2006 Dominio de Atauta Valdegatiles
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Tasting notes
The 2006 Valdegatiles is sourced from an estate parcel with ungrafted vines over 100 years of age. It is aged in second use French oak for 18 months. A saturated purple in color, it gives up a complex aromatic array of cedar, spice box, tobacco, truffle, blackberry, and black cherry. Structured but much better balanced than the Dominio cuvee, this muscular effort is dense, packed, and concentrated. Give it 5-7 years of additional bottle age and drink it from 2014 to 2026. Dominio de Atauta’s first vintage was 2000. The estate vines are 100% Tinto Fino, 90% ungrafted, with most over 60 years of age. It is farmed using biodynamic principles although it is not certified. Importer: Manny Berk, The Rare Wine Company, Sonoma, CA; tel. (707) 996-4484
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Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
100% Tinto Fino. Heavy bottle, huge punt. Sweeter and more fragrant than the Llanos del Almendro. Sweet vanilla baking spice and a hint of violets and bags of rich damson fruit, plus a herbal freshness. Very fine chocolatey tannins though they still have some grip. Elegant and restrained though still powerful and long. Great stuff. (JH)
Glass-staining ruby. An exotic, head-spinning bouquet displays red and dark berry liqueur, incense, minerals and fresh flowers; most grand cru Burgundies would kill for these aromas. Fleshy but focused, with sweet raspberry and cherry flavors underscored by nervy minerality. Subtle game and succulent spice notes arrive with air and carry into the finish. Repeats the sweet red fruit notes on the back, eventually leaving minerals and candied flowers behind. An enthralling wine.