The 2018 Mauro is a blend of 90% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), with 5% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, sourced from certified organic vineyards in the heart of the Ribera del Duero region. The vintage benefited from a cool, rainy year, giving it a fresh, floral character compared to its warmer 2019 counterpart. Aged for 15 months in French and American oak barrels and foudres, it presents a serious, balanced profile with depth and complexity. On the palate, it combines a powerful, yet flexible tannic structure with a purity of aroma and great finesse. A wine that’s youthful and aromatic, with excellent aging potential.

The Wine Advocate | RP 94
Published: Jun 30, 2021
Drink: 2021-2028

I tasted two vintages of some of the wines, which makes for a very interesting comparison of the character of each year. The 2018 Mauro, from a cool and rainy year, is fresher than the 2019 I tasted next to it. It's a blend of 90% Tinto Fino or Tempranillo and 5% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from certified organic vineyards, and it fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured in French and American oak barrels and foudres for some 15 months. It's serious and a bit closed, going in a way to the style of the Mauro from yesteryear, perhaps a little more floral and aromatic. It feels younger and less developed than the 2019. It's powerful and has finesse and balance, with depth and complexity. 300,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2020.

Mauro has 90 hectares of vineyards around the village of Tudela de Duero, Traspinedo and Santibáñez, outside the boundaries of the Ribera del Duero appellation. They work their vineyards organically, and they also apply biodynamics in some of them. 2018 is a spectacular vintage here, but I was also very pleasantly surprised by the 2017 VS. Current production averages 300,000 to 350,000 bottles.

Bodegasmauro.com

ALCOHOL CONTENT 14.5 %
VARIETIES tempranillo 90% and others
VINEYARDS tudela de duero & traspinedo

VINTAGE
October provided the rain the vines so longed for when the cycle started, since it had not rained since August.
Autumn was long and wet, and winter began late with moderate temperatures. The first semester of the year was marked by abundant and constant rainfall until the end of June, when temperatures timidly began to reach summer figures, announcing a mild summer.
On 13th September, a time-consuming harvest began until mid-October, with juicy grapes and more generous yields than in the previous meagre harvest.

TASTING NOTES
Deepness and aromatic purity in a wine of extreme finesse and freshness. Broad, delectable, with a powerful but flexible tannic structure.

AGEING
Bottled in May 2020 after 15 months of ageing in barrels and vats of French and American oak of different ages.