Pesquera Reserva Especial 2010

Deep ruby. Explosive, oak-spiced aromas of cherry compote, blackberry, vanilla and potpourri, with a hint of smoked meat slowly emerging with aeration. Smooth, sweet and focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry and blackcurrant flavors that are given lift and spine by juicy acidity. Shows a sexy floral quality on the long, smoky finish, which leaves notes of vanilla and bitter cherry behind. 93 points, Josh Reynolds, Vinous

Pesquera Reserva is made entirely from Tinta del Pais–the local name given to Ribera’s own thick-skinned version of Tempranillo–sourced from older vines within the boundaries of Pesquera de Duero. The vineyard has a south-facing exposure on poor, very pebbly soils over a clay subsoil, and has an altitude of over 800 metres.

Aged for 24-30 months in oak, followed by 12 months in bottle, the Reserva is a significantly more intense, powerful and nuanced version of its younger sibling. The Fernández team have been known to drop 50% of the fruit to regulate the yields, producing wines of power and complexity balanced with the classic high-grown freshness of the region. The Especial label is reserved for wines that have been aged in bottle before release, in this case, for 10 years after harvest.