The Blue Beast of Ribera del Queiles — Guelbenzu Azul 2019

Tasting Notes

Deep, dark, unapologetic — Guelbenzu Azul 2019 pours a brooding ruby-black with aromas of ripe blackberries, plum, cherry, cracked pepper, dark spice, and toasty oak. The palate is full-bodied and structured: lush black fruit upfront, a wave of pepper, smoke, cedar, and balsamic lift, and a long, firm, serious finish. This is the kind of Spanish red that doesn’t whisper — it walks in and owns the room.

Meet the Winemaker

From Finca La Lombana in Vierlas, Aragón, Bodegas Guelbenzu has been crafting character-driven wines since 1851. Their gravel-and-sand soils, elevation, and dry winds give reds that signature Ribera del Queiles intensity. Azul blends Tempranillo, Syrah, Cabernet, and Graciano into a wine that reads like a greatest-hits album of Spanish power grapes — aged in French and American oak for extra swagger.

Wine Specs

• Varietal: Tempranillo, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Graciano

• Vintage: 2019

• Region: VT Ribera del Queiles, Aragón, Spain

• Aging: ~9–10 months in French & American oak

• ABV: 14.5%

• Bottle Size: 750 ml

• Serving Temp: 16–18°C (cool to show depth, warm to show muscle)

Critic Reviews

• Producer Technical Notes:
  “Powerful, fresh, structured… ripe black fruit, spicy and balsamic notes, very well-integrated wood.”

• Vivino Community (~89–90 pts):
  “Deep cherry-red, red and black fruit, pepper spice, great value.”

Food Pairings

• Ribeye, lamb chops, charred meats

• Beef stews, short ribs, ossobuco

• Aged manchego, cured meats, smoky chorizo

• Mushroom ragù or truffle pasta (umami magnet)

Why You Need This Bottle

Because this is “big Spanish red” energy at its most charismatic — depth, darkness, and deliciousness without the $80 price tag. Azul 2019 is bold but balanced, oaked but not masked, structured but still sexy. It’s Spain flexing, not shouting.

Grab Guelbenzu Azul 2019 now — club members save 10% and get free shipping over $99. This is how you upgrade your red-blend game.