3 | Wine | Ribera Del Duero | Page 5

"The 2006 Malleolus de Sanchomartin gives up a nose of chocolate/mocha, black cherry, and black raspberry. A bit lighter in the mouth than the preceding wines, it still is loaded with succulent fruit."

"The 2010 Pingus soars from the glass with copious dark cherry, blueberry, blackberry and crushed violet scents that are sensual and alluring. The palate is full-bodied and masculine. Indeed, having tasted this in March it seems to have tightened up in the three month to June. It is sturdy and powerful, with immense weight and presence and yet retains exquisite focus and poise. It builds in the mouth towards the persistent, crystalline blackberries, cassis and cedar-tinged finish that suggests this will be a seriously long-term Pingus."

"The 2010 Psi has a more tightly wound bouquet than the 2009 with fresh blackberry, blueberry and vanilla essence that is well defined and harmonious. The palate is very well defined and the tannins, a little finer and more filigree than the 2009. It is fresh and natural, with precise dark berry and balsamic notes towards the finish. Thankfully the 2010 maintains its natural, almost -laid-back- persona and it represents the best Psi to date."

"It has an incredibly intense nose, much more linear and focused than the more flamboyant 2000, with scents of dark cherry, creme de cassis and a touch of honey and melted dark chocolate. The palate is medium-bodied with a slight grainy texture on the entry, a hint of cooked meat inflecting the layers of toasty dark berry fruit. It is very harmonious and perhaps at this juncture, edgier and grittier than the millennial Unico."

"Opaque purple. A heady, complex bouquet evokes blackberry and blackcurrant liqueur, with suave oak spice and potpourri elements. Sweet, broad and pliant, the intense dark fruit flavors showing great power, richness and depth. Very young but flat-out seductive, finishing on a sweet, sappy note of candied dark fruits, with lush, harmonious tannins. I also had the chance to revisit this bodega's ultra-premium Malleolus de Sanchomartin and Malleolus de Valderramiro from the 2008 vintage (reviewed last year), and while both wines are years from maturity they show strikingly flamboyant character and make a serious impression right now. I suppose I'd feel some guilt pangs if I opened either of them now, but it would be guilt I could deal with after asking for mercy from the wine gods."