Grapes of Spain

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
89	Vinous Media	(aged for six months in used French and American oak barrels): Inky ruby. Ripe, spice-accented scents of cherry and dark berries on the perfumed nose. Pliant and appealingly sweet, displaying good depth to its juicy black raspberry, spicecake and floral pastille flavors. Lingers nicely on the finish, which features supple tannins and a refreshing jolt of white pepper. 2016 – 2020
88	View from the Cellar	The 2014 Tempranillo “Sensible” from Isaac Fernandez is sourced from relatively young tempranillo vines (under fifteen years of age) in the sub-region of Tudela de Duero. The wine is plenty ripe at 14.5 percent alcohol and offers up a deep bouquet of plums, black cherries, chocolate, gentle balsamic tones and spicy new oak. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, ripe and nicely light on its feet, with good, but not great depth at the core, fine focus and grip, moderate tannins and just a whisper of backend heat on the long finish. This is not overly complex, but it is very well-balanced and tasty. I have had far more egregiously over the top examples of Ribera del Duero that sell for five or six times the cost of this wine, which sells for just thirteen dollars a bottle here in the states! Not bad at all! 2016-2025.