Prince would like this: it’s Purple Rain collected in your wineglass. A bouquet of intense berry and black fruit tells you it’s big, while the saturated palate pumps volumes of tobacco, chocolate and blackberry. It’s long and oily on the finish, and persistent as can be. A big improvement from the overripe, poorly balanced 2004.
— M.S.
(2/1/2009)
A meaty, bulky, earthy style of Ribera with smoky, charred, new-oak aromas setting up a reduced-seeming palate with roasted, sweet flavors of black fruits and cured meats. Feels rich, sticky and candied on the finish. Needs a couple of years to knit together; may improve with bottle age.
— M.S.
(5/1/2012)
Having not much liked the 2004s from Alonso del Yerro, the 2006s seem better. This wine has some Parmesano cheese and leather on the nose, but also charcoal and black fruit. The palate is thick and chewy, and totally modern. It tastes of leather and baked black fruit, while the finish is sort of flat and lacks intensity. Expect a big, less-than-grabby wine that…
— M.S.
(2/1/2009)
Full, beefy and leathery smelling, with muscular black fruit aromas resting below the surface. Integrated and layered on the palate, with earthy flavors of roasted berry and leather. Turns tight and tough on the finish, where tannic bite offsets oaky chocolate and vanilla notes. Drink now through 2013.
— M.S.
(12/15/2011)
Not an easy wine to appreciate. It begins with a ton of funk, leather and sulfuric aromas. Time tames the beast, and with patience you get rich, meaty flavors of bouillon, plum, herbs and earth. Never quite achieves a level of brigthness but has qualities along the way.
— M.S.
(2/1/2007)
A bit rubbery and earthy, with compost, smoky bacon and black fruit aromas. Nicely balanced with a good mouthfeel, and showing solid berry and plum flavors. Peppery on the finish, with some roasted overtones. Perfectly good for a tough vintage.
— M.S.
(8/1/2010)