Dominio del Águila: A Timeless Expression of Ribera del Duero

On my recent visit to Dominio del Águila, I found myself in the presence of something truly exceptional—perhaps the most fascinating winery in Ribera del Duero today. While many estates in the region have embraced modern Bordeaux-inspired techniques, Dominio del Águila has taken a different path. Instead of following the trends that have shaped Ribera del Duero over the past few decades, they are looking further into the past—rescuing and reviving the region’s ancestral winemaking traditions.

Rediscovering the Old Ways

Founded by Jorge Monzón and Isabel Rodero, Dominio del Águila is not your typical Ribera del Duero winery. While others focus on extraction, new oak, and polished, powerful wines, Monzón and his team have revived techniques that predate the modern era of Ribera—before the appellation officially existed, before the influence of Bordeaux winemaking took hold.

Jorge Monzón is a trained viticulturist and winemaker with experience at Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Vega Sicilia, yet his vision for Dominio del Águila is more akin to what winemaking in Ribera might have looked like a century ago. This means:

• Old-Vine Field Blends: Many of their vineyards are over 100 years old, planted with mixed varieties, including Tempranillo, Albillo (a white grape that was historically co-planted), Garnacha, and other indigenous grapes. These ancient parcels reflect the traditional vineyard compositions that were largely abandoned when Ribera moved toward monovarietal Tempranillo.
• Whole-Cluster Fermentation: While most modern Ribera del Duero wineries opt for destemmed fruit and controlled fermentations, Dominio del Águila often ferments with whole clusters, using indigenous yeasts and extended macerations, resulting in wines with structure, freshness, and complexity.
• Aging in Underground Caves: Unlike many contemporary wineries that rely on temperature-controlled cellars, Dominio del Águila ages its wines in centuries-old underground caves carved deep into the limestone. These natural cellars provide perfect humidity and temperature conditions, allowing for slow, patient aging—much like Ribera’s great wines of the past.
• Minimal Intervention: There is no rushing the wines here. They are crafted with a slow, Burgundian sensibility, where balance and texture are prioritized over power and intensity. The oak regimen is carefully managed, using old barrels and extended aging to refine the wines rather than dominate them.

The Wines: A Different Expression of Ribera

The result is some of the most distinctive wines in Ribera del Duero today—wines that feel more elegant, energetic, and timeless compared to the modern, heavily extracted, oak-driven style. Among the standouts:

• Peña Aladas Gran Reserva – A wine that could redefine what aged Ribera del Duero means. With extended aging (often over five years in barrel), it recalls a bygone era when wines were built to last for decades.
• Pícaro del Águila Tinto – Their "young" red, but far from simple. This field blend of old vines is aged in large oak vats, offering freshness, depth, and an unmistakable sense of place.
• Blanco del Águila – One of the most fascinating white wines of Spain, made from old-vine Albillo, a grape once used to soften red blends but now showcased in its own right. It has a richness that rivals fine white Burgundy, yet with a distinctly Spanish soul.

Why It Matters

Dominio del Águila is not just making great wine—they are changing the narrative of what Ribera del Duero can be. While many estates have pursued power and concentration, this winery is proving that the region’s true identity is far more nuanced, elegant, and historically rich. Their wines feel timeless, not tied to trends, but rather an authentic continuation of a tradition that predates the modern appellation.

In a world where technological advancements and globalized styles have defined much of modern winemaking, Dominio del Águila is a rare example of looking back to move forward—a return to the roots of Ribera del Duero, before Bordeaux techniques shaped its evolution. And in doing so, they have created some of the most exciting wines in Spain today.

If you want to taste a different Ribera del Duero—one that tells a deeper story—Dominio del Águila is the place to start.

Checkout our Dominio del Aguila Selection

Cheers!

Leo Monterrey