Get to know: Bodega Flix Callejo Finca Valderoble 2021

A bold and expressive single-vineyard Tempranillo from high-altitude vines. Intense yet beautifully refined Ribera at its most elegant.

Tasting Note

This is serious Ribera del Duero powerful, dark and structured, but with a freshness that lifts everything. Expect deep black cherry and bramble fruit, layers of spice, and hints of cedar and graphite. The oak is there but beautifully integrated, giving a polished, savoury edge without overpowering the fruit.

The texture is silky, the tannins are firm but ripe, and the finish goes on and on. A wine to pour slowly, savour fully, and maybe even lay down if youve got the patience.

Top food pairings:

• Roast lamb shoulder with rosemary and garlic
• Charred aubergine with pomegranate molasses
• Cheese: aged Manchego or smoked Idiazabal

Kate Says

Tempranillo can do a lot of things and here its showing off its serious side. This is a structured, age-worthy red with real finesse. Its intense without being heavy, and has that lovely balance of richness and lift that you only get from great sites and thoughtful winemaking.

Producer Info

Bodega Flix Callejo is a family-run estate based in Sotillo de la Ribera, in the northern reaches of Ribera del Duero. Founded in the 1980s, its now led by the second generation, with winemaking duties handled by Flixs children, Jos Flix and Noelia. They work organically, focusing on expressing the character of their high-altitude vineyards, many of which sit above 900m.

Finca Valderoble is a single vineyard with clay-limestone soils and bush-trained Tempranillo vines. The altitude gives the fruit excellent freshness and tension, helping balance the natural power of the region. Fermentation is carried out with wild yeasts, and the wine is aged in French oak for around 14 months before bottling.

How its made:

• 100% Tempranillo from the Valderoble vineyard (clay-limestone soils at high altitude)
• Hand-harvested and fermented with wild yeasts
• Aged for 14 months in French oak barrels
• Bottled unfiltered to preserve texture and depth

Good to know:

• Region: Ribera del Duero, Spain
• Grape: 100% Tempranillo
• Vintage: 2021
• ABV: 14.5%
• Vegan: Yes
• Style: Full-bodied, elegant red

Why we love it:

This is top-end Ribera with a modern edge ripe, structured and complex, but lifted by freshness and finesse. A real showcase of what high-altitude Tempranillo can do, and a wine thatll only get better with time.