Vivaltus Ribera del Duero 2018 is a world-class Spanish red that showcases the elegance and precision of Ribera del Duero. Crafted from 98% Tempranillo (Tinto Fino) and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, with guidance from legendary Bordeaux winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet, it is sourced from high-altitude old vineyards and aged in fine French oak and Italian terracotta amphorae. The wine reveals refined aromas of blackberry, blueberry, plum, balsamic herbs, sweet spice, and subtle mineral notes, leading to a silky, full-bodied palate with polished tannins, vibrant acidity, and exceptional balance. Sophisticated, fresh, and remarkably age-worthy, Vivaltus 2018 is a benchmark modern Ribera del Duero that pairs beautifully with roast lamb, premium beef, game, and aged Manchego cheese.

James Suckling | JS 96
Published: Jan 17, 2024

A little closed with more mineral notes than the 2016 vintage. The very elegant nose has excellent depth and purity from the fruit, showing freshness from its blueberry and blue plum expressions. Medium-bodied on the palate with fine, polished tannins that spread across the palate. Fluid and elegant, this is quite expressive and long. Delicious now, but better in one or two more years.

The Wine Advocate | RP 95+
Published: Feb 01, 2023
Drink: 2024-2032

The vintage to be released is the 2018 Vivaltus, which feels very shy, primary and closed and is developing at a glacial pace. The wine is elegant, subtle and insinuating, yet to develop the perfume and exuberance the 2016 has in the nose. It has a leafy twist that gives it freshness, and it has velvety tannins, great balance and elegance. It has the ingredients and the balance between them to develop nicely in bottle, but seeing how the 2016 is singing today, it would be a shame to pull the cork from the 2018.

I had already tasted the Vivaltus wines from 2016 to 2018 way before they were released. The 2018s are going to be sold through La Place de Bordeaux in September 2023, so I retasted them now. I also had a preview of future vintages, as the wines are released five years after the harvest but are bottled with an élevage of two years.

Decanter | D 94
Published: Aug 23, 2023
Drink: 2023-2048

100% Tinto Fino. 16,000 bottles. A promising project, in which Bordeaux's Jean-Claude and Jeff Berrouet participate, based in Curiel del Duero.
It has a more delicate profile with somewhat more mature fruit than El Jardín de Vivaltus. It is compact, but it makes you salivate. Savoury, with complete tannins, but replenished with delicacy. It is a Ribera with a soft, deep and elegant profile. Very well crafted. A fantastic project that will echo in the future for sure.
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 14.00%
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 2% Cabernet Sauvignon 98% Tempranillo / Tinto Fino

Vivaltus.es 

- 2018 - 

Assembly
Tempranillo (98%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (2%).

Vineyards
FUENTENEBRO: Abundant red clay with decomposed granite. Altitude between 900 and 1000 meters above sea level. Vines between 80 and 100 years old. Balanced grapes with good natural acidity and exceptional elegance.
LA AGUILERA: Sandy and calcareous-clay soils surrounded by pine forests and undergrowth. Altitude between 850 and 900 meters above sea level. Vines between 70 and 90 years old. Grapes that contribute elegance, freshness, and great fruit expression.
OTHER PLOTS: Gumiel de Izán, Anguix, Moradillo de Roa, Peñafiel, and Curiel de Duero. Sustainable vineyard management.

Winemaking
Individual vinification of the plots using gravity throughout the process. Manual selection in the vineyard and optical sorting in the winery. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts and minimal intervention .

Aging
11 months in 225L French oak barrels (extra-fine grain) from the best coopers (15% new, the rest having held one or two wines). 5% of the volume aged in Italian terracotta amphorae.

Profile
This wine was crafted by our winemaker Montxo Martínez with the guidance of renowned French winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet . It is designed for freshness, finesse, and elegance , prioritizing freshness over fruit ripeness, over-extraction, and excessive concentration. It is full of nuances that transport us to the vineyards where it originates.

Winemaker's Comments
This 2018 vintage represents a significant leap forward in the VivaltuS project, thanks to optimal harvest conditions and the meticulous work of Jean Claude and his son Jeff Berrouet in the final blend. The nose is extraordinary, with black fruit and balsamic and spicy notes—highly complex, mysterious, and captivating, with an explosion of aromas that gradually unfold over time in the glass. On the palate, it is a very elegant, silky, smooth wine with great complexity. This 2018 vintage exhibits a greater Atlantic influence than in warmer years, with magnificent acidity and freshness. All of this combines to create a sensation of balance, freshness, and great elegance, culminating in a very long and hedonistic finish. In short, a truly world-class wine.