3 | Wine | Ribera Del Duero, 86 to 90

"From a 70-year-old vineyard, this outstanding red wine offers notes of melted chocolate, black cherry jam, cedarwood, charcoal and damp earth. Rich, dense, supple-textured, fleshy and medium to full-bodied, it should drink well for 4-5 years. As are all of the wines in this report, it is a very impressive value."-Robert Parker

"Black cherry, licorice, mineral and light game flavors have a dark, rather austere character in this firm red, which has a lithe, dense texture, with plenty of backbone. Needs food, but has depth and some intensity."

"Glass-staining ruby. A fragrant bouquet evokes cherry-vanilla, violet and spices. Juicy and open-knit, offering zesty red and dark berry flavors and a touch of vanillin oak. Finishes smooth, gently sweet and long, with the cherry note echoing. This is already approachable."

"Dark purple. Intense, spice-accented aromas and flavors of cherry compote and cassis, with cola nuance building with air. Sappy, penetrating and extremely young, but promising, with strong finishing cut and silky tannins."

"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."

"Bright ruby. Pungent aromas of cherry, dark berries, licorice and mocha, with a subtle note of cracked pepper in the background. Juicy, penetrating bitter cherry and cassis flavors unfold to show a richer plummy character. Closes smoky and long, with gentle tannins and lingering spiciness."

"Oak spice-accented blackberry and blueberry aromas, with a suggestion of licorice. Lush, round and sweet, with attractive dark berry and cherry flavors displaying a faint jamminess. Finishes gently tannic and persistent."

"The 2008 Condado de Haza is a glass-coating opaque purple color offering up a fragrant perfume of Asian spices, incense, violets, espresso, and blackberry. On the palate it is sweetly-fruited, ripe, plump, and tasty. Relatively forward for a young wine from Ribera del Duero, it still has enough structure to fill out for another 1-2 years at which point it may merit an outstanding rating."

"It reveals a reticent nose of toasty oak, mineral, and blackberry jam. This leads to a structured, dense wine with layers of fruit, plenty of spice, and 3-5 years of aging potential."