Bodega Vivaltus

Vivaltus is a new project from the Yllera family, who have a long history of winemaking in Spain’s Ribera del Duero region. Recently, the Vivaltus team brought on legendary consultant Jean-Claude Berrouet, best known as the winemaker of the globally-renowned Château Pétrus in Bordeaux.

Vineyards are among some of the highest in Ribera del Duero, up to 1,000 metres above sea level, and vines average 80 years of age – although some are more than a century old. Predominantly Tempranillo is grown, with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot making up the rest. In the winery, Jean-Claude opts to use minimal new oak, a significant feature in many top wines of the Ribera.

The 2016 vintage is the first release of Vivaltus and was launched to great anticipation and critical praise. Hailed as “a superb cuvée” and “a fantastic project”, the quality of the vineyards and winemaking shine through, making this a rich and balanced wine that’s expected to age well for at least a decade. Vivaltus is set to become a successful and well sought-after annual offer.