2015 - Regina Vides, Vina Sastre, Ribera del Duero

This time I found more finesse and balance in the 2015 Regina Vides than in their top bottling Pesus. It's still very young and was only bottled in July 2017, after some 18 months in new French oak barrels. I especially noticed the roasted and toasty, smoky aromas from the wood, but those should get better integrated with some more time in bottle. It's a heady and powerful red, but it's better balanced than the other wines from the year, which delivered very powerful and warm wines with high alcohol levels. This is a more classical profile than Pesus; there is more nuance, depth and elegance and, ultimately, what I find more important: balance. 6,000 bottles produced.