Camino de los Arrieros

Álvar de Dios

Álvar became interested in the nearby and newly created DO of Arribes shortly after the appellation was officially recognized in 2007. Arribes is located right where the Spanish Duero becomes the Portuguese Douro as it carves a steep valley out of the granitic mountains forming the border between Spain and Portugal. Here Álvar found not only soils reminiscent of the Gredos – granitic sand with a lot of mica – but a range of indigenous varieties capable of expressing elegance and freshness. Álvar has assembled 5 hectares from 36 separate vineyard parcels between the towns of Villadepera and Fermoselle. Camino de los Arrieros is his village wine made from the 40-60 year-old vines of Juan Garcia, Rufete Trincadeira Preta, Bastardo, and other yet-to-be-identified varieties. This wine answers the question what a classic Portuguese Douro red field blend would taste like in Spanish soils and in a Spanish styling. Fascinating and delicious.

"The mellow and soft 2020 Camino de los Arrieros comes from the same plots as the 2019 I tasted next to it, but the profile of the wine is quite different. This 2020 is a full 1% higher in alcohol, and despite keeping a low 12.5% alcohol, it comes through as riper and more fruit-driven. The integration of the oak in all the wines from De Dios is amazing; the wines show purity, delineation, balance, elegance and freshness. It reveals fine, chalky tannins and a long and dry finish. 10,000 bottles produed. It was bottled in August 2022." 93 points, Robert Parker Wine Advocate