Bobal, Micaela Rubio ‘El Reflejo’

blackberry │ cocoa │ earthy

Dark cherry, blackberry compote, and a streak of cocoa powder. There’s a rustic earthiness that keeps it grounded, while the tannins are firm but friendly. It’s plush but not heavy, like a velvet armchair you don’t sink into. Aged mostly in stainless with some neutral oak aging. Rubio aims for freshness and authenticity rather than heavy extraction. The result is pure Bobal character.

2019 in Manchuela delivered concentrated reds with depth — hot enough for ripeness, but with balanced structure. Perfect for Bobal, which loves the sun but needs control.

Micaela Rubio is one of Spain’s rising star winemakers, focused on reviving native grapes and old-vine plots in Manchuela. Bobal, once dismissed as a bulk grape, is her vehicle for terroir storytelling.

Bobal takes its name from the Latin bovale, meaning ’bull.’ The grape bunches look like a bull’s head — fitting for a variety that’s powerful yet charming when tamed.