2018 Bodegas Portia Prima La Encina Ribera del Duero 750 ml

The 2018 Bodegas Portia Prima La Encina is a marriage of one of Spain’s most revered producers and one of the country’s top terroirs. Every sip shows why Ribera del Duero is one of the most monumental red wine regions on the planet, and even earned 2012 Wine Region of the Year honors from Wine Enthusiast.

Prima hails from the La Encina Vineyard, which is located in Gumiel del Mercado, in what’s known as the area’s “Golden Triangle.” Like the best vineyards of Ribera del Duero, it sits at a significant altitude—850 meters, or nearly 2,800 feet—which allows for massive temperature swings, from the 90s during the day to about 40 at night. That makes for a gorgeous balance in the grapes, which show the ripeness of the unforgiving sun, balanced by the lively acidity they earn during the cold nights. 

This is a wine that exudes Ribera del Duero’s boundless appeal and will seduce red wine lovers of all palates, from Spanish devotees (of course) to California Cabernet fanatics. The dense, ruby-red wine dazzled us from the moment it hit our glass, with its superb concentration, aromas of dark plum, cocoa, and cigar, and layered, mineral-rich mouthfeel. 

Ribera del Duero has a deep history. Winemaking there dates back two millennia, and Vega Sicilia, one of the region’s marquee estates, started producing wine there more than 160 years ago. A little over a century later, the international wine spotlight found the region, attracted by bold local wines like Tinto Pesquera, then forever captured by cult wines like Peter Sisseck’s priceless Pingus.

The region proved an irresistible draw for the Martinez family. The clan behind the Faustino brand—one of the most celebrated in Rioja—saw a chance to apply their century-plus of experience to the Tinto del País grapes (same as Rioja’s dominant Tempranillo) that grow on Ribera del Duero’s high-altitude vineyards. 

So a decade ago, they opened Bodegas Portia, which stands as a first-class estate, from the stunning winery (designed as a three-pointed star by London architects Foster & Partners) to the nearly 400 of excellent vineyard land. A relative newcomer backed by one of the most respected names in Spanish wine, Portia is already delivering on the promise of the family’s 100+ years of experience, their limitless resources, and their prime terroir. 

We’re thrilled to share this wine with Wine Access members, especially at such a bargain of a price. We don’t know how long it’ll be until we get another Ribera del Duero deal—let alone one this good—so we advise you to claim this one while you can.