3 | Wine | Other Red, Bierzo

"Heady aromas of raspberry, incense, potpourri and Asian spices; smells a lot like pinot. Lively red fruit flavors are complicated by cinnamon and anise, with tangy minerality adding lift and spine. Suave, precise wine with very good finishing vivacity and lingering sweetness."

"One of the better bargains in Spanish red wine is the 2009 El Castro de Valtuille Joven. Fermented and aged in tank, it exhibits a carbonic maceration-like nose (although it’s not). Sweetly fruited, ripe, and designed for immediate gratification, this tasty effort goes down easy."

"The 2010 Vega Montan Mencia, underbrush, beef blood, spice box, and assorted black fruits lead to a lively, ripe, tasty effort that provides excellent value in a wine that will provide enjoyment for another 3-4 years."

"A sexy bouquet suggests raspberry, cola, Asian spices and minerals, with a slow-building floral quality. Silky in texture and very precise, offering juicy red fruit flavors and notes of vanilla, cinnamon and violet. Weightier on the finish, which repeats the sweet red fruit and floral notes. Benefits a lot from air and is worthy of patience."

"Bright violet. Aromas of redcurrant and cherry, lifted by a floral topnote and a hint of cracked pepper. Light in body and tangy, with good cut and lift to the bitter cherry and red- and blackcurrant flavors. This racy, precise wine finishes with good cling and length."

"The 2008 Ultreia De Valtuille received the same elevage as its less expensive sibling. To say that has more of everything is a gross understatement. The complex aromatics leap from the glass; on the palate the wine is dense, rich, and velvety, and it gives true meaning to the expression “iron fist in a velvet glove”. It is an extraordinary effort that should drink well for 10-15 years, probably longer."

"Opulent, rich, and lengthy, it has the balance to drink well for 6-8 years but at the asking price most consumers will want to grab some immediate gratification."