2012 Ribera del Duero Reserva

The 2012 Reserva is cropped from a year where some wines turned around, and can be fresher than what was anticipated from a very warm and dry vintage. It's a blend of old vineyards in different parts of the village of La Aguilera, mostly slopes where the Tempranillo is interplanted with other red and white varieties, so the wine contains approximately 10% of other assorted red grapes and 5% whites, all Albillo in this case. The nose is aromatic, quite showy, with ripe cherries and black raspberries, some smoky and oak aromas, and a lactic touch denoting youth. The palate is somehow austere, with those chalky tannins from the soils and juicy fruit, quite balanced with a clear Ribera del Duero character, slightly earthy, call it rustic if you want. This has the stuffing and balance to age nicely in bottle. I see this as a slightly riper version of the 2010, much fresher than 2011. A Ribera for the long haul. 5,000 bottles produced.