Jesus Yllera Ribera del Duero 2018Ribera del Duero is one of the worlds most revered wine regions, a place where vineyards stretch across sun soaked plains and centuries of tradition meet modern craftsmanship. While legendary names like Vega Sicilia and Peter Sissecks Pingus often dominate the conversation, theres a wine here that captures the same intensity and elegance without the mythic reputationand it comes from the masterful hands at Bodegas Jesus Yllera. Their Tempranillo

By paying close attention to matching our vines with their microclimate

but as near as we could put together

A Morgon built for patience and food

and a subtle limestone warmth

It’s medium-bodied with silky

and wines that drink great right now

sandy tannins

and a faint whiff of warm earth

offering deep

3% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot

Razor clams broiled and juiced with lemon and sea salt and that’s all—or clams sautéed for mere minutes in olive oil with a tomato crushed through your bare hand right above them

And it spoke to me early