Made entirely from Tempranillo and stored for 6 months in French oak barrels, this shows the phenomenal balance and fruit character that top bodegas in Ribera del Duero can coax from this great variety–and that bodegas in Rioja or Toro usually cannot. Juicier and fleshier than young, minimally oaked Rioja but fresher and brighter than comparable Toro, this is an object lesson in perfectly ripened Tempranillo, showing medium-bodied fruit with wonderfully pure dark cherry flavors and just a little spice and smoke on top, this is terrific and very versatile thanks to soft tannins and subtle wood.
Callejo Estate Wines, Ribera del Duero (Castilla y León, Spain) 2011
By Michael Franz