First things first: This wine is NOT a Ribera del Duero. It is its own D.O. - El Bierzo - with its own grape, Mencia, in Castile-Leon. It is NOT a Ribera del Duero, which typically uses Tempranillo. It opens weak and smells of minerals (but don't be afraid), so need to wait 10 minutes or so; it is also better with food (I ate it with light pasta with seafood). Then, BAM, great fruit (black cherry and, I think, cranberry) but not cloying sweet (my bugaboo), acid is well balanced, medium bodied, and the mineral really grows on you. Tannic acids seems subdued but that's ok. I had a hard time putting the bottle away. I would buy this again.

Sign in to rate