2005 Astrales “Tempranillo”

Had the opportunity to drink this very low production Astrales Tempranillo or Tinto Fino from Spain’s Ribera Del Duro region, that is the best 100% Tempranillo I have ever had, hands down.
The grapes for this wine are harvested from the oldest vineyard in the Bodega. The vines are aged between 30 and 85 years old. The Vines are grown in vaso form with shorter trunks than in most of Ribera del Duero helping to shield the vines from the wind which contributes to the accumulation of polyphenols and sugars. No chemicals are used in the Bodega, and only native yeast is used for fermentation. The wine was aged 18 months in French (80%) and American (20%) oak barrels, 30% of which is new. Of the thirty hectares planted, ten are actually used to form the backbone of the wine from eight different plots.

Wine Details: 2005
Appelation Ribera Del Duro – Spain
Varietal: Tempranillo or Tinto Fino
Alc 14.5%
Cases made: 150

Dark garnet color. On the nose blackberry’s and black cherries, with a little pencil lead, anise, leather, cedar, eucalyptus, and a nice smokey mineral component. The wine is is full bodied, with great structure, concentrated and easy to drink now. The tannins are integrated and the finish is long.

Rating: 94+ JH