“Mariano is the great man of Spanish wine, he’s the No. 1 winemaker in the country. A whole school of people has been mentored by García. He’s bigger than Ribera del Duero.” – El Mundo

Antonio Galloni’s Vinous introduces Mauro best with “after spending 30 years as winemaker at Vega Sicilia Mariano García established his own Bodega and vineyards in 1978.”

Continuing…

“Mauro quickly emerged as one of Spain’s finest wineries producing wines that did then and still do compete with the best that Ribera del Duero has to offer. Up to three wines are produced here, depending on the vintage, and they are consistently concentrated, full-flavored, polished, and age-worthy, from top to bottom. García’s sons, Eduardo and Alberto, are in charge now, and the quality of the wines has actually been rising steadily over the last decade and a half, with current vintages representing the best work yet done here. Mauro is definitely among the country’s foremost Bodegas.”

And this is his 4th project. He also founded other cult wineries, Aalto in 1999, and Maurodos in 2000.

Get this. In his three decades in the business, there was one wine that made Agent Noir cry tears of joy, and shock, at how hauntingly beautiful and youthful a wine with so much age can be. One sniff, one sip, his knees weekend and he had to sit down. It was the 1968 Vega Sicilia Único, made by Mariano García. He still daydreams about that epiphany bottle and fantasizes about his family’s full support in buying this one instead of that tropical vacation.

Where were we? Oh, this wine by the same legendary winemaker, under $40 today?! Saturating and deep, almost candied flavors of black raspberry, wild huckleberry, blackberry liqueur, pencil lead, and toasted oak notes give way to an opulent palate, with layer upon layer of ripe fruit, and superb length, with tons of upwards potential. Give this top-flight red a couple of years to further evolve or decant for a half day and enjoy with a slow-roasted rosemary and garlic leg of lamb. Oh, and make no mistake, it drinks like a wine quadruple its humble price!

Speaking of, only a handful of retailers carry this rare collectible, and all are in the $47-$74 range.

Or it’s $38 - only on Wine Spies that is - until we bid adios.

95 Points – Wine Review Online

“This wine is to be considered in the context of Ribera del Duero even if it doesn’t bear that appellation (due a long running dispute over how the appellation boundaries were drawn), and indeed it was among the stars of the region from its first appearance. Clearly excellent in all respects, even at this young age and right from when the cork is first pulled, this will nevertheless improve for years to come. Concentrated pigments offer a visual indication of what is to come, and the bouquet follows right in line, offering notes of ripe fruit that are very nicely balanced against spicy wood aromas. Impressively concentrated and deeply flavored, this presents itself authoritatively on the palate, and yet is not overbearing in any respect. Not too ripe, or extracted, or oaky, it wears its power and intensity very gracefully. Although time in bottle will permit even more seamless integration of fruit and wood while also bringing up additional savory notes, this is an exemplary wine that demonstrates Ribera del Duero’s remarkable ability to conjure up wines that are delicious upon release or in mid-life, but that can also become something quite different and wonderful if held for a decade after the vintage.”

93+ Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“Mauro has 90 hectares of vineyards around the village of Tudela de Duero, Traspinedo and Santibáñez, outside the boundaries of the Ribera del Duero appellation. They work their vineyards organically, and they also apply biodynamics in some of them. 2019 was a mild and dry year with 20% less rain than 2018. The 2019 Mauro was selected from their 90 hectares of organically farmed vineyards and fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts. It is mostly Tempranillo with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah that adds freshness and floral aromas. It was bottled in April 2021 after 15 months in French and American oak barrels and foudres. Drink 2021-2028.”