With 94 points, Quinta Sardonia 2003 (Vino de Mesa de Castilla-León) won first prize at the second Cata de los Dos Dueros, held during Iberwine 2005 (Salón Internacional del Vino) that recently came to a close at the IFEMA in Madrid.

The wine, made with an interesting assembly of tinto fino, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, petit verdot, malbec and cabernet franc, has quickly become one of Spain’s most exalted brands. With an elegant aroma of great ‘Bordeaux’ varietal expression, a potency unfurls on the palate that is meaty and with plenty of ripe fruit.

Pintia 2003 (Toro) and Aalto PS 2001 (Ribera del Duero) share second prize with 94 and 93 points respectively. The former is the brilliant result of a venture from Toro de Vega Sicilia, made with tinta de toro grapes from their 90-hectare estate in San Román de la Hornija (Valladolid). The latter is the unsurpassable contribution from Mariano García in Ribera del Duero with toasted aromas and hints of ripe fruit.

The Cata de los Dueros, organised with the help of Sobremesa y Vinhos de Portugal, aims to bring together the best wines made in the surrounding area of the Ebro, the wines are subject to assessment in a blind-tasting by a panel of experts made up in equal measures of Portuguese and Spanish tasters.