2008 - Aalto, Ribera del Duero

A glass-coating opaque purple color, it is already displaying a complex aromatic array of sandalwood, smoke, espresso, lavender, Asian spices, and assorted blue and black fruits. Smooth-textured, succulent, and structured, it will evolve for 2-3 years and offer a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2028+. In the scheme of things, it offers great value in top-flight Ribera del Duero. Bodegas y Vinedos Aalto is a partnership between legendary vigneron Mariano Garcia and Javier Zaccagnini, former President of the governing body of the Ribera del Duero DO. Aalto is sourced from 7 different villages on a variety of soils with vineyard age ranging from 40-100 years and was aged for 24 months in French and American oak. Importer: Eric Solomon Selections, Charlotte, NC; Tel. (704) 358-1565

Bright purple. Pungent, intensely perfumed nose displays black and blue fruits, violet, Indian spices and a lively, peppery note. Sweet and lush on entry, then smoky and intense in the middle, offering brawny blackberry and mulberry flavors and suggestions of bitter chocolate and cracked pepper. Ripe but fresh, with a juicy, long finish that features notes of smoke and blackberry. This is pretty powerful for the vintage and deserves some patience.