Barranco del Prado 2023 Scores 97 in John Szabo’s Collector’s Guide

Rioja is changing and John Szabo, MS Master Sommelier and “Canada’s best-known sommelier” captures it perfectly in his latest article.

Driven by a new generation of producers, a fresh voice is emerging. Among the standout wines, our wine Barranco del Prado 2023 reaches an exceptional 97 points in his Top 10 selection of modern red styles.

97 Arizcuren 2023 Rioja Barranco del Prado Viñedo Singluar
ALL THE RIGHT GRAPES INC.

A rare, tiny 0.32 hectare pure sandy parcel of pre-phylloxera vines around 130 years old, exact planting date unknown but ungrafted; a mixed field blend of garnacha, graciano del Alfaro and white calograño, among others, at 768 metres above sea level. In the past, these grapes weren’t used to make wine but rather harvested for table grapes to sell at Christmas, as ripening was so late, though now, of course, it’s ideal for wine. Although once surrounded by other vineyards, it’s now surrounded by forests, holm oaks and almond trees. Curiously, malolactic doesn’t always go through, as the pH is no higher than 3.2-3.3 even at 14.5 per cent alcohol, as is the case in this 2023. It delivers a gorgeous set of aromatics, wild scrub, savoury Mediterranean herbs, evergreen pine, like a walk through the forest. Fruit is ripe, a mix of red and black, framed by firm, grippy acids—the basis of the structure. I love the way this grips the palate, firmly but gently, and length is extraordinary—it just won’t go away, layer after layer, wave after wave. What a unique and intriguing, also beguiling wine, one of those rare bottles that carries a highly specific birth certificate. It needs another three to five years to hit peak drinking, I’d speculate—the acids need time to relax. Magical stuff. 978 bottles made. Tasted February 2026.

Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/e9239F2U

Thank you, John and Canadian Family Offices