Bodegas Peñalba Herraiz, Ribera del Duero (Castilla y León, Spain) 2009

 One of the best values that I’ve tasted during the past year, this wine can also grab your attention on the strength of sheer quality.  Dark and dense, with very expressive aromas and impressively deep flavors, Aptus is nevertheless not a stereotypical powerhouse wine, as it is marked equally by freshness and purity of fruit.  The spice and vanilla notes from oak are perfectly married with the dark cherry fruit notes, with all of the sensory nuances showing lovely proportionality from the first whiff through to the last flavors in the very persistent finish.  Had I tasted this blind, I’d have guessed it to be a $35 retail wine.  Importer Aurelio Cabestrero is exceedingly knowledgeable about wines from all over Spain, but he holds a special affection for Ribera del Duero, which presumably explains how he found this remarkable gem.