Pícaro del Aguila 2022 is a vibrant, medium-bodied red from Ribera del Duero, crafted with artisanal, organic methods. Bright black fruit, herbs, wildflowers, and a hint of menthol shine on the nose, while the palate offers freshness, elegant tannins, and a long, persistent finish. A refined, approachable wine with excellent aging potential.

The Wine Advocate | RP 94
Published: Jun 13, 2024
Drink: 2025-2032

The 2022 Pícaro del Águila Tinto has similar parameters to the 2021 (14% alcohol), but the sensation is of higher ripeness. Surprisingly enough, it has a lower pH than the 2021 I tasted next to it; they used more white to give it freshness and more of the other varieties. It has chalky, dry tannins, reflecting the terroir more, which is remarkable for such a warm and dry year. This is more serious, and the 2021 is more approachable. A triumph over the vintage. 61,757 bottles and 1,979 magnums produced. It was bottled in January 2024.

Dominio del Águila now produces some 90,000 bottles since they are not selling grapes anymore. 2023 was very dry, then there was frost, and the crop was small; but it rained in September and the temperatures went down, so the year was saved because they harvested early. He compared it to 2014, maybe 2009.

In 2022, they had to rush the harvest, because it rained during the harvest. It had been very warm and dry, with a torrid summer. The result is better than expected. 2021 was a classical Ribera vintage: a cold winter with snow, rain and a bit of frost and a warm but moderate summer. They waited. It's a powerful and concentrated year with balance. He compared it with 2015, 2011 and 2006. The good stuff is very good. Jorge Monzón considers 2020 to be an almost prefect vintage—cool and fresh, reminiscent of the great 2016. 2019 was warm and dry, healthy, excellent for white. 2018 was cool and pretty.

Dominiodelaguila.com

Picaro del Aguila is a ripe red wine with a clean nose of black fruit accompanied by herbaceous notes, wild flowers and a menthol base. On the palate it's fresh, deep and elegant. A medium-bodied, pleasantly tannic wine with refreshing acidity. The finish is long, persistent and round.

Starting with viticulture and ending with winemaking, at Dominio del Águila we really strive to do everything in an artisanal way, being very respectful of nature and creating a symbiosis between tradition and knowledge. From the use of herbal infusions, such as valerian or yarrow, for the treatment of the vines, to the fact that the wine is not clarified or filtered.

With these premises, Dominio del Águila's ultimate goal is to make pure and fine wines. Organic wines that are capable of aging for a long, long time, but that can still be enjoyed at any time.

All of them are made without destemming and are trodden in the winepress as in the past. Malolactic fermentation takes place in top-quality oak vats and ageing takes place in underground galleries. There are currently around 250 oak vats.

The winery's main brand is DOMINIO DEL AGUILA. It is a red reserve wine  aged for more than 30 months in French oak barrels. We also make a claret  and a red wine  aged for about 15 months, called PÍCARO DEL AGUILA. These wines are the basis of our work, but we also have a variety of terroirs with great personality, such as CANTA LA PERDIZ, a grand reserve  aged for more than 40 months in oak barrels.