Bodegas Arrocal, Ribera del Duero (Castilla y León, Spain) 2014

 Arrocal is a terrific bodega that turns out amazing Tempranillo (or Tinto Fino, as it is known locally) at multiple price levels in every vintage (not almost every vintage; every vintage).  I tasted through the entire lineup last summer, and have several reviews to publish soon, but this one deserves some press right now…after turning in the performance of the night at a blind tasting class of 12 wines from 12 countries a couple of weeks ago.  Although there were two incredible whites and a 13 year-old, $130 Napa Cab also in the lineup, this was the standout on account of impeccable purity and virtually perfect balance between fruit, acidity, wood and tannin.  It is so seamless and so obviously delicious that, when tasting it, you would never actually think of “fruit, acidity, wood and tannin.”  Only in retrospect might you reflect on those component parts, as the whole is so compellingly greater than the sum of those parts.