2020 Bodegas Portia Crianza Ribera del Duero 750 ml

If wine were poker, the 2020 Bodegas Portia Crianza would be sitting on pocket aces. 

First, it’s from vineyards within Ribera del Duero’s revered “Golden Triangle,” where elevations of 2,400+ feet and ridiculous temperature swings (90s during the day, about 40 at night) produce powerful, yet lively wines. Second, it comes from the Martínez Zabala family—Spanish winemaking icons and founders of the famed Faustino. 

Give that kind of estate a vintage like Ribera del Duero’s 2020, and they’re bound to deliver. The year was outstanding, according to Wine Spectator, who awarded it a score tied for the highest of the last two decades. That smooth-sailing growing season gave Portia’s Tempranillo ample time to develop body, structure, and balance. 

A modern interpretation of their timeless terroir, Portia’s Crianza shows aromas of black cherry, ripe plum, and dried fig with notes of cedar, vanilla, and leather. The complexity deepens even further on the palate, where layers of dark fruit give way to clove, tobacco, and toasted oak. Silky tannins and vibrant acidity keep the wine in balance, carrying it to a long, spice-inflected finish. 

The Martínez Zabalas are no strangers to that kind of quality. They’re considered a First Family of Rioja, but couldn’t resist the draw of Ribera del Duero, where they saw a chance to apply their century-plus of experience to the Tinto del País grapes (same as Rioja’s Tempranillo) in the region’s high-altitude vineyards. 

So in 2010, they opened Bodegas Portia, which stands as a first-class estate. A relative newcomer backed by one of the most respected names in Spanish wine, Portia is already delivering on the promise of the family’s expertise, vast resources, and excellent terroir.