This is a new project of Dominio de Atauta. Among Spain’s newest viticultural projects, few can claim to be as profound as Dominio de Atauta, a collection of very old Tempranillo vines—many pre-phylloxera and ungrafted— from around the once-forgotten Ribera del Duero village of Atauta. Since its first harvest in 2000, Atauta has stunned the world with wines that marry the richness of Ribera del Duero with the nuances of a unique terroir. And while the brilliance of the wines has owed much to the viticulture and winemaking of the gifted young Frenchman, Bertrand Sourdais, the project itself is the vision of a Madrid wine merchant, Miguel Sanchez.

Miguel chose to create a second project—Atalayas de Golban—with his children Emma and Miguel Angel as partners. The project is named for a nearby Atalaya—
a watchtower dating from the time of the Moors—and the Golban river that carved the Atauta valley.

Thanks to Miguel’s foresight, Atalayas is endowed with an incredible 170 acres of priceless old Tempranillo vineyards. And for the future, Atalayas will be blessed with a new 48-acre Tempranillo vineyard, planted in 2002, which Miguel and Bertrand believe could one day yield the valley’s greatest wines.

Inky violet. Spicy dark berry aromas are brightened by zesty minerality and cracked pepper. Silky blackberry and violet pastille flavors are open-knit and sweet-edged, with gentle tannins adding subtle grip. Impressively suave, elegant and balanced on the long, juicy finish. This dry red is drinking well now and will continue to provide immense pleasure over the next 5 years. This reminds us of a blend of Rioja's elegance and purity with the power and concentration of a classic Ribera del Duero wine. Great with grilled or roasted meat dishes as well as rich stews and flavorful hard cheeses.

90 Points Wine Advocate
90 Points International Wine Cellar

AWM Regular Price: $24.99 per bottle
AWM Special Price: $19.99 per bottle