Tempranillo

Antidoto- Spanish for "antidote" - promises to quickly make its mark as the bargain among serious Ribera del Duero offerings. Rare Wine Co. Importer

92 points The Wine Advocate:The 2004 Reserva 7 Vinas is a worthy successor to the 2001 reviewed in Issue 183. It is a blend of 55% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano, and 15% Garnacha, with the balance Mazuelo, Malvasia, White Garnacha, and Viura. The wine was aged in oak for 3 years, American for the Garnacha and French for the rest. The final blend was then aged in a 10,000-liter foudre for an additional 18 months. Dark ruby-colored, it displays classic Rioja aromas of cedar, damp earth, leather, spice box, black cherry, and blackberry. Smooth-textured, ripe, and concentrated, this lengthy effort has the structure to evolve for 3-4 years. It can be enjoyed now but will still be singing through at least 2024. Jay Miller

90 points The Wine Advocate:The 2009 Arrocal was produced from estate-grown fruit and aged for 8 months in French and American oak. A glass-coating purple/black color, typical of the 2009 vintage, is accompanied by an inviting nose of cedar, cinnamon, espresso, licorice, and blackberry. Ripe, forward, and round on the palate, it conceals enough fine-grained tannin to evolve for 1-2 years but this outstanding value can be approached now. Jay Miller

92 points The Wine Advocate:The 2009 Brozal was sourced from a biodynamically farmed vineyard and is a field blend of 80% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, and 10% Garnacha. It was fermented and macerated in a custom-made tank made of 50% oak and 50% stainless steel crafted by winemaker David Sampedro. Alcoholic fermentation was with native yeasts, malolactic fermentation occurred in barrel, and aging took place in various sized barrels, 50% new, for 10 months. A glass-coating opaque purple color, the wine displays a super-fragrant bouquet of minerals, violets, Asian spices, tobacco, a hint of balsamic, and assorted black fruits. This is followed by a sweetly-fruited, layered, succulent wine with plenty of underlying fine-grained tannin. Give it 5-6 years to fully blossom and enjoy it from 2015 to 2029. Jay Miller

93+ The Wine Advocate:The 2007 Pintia was sourced from 50% ungrafted Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo) vines and aged in 100% new French and American oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it shows off a compelling bouquet of wood smoke, scorched earth, mineral, incense, blackberry, and licorice. Already complex on the palate, this full-bodied offering is dense, succulent, and structured. Give this lengthy Toro another 5-7 years of cellaring and drink it from 2016 to 2032, if not longer. Jay Miller

(95-98) points The Wine Advocate:The 2009 Flor de Pingus (3000 cases) will ultimately spend 14 months in a mix of new and used French oak. It is opaque purple in color with a primary perfume of pain grille, mineral, spice box, incense, and blackberry. Locked and loaded with remarkable concentration and depth, this mouth-coating lengthy offering manages to incorporate some elegance into its powerful physique. It will drink well for 30-40 years.

93 points The Wine Spectator:Powerful yet racy, this youthful red boasts a beam of black cherry and boysenberry fruit, with plenty of licorice, mineral and toast notes. Fresh, harmonious and graceful, in the modern style. Drink now through 2020. 5,500 cases made.