GRAJO
VIEJO
SIGNATURE WINE • CULT VINEYARDS • RIBERA DEL DUERO
"The ancestral essence of Ribera del Duero: an exceptional creation that pays homage to vineyards over 70 years old. A red wine of telluric depth and unparalleled minerality."
The Centenary Soul of Peñafiel
Protos Grajo Viejo is the winery's most intimate and ambitious interpretation of the terroir. It originates from the microscopic selection of plots with century-old vines where yield is minimal but concentration is total. Fermented in 500-liter barrels—a larger format than standard to avoid over-extraction of oak—this wine represents the highest link in the Protos hierarchy; a collector's item designed to transcend decades.
1. Identity Profile
Winery: Bodegas Protos
Origin: Selection of old plots (> 70 years), Peñafiel, Spain.
Varietal: 100% Tinta del País (Tempranillo).
Aging: 18 months in new selected French oak barrels.
Aging Potential: 15 to 25 years in optimal conditions.
Alcohol Content: 15.0% Alc. Vol. | Presentation: 750 ml
2. Sommelier's Notes
Appearance: Opaque garnet red with a very deep, closed core. It displays deep purple reflections and an iodine rim that denotes its nobility.
Nose: Monumental complexity. Candied black fruits (blueberries, figs) stand out, followed by tertiary notes of truffle, black licorice, gunpowder, and bitter cocoa over a refreshing balsamic background.
Palate: Powerful, superb, and majestic entry. It has tannins of a silky and impeccable texture. The finish is eternal, with an aftertaste that evokes noble woods, graphite, and vibrant minerality.
3. Sensory Architecture
4. Pairing and Serving Recommendation
Game and Red Meats: High-class pairing with wild boar civet, venison loin, aged ox chop, or traditional roasted suckling lamb in a wood-fired oven.
Fine Dining: Exceptional with dishes that incorporate black truffle (Tuber melanosporum), porcini mushrooms (Boletus edulis), or intense red wine reductions.
Cult Cheeses: Long-aged sheep cheeses, cave-aged Roquefort, or complex blue cheeses.
Service: Serve strictly between 17°C and 18°C. It is essential to decant at least one hour before serving in a wide-based decanter.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why are 500-liter barrels used instead of the usual ones?
In signature wines like Grajo Viejo, the aim is for the wood to respect the fruit. The 500-liter format offers a smaller relative contact surface between the wine and the oak, allowing for perfect micro-oxygenation without masking the minerality of the old vineyard.
Is it a wine for immediate consumption?
Although spectacular today after decanting, Grajo Viejo is an extremely age-worthy wine. Its best nuances will appear after 5 or 10 years in the bottle, where the tannins and acidity will merge into superior elegance.
