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

 This wine pushes the limits of balance.  Yet, the wine manages to maintain an elegance for its massive size.  The black, glass-staining color gives good indication as to the wine’s qualities.  A blast of sandalwood, cinnamon, cardamom, chocolate and vanilla herald the oak that is lavished on this wine (30 months of new French oak).  To absorb this oak requires concentrated fruit, and this special “P.S.” bottling from Aalto has ripe, almost jammy, black cherry, cranberry, and raspberry flavors from its 60-100 year old vines.  The wine’s richness comes in part from these bold flavors and in part from warming alcohol.  However, granite earth notes and crispness on the finish leave one wanting more.