3 | Wine | Red Blend, Spain | Page 4

"The 2009 Les Terrasses displays a lovely nose of exotic spices, black fruits, and liquid minerals. It offers greater depth, aging potential, and length than the 2008."

"Intense, perfumed aromas of cherry-cola, black raspberry and violet, with a suave mineral underpinning. Juicy and precise, with very good clarity and lift to its dark fruit and floral pastille flavors. Repeats the mineral and floral notes on the finish, which lingers with very good persistence. This is balanced to age."

"Expansive bouquet of musky red and dark berries, medicinal cherry, rose oil and Asian spices. Juicy raspberry and rose pastille flavors are framed by silky tannins and given a boost by zesty minerality. Packs a solid punch but comes off almost weightless. The tannins fade into the sweet fruit on the finish, which is strikingly pure and very persistent. Lovely right now."

"Deep ruby. Aromas of ripe cherry, cassis, blackberry and dark chocolate, with a touch of cola. Lush, layered and focused, with a creamy texture and hefty dark fruit flavors. Shows the ripeness of the year but there's good energy here too. Finishes with smooth tannins, a hint of licorice and very good length. I'll bet that this will be even better in a couple years but it's approachable now."

"Bright ruby-red. High-pitched aromas of black raspberry and Asian spices, with a subtle smoky quality. Zesty and precise, with tangy red and dark berry flavors that show very good focus and pick up a touch of allspice with air. Closes sweet and long, with no obvious tannins and very good clarity."

"It displays classic Rioja aromas of cedar, leather, mineral, a hint of balsamic, and assorted black fruits. Layered on the palate but slightly austere at present, it has the structure to evolve for another 4-6 years at which point it is likely to have filled out thus meriting a higher rating."