Pesquera Ribera del Duero Tinto Crianza 2019

A real mouthful of warm, fruit-coated deliciousness. Just about the richest Crianza on the market. Seductive dark fruits of cassis, plum and dark cherry. Lavender, cola, sweet liquorice, dark chocolate and coal. Still there’s vibrancy, almost playful, amongst the weight and heft of forceful, hessian-like tannins. Balanced and long, and the overall impression is that a couple of decades will see those tannins become velvet. Wonderful wine, so potent in its expression. Waters Wine Co

Fresh black plums and black cherries that absorb the oak spices, together with a hint of tobacco. A broad and juicy Ribera del Duero with nicely chewy tannins that provide structure to the concentrated fruit. Long and bright. Drinkable now, but better to give it a year to soften more. 93 Points, James Suckling, jamesuckling.com

This renowned 100% Tempranillo–once famously called “the Pétrus of Spain” by Robert Parker, comes from Estate vineyards in Lucia, Vina Alto and Llano Santiago. These are high elevation sites (2,400 feet) and the vines between 30 and 40 years of age. The soils are poor and well-drained and are composed of sand and gravel over a limestone and clay subsoil.