3 | Wine | Spain, 2005

"The 2005 Reserva displays aromas and flavors of smoke, mineral, leather, spice box, and blackberry. This leads to a ripe, sweetly fruited, medium-bodied wine that can be enjoyed now through 2020."

"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."

"Exotic aromas of raspberry and blackberry preserves, cherry-vanilla, cola, incense and potpourri. Weighty, creamy red and dark berry flavors are sweetened by vanillin oak and enlivened by pepper and spice qualities. The dark berry notes build with air and carry through the long, sweet finish."

"Medium purple in color, it offers up an already complex nose of mineral, Asian spices, lavender, smoke, a hint of balsamic, and blackberry. With plenty of structure, excellent depth, and layered flavors, this lengthy effort will benefit from another 2-3 years of cellaring and will offer a drinking window extending from 2012 to 2020."

"Deep red. Highly perfumed aromas of cherry, raspberry and baking spices, plus a hint of mocha. Sappy and seamless in texture, with very good depth and clarity to its spicy red fruit flavors. Fine-grained tannins come on late and add shape to the long, penetrating, spice-dominated finish. Pretty tasty right now but this elegant wine's balance bodes well for aging."

"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."

"Smoke, cedar, dried cherry and spice flavors mingle in this traditional red. Supple, with light, firm tannins and crisp acidity, this is clean and fresh through the tea-touched finish."

"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."

"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."

"It has an intense minty nose of blackberry, smoke and grilled meats that is well-defined, but surprisingly taut considering the vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with a tarry, leathery entry. The tannins are fine and linear, the finish classic in style with a dash of white pepper and tar. This is a very well-made Gran Reserva drinking beautifully now, but certainly it has the substance to keep."