No D.O. (Ribera del Arlanza), Spain – 94 PARKER. 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, and 10% Viura, Albillo, and other traditional varieties from old vines located in the vicinity of Covarrubias, in the Ribera del Arlanza region, at an altitude between 930 and 990 meters. These are traditional vineyard plots with vines aged between 80 and 110 years, planted with a mix of varieties that reflects the historical diversity of viticulture in the area.
ADRIÁN ALONSO: REDISCOVERING THE CHARACTER OF COVARRUBIAS' OLD VINES
Adrián Alonso is one of the young winegrowers helping to reveal a new dimension of wines from Ribera del Arlanza. His personal project, El Serbal, began to take shape in 2019 through a series of winemaking trials, with its first commercial vintage released in 2022. The wines are made from small plots of old vines around Covarrubias.
In 2023, he acquired 2.3 hectares of abandoned old vineyards, which he is now restoring. Today, he works with approximately five hectares spread across three villages. These traditional vineyards contain vines aged between 80 and 110 years, planted at altitudes ranging from 930 to 990 metres.
Although his wines were initially associated with the Arlanza appellation, they are now marketed without a geographical indication. This approach gives him greater freedom to focus on the individual vineyards, traditional grape varieties and the character of the landscape.
PHILOSOPHY
Adrián Alonso's philosophy is built around a simple idea: making wines he genuinely enjoys drinking. His approach seeks to recover the traditional character of Ribera del Arlanza's old mountain vineyards while bringing a contemporary sensibility to their interpretation.
In recent vintages, he has gradually extended the ageing periods and reintroduced large wooden vessels, a traditional practice in the region. His aim is to give the wines sufficient time to integrate their components and express the character of the vineyards with greater depth, without allowing the influence of oak to dominate.
The result is a collection of distinctive wines that combine freshness and elegance with the structure required to evolve gracefully in bottle over several years.
WINEMAKING AND THE 2024 VINTAGE
El Serbal 2024 comes from old mountain vineyards and combines Tempranillo, Garnacha and traditional white varieties found in the same plots. During fermentation, a proportion of whole bunches and stems is used, contributing to the wine's structure and complexity.
Ageing takes place in two stages. The wine first spends 13 months in used barrels of 225, 500 and 600 litres. It then undergoes a further five months of ageing in a 3,500-litre oak foudre. This combination of vessels allows the wine to develop complexity, integration and depth while preserving its fruit expression and keeping the influence of oak in balance. It was bottled in May 2026.
According to Adrián Alonso, the 2024 vintage produced healthy grapes with good ripeness. Compared with 2023, it has a more Mediterranean character, greater concentration and a more open aromatic profile. Nevertheless, the wine retains good freshness, reflected in its pH of 3.46.
Whereas the 2023 vintage was more restrained and tense, El Serbal 2024 offers greater breadth, concentration and tannic presence. It has more grip and structure and will benefit from further bottle ageing to integrate its components and reveal its full complexity.
VINEYARDS AND GRAPE VARIETIES
El Serbal 2024 comes from old vineyards around Covarrubias, in Ribera del Arlanza, at altitudes between 930 and 990 metres. These traditional plots contain vines aged between 80 and 110 years, planted with a field blend that reflects the historical diversity of the region's viticulture.
The 2024 blend consists of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Viura, Albillo and other traditional varieties.
The higher proportion of Tempranillo compared with the 2023 vintage gives the wine a more defined varietal expression, while Garnacha contributes to its fruit character. The altitude, vine age and diversity of grape varieties help preserve freshness and balance in a more concentrated vintage.
TASTING NOTES
El Serbal 2024 has a particularly perfumed aromatic profile, with red and black fruit, delicate orange-peel notes, and floral and spicy nuances.
On the palate, it shows greater concentration and structure than the 2023 vintage. Its texture is firmer, with more pronounced tannins providing grip, depth and ageing potential. Fresh acidity maintains balance and offsets the wine's greater volume and concentration.
This is a red wine that combines intensity, elegance and energy. Its structure is still youthful and needs time to integrate fully. Further bottle ageing should allow additional nuances to emerge and the wine to develop greater complexity.
FOOD PAIRING
The balance of freshness, fruit and structure makes El Serbal 2024 an excellent match for red meat, roast lamb, kid goat, poultry, traditional stews and game dishes.
It also pairs beautifully with mushrooms, slow-cooked legumes and hearty Castilian cuisine, as well as mature cheeses. Serve at 15-17 °C and allow a little aeration to reveal its aromatic depth, fruit complexity and elegant tannins.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Producer: Adrián Alonso.
Wine: El Serbal.
Vintage: 2024.
Origin: Covarrubias area, Ribera del Arlanza, Castilla y León, Spain.
Geographical indication: marketed without a geographical indication.
Grape varieties: 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Viura, Albillo and other traditional varieties.
Vine age: 80-110 years.
Altitude: 930-990 metres.
Winemaking: fermentation using a proportion of whole bunches and stems.
Ageing: 13 months in used 225-, 500- and 600-litre barrels, followed by five months in a 3,500-litre oak foudre.
Bottling: May 2026.
Alcohol: 13.5% ABV.
pH: 3.46.
Drinking window: 2027-2033.
Production: 4,200 bottles.
Serving temperature: 15-17 °C.
Allergens: contains sulphites.
SCORES
94 Parker points.
