Tags
$20, 5 stars, 92 points, Ribera del duero, spain, tempranillo
I have a lineup of wines that are waiting to be tasted, I call them the ‘bench wines’. Tonight’s dinner is a vegetable tart with tomato reduction so I could go anywhere as far as region or varietal. I asked Moxie to choose one, she stated ‘Number 5″. This Tempranillo might just hit the spot. Rich, bold, earthy and probably a great choice for the puff pastry shrouded veggies that have been caramelizing in the oven.
In the glass it is very opaque- deep purple to be precise. The 15% ABV is evident by the thick legs on the glass walls. On the nose I get spicy oak, earthy bramble, rich blackberry, blackcurrant and roasted coffee. There is a whiff of heat, but not obnoxiously overpowering. There is complexity to this nose that I can’t wait to taste. On the palate it is all I hoped for, classic Spanish Tempranillo- rich black fruit, good acidity, full body and grippy tannins that make for a great mouthfeel and long finish. The blackberry fruit is almost jammy and somewhat hides the coffee I got earlier but it re-appears on the back end. Good oak integration here folks, not overdone yet present. I believe it scored highly with a commensurate price north of fifty bones. For me, it’s a 92 pointer that gets 5 stars cause I got it for $20. Drink till 2030 with grilled meat. Salut….