2019 Dominio de Atauta La Celestina Crianza Ribera del Duero 750 ml

We can’t get enough of the full-throttle power and savory, spicy seduction of Ribera del Duero’s famed reds. Too often, though, it involves shelling out triple-digit prices for flagship wines like Vega Sicilia and Pingus. 

Enter the 2019 Dominio de Atauta La Celestina Crianza. Grown in a vintage the Regulatory Board of the Ribera del Duero rated “Excellent,” it’s got everything we crave in a 100% Tempranillo from this landmark region: vivid, fresh black fruit, beautiful density, and a 94-point score from Wine Enthusiast to boot.

Bottles like the 2019 Celestina are why Wine Advocate once wrote “Dominio de Atauta is one of the leading producers in the Soria zone of Ribera del Duero.” Soria is the sought-after high-altitude zone of Ribera: Of the 227 hectares of vines planted in the region before 1900, a whopping 120 are in Soria. That makes this area a treasure trove of old vines—the reason heavyweights like Peter Sisseck of Pingus tap its limestone soils for some of their bottlings. 

Mother Nature throws the kitchen sink at these deep-rooted vines. They are gobelet-trained and 60-85 years old, with some survivors on their own roots, planted 120-140 years ago. They endure bitter winters, sweltering sun, and extreme temperature variation throughout the day. That punishing environment imbues the Celestina with tremendous intensity, especially in 2019—where a long, warm and dry summer with cool nights resulted in a legendary vintage.

Made entirely from Tempranillo grown at nearly 3,300 feet of elevation—some of the highest vineyards in Spain—this bottle boasts remarkable freshness and lift, plus a finish that’s supple and full of black cherry liqueur flavors.