López Cristóbal, Galo López

	Castilla y León, España. (Ribera del Duero) 50 hectares.
	López Cristóbal. (LO-peth kreeth-TOH-bahl)
	Galo López. (GAH-lo LO-peth)
	Galo López. (GAH-lo LO-peth)
	Hand-harvested. No irrigation. Chemical-free.
	8,600 cases.
	López Cristóbal has been part of the Small Vineyards family since 2008.

Making wine is exciting,” says Galo López, who knows a thing or two about excitement–after pushing the limits for a decade, he has now retired from being a bullfighter to pursue the family business: winemaking. In the heart of the Ribera del Duero, the 40 year-old is redefining one of the most prestigious zones in Spain. Every wine he makes is from a single cru, and he expertly coaxes remarkable nuance and subtlety from the brute power of his Tempranillo. A family estate for nearly 100 years, they stopped selling their grapes to Pingus in the mid-1990’s, and decided to put their ancient vines to far better, more personal use. With unyielding dedication and, happily, a tremendous talent for the craft, Galo has–in just a decade –made López Cristóbal one of the greatest estates in Spain, winning medals at several international competitions including the Concours Mondial Bruxelles.