The 2020 Telmo Rodriguez Matallana is a Tempranillo-based red wine from the Ribera del Duero region in Spain. This vintage has garnered significant praise from various professional reviewers, highlighting its quality and potential for aging.
Decanter awarded the wine a score of 95, describing it as “the best Matallana I have ever tasted, developing the best and most elusive quality in top Ribera: tightly grained finesse.” The reviewer noted its delicate aromas featuring blackberry fruit and spicy oak notes, as well as its dense yet not overpowering palate. The aftertaste includes hints of toffee and blueberries, with the wine requiring some years to fully open up. Decanter concluded by calling it a “very good Ribera, with a distinctive character.”
James Suckling also rated the wine 95, emphasizing its elegance and complexity. He mentioned the “super fine tannins that show a chalky and subtle white pepper character” and praised its medium body and fine integrated tannins. Suckling noted that while the wine is attractive now, it is built to age beautifully, suggesting that it will be even better in three to four years. He described it as “a very refined wine for Ribera del Duero.”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate gave the highest score of 96, pointing out a significant change in the 2020 vintage with the inclusion of Jean-Guillaume Prats in the project. The wine was fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in French oak barrels for 14 months. The reviewer highlighted its serious and austere character, calcareous mouthfeel, and chalky tannins. The wine is noted to be a bit riper than the previous year, with 19,624 bottles produced.
The Wine Independent scored the 2020 Matallana 94, describing its medium to deep garnet-purple color and its exuberant scents of baked black plums, black cherry compote, and dried mulberries. The reviewer noted the full-bodied palate packed with savory-laced black fruits, supported by chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and earthy.
Overall, the 2020 Telmo Rodriguez Matallana is a highly praised Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, noted for its elegance, complexity, and aging potential.