Picaro comes from the southern side of Aguilera, where the shape of the hill protects the vineyards from cold northern winds and the clay soils above the limestone base rock are a little deeper than elsewhere on the estate. The result is Dominio del Aguila's most fruit-forward wine, though that should not be taken as a signal of simplicity. This is serious Tinto Fino from 100-year-old vines, biodynamically farmed, with real complexity, tension, finesse and the structure to age.

Dominio del Aguila is the project of Jorge Monzon, a farmer-winemaker in the truest sense, working out of a series of old caves carved by hand centuries ago beneath a tiny winery in Ribera del Duero. Jorge spent formative time working alongside Bernard Noblet at Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, absorbing a philosophy of patience, precision and respect for the vineyard. That influence is evident in his wines: true to the power of Ribera del Duero, yet texturally refined and elegant rather than blockbuster.

The 2022 vintage shows the characteristic depth and freshness of Picaro, a wine that has quietly accumulated multiple perfect scores while Jorge remains far more interested in the fact that the old men of his village drink his Clarete than in any critical acclaim.