilera is a project begun by a group of investors about nine years ago. One of their first decisions was to hire a very gifted winemaker, Isaac Fernandez Montaña, one of the team of winemakers working at Mariano Garcia’s family bodega, Mauro, located in Tudela del Duero. Mariano Garcia is perhaps Spain’s greatest winemaker and, with thirty vintages at Vega Sicilia under his belt, he is arguably one of the finest winemakers in the world. Isaac is Mariano’s nephew and great winemaking clearly seems to run in the family. Bodegas Uvaguilera’s winery is located in La Aguilera, a village a few kilometers northwest of the town of Aranda de Duero, west of Roa and just north of the Duero River. The winery is ultra-modern and equipped with temperature controlled fermentation tanks, an aging cellar with 200 French and American oak barrels.

The 1999 “Palomero” was the first vintage of this magnificent wine and it has shown that Bodegas Uvaguilera had a very fast start out of the gate in the quality race. Grapes for the 2001 Palomero are from 10 hectares of vines between 70 and 80 years old sited at 700 meters elevation, located near the towns of La Horra and La Aguilera, some of the most prime vineyard real estate in Ribera del Duero. To attain optimum quality, yields are kept to a very low 3,000 Kg per hectare. The wine is aged in 100% new oak that is 66% French and 34% American. Total production for the wine was less than 1000 cases.

The 2001 Bodegas Uvaguilera “Palomero” is a head jolting red wine from Ribera del Duero. Its beauty lies in the fact that its power is delivered via velvet gloves; you’re definitely rocked, but oh so gently. With crushed black cherries, wild herbs, spices, and mineral aromas, with a suggestion of rich, cured ham. From attack through endless finish, this wine is ripe throughout. The sweet black cherry and black raspberry flavors are enhanced by molten mineral notes, perfectly pitched acidity and sublime, soft tannins. Have this wine with classic Ribera del Duero food pairings like roast suckling lamb or baby lamb chops simply prepared.

—Chris

“The profound 2001 Palomero boasts an opaque ruby/purple color as well as an extraordinary perfume of sweet saddle leather, smoke, herbs, blackberries, creme de cassis, truffles, and graphite. One of the most prodigious Ribera del Dueros I have tasted, it offers great precision, fabulous concentration, and a long, 40+ second finish. Anticipated maturity: now-2016.” —WA 96