1 | Wine | Tempranillo, 91 to 95, 2005

"Pale-rimmed ruby-red. Pungent aromas of dried cherry, spicecake and vanilla, with smoke and cigarbox overtones. Sweet, palate-coating cherry and cassis flavors are braced by gentle acidity and become spicier with air. Mocha and smoke note linger on a long, supple and gently tannic finish with very good energy."

"Sexy aromas of redcurrant, cherry-vanilla, pipe tobacco and dried flowers. Fresh, spicy, impressively delineated red fruit flavors show very good depth, with the tobacco and vanilla elements carrying through in the mouth. Elegantly styled Rioja, finishing with a fine dusting of tannins and excellent spice-driven persistence. Shows more vivacity than the powerful 2004 version, which is of equal quality but in a different style."

"The 2005 Vina Arana Reserva has a fresh bouquet of orange blossom, quince, violets and dark cherries. The palate is succulent on the entry with vivacious maraschino cherry, red currant and blood orange. It displays a very fine build and a silky smooth texture that segues to a poised, mint-tinged, bright and animated finish."

"Purple-colored, it offers up an enticing bouquet of pain grille, crushed stone, spice box, scorched earth and blackberry. Ripe, layered, and complex, it has gobs of spicy fruit, several years of aging potential, and a lengthy finish."

"The 2005 Lealtanza Club Reserva was sourced from vines over 75 years of age and aged for 18 months in French oak. Deep purple in color, it sports an already complex nose of cinnamon, clove, incense, lavender, black cherry, and blackberry."

"Fresh and focused, this firm red delivers ripe black cherry and blackberry fruit, backed by espresso and licorice accents, finishing with alluring notes of sous-bois and mineral. Offers depth and drive."