Bodegas Cepa 21 Hito 2016, Ribera Del Duero, Spain 🇪🇸

Bodegas Cepa 21 Hito 2016, Ribera Del Duero, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 91 Points

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Lovely nose with aromas of black cherrie, blackberries, plums, leather, cloves, vanilla and earthy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, seductive texture, flavourful, fine grainy tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium-long with flavours of black fruit, peppery, earthy flavours all wrapped up in fine tannins.

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This wine ticks all the boxes for me, from it’s beautiful aromatics, superb texture and it’s flavourful and smooth finish. A powerful but elegant Tempranillo, with many pairing possibilities but also enjoyed on it’s own. Even better on the second night, which tells me it’s should keep improving over the next few years. Strongly recommended 👌 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Finca Villacreces Pruno 2011, DO Ribera del Duero, Spain

This wine is made mostly with Tempranillo with 90% and the remaining 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, maturation in three year old French oak barrels for 12 months and alcohol coming in at 14%.

This wine opened up with aromas of black cherry, dark plums, exotic spices, coffee grinds, toasty oak and a hint of tobacco. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, dry with concentrated robust flavours, low acidity and firm but not overbearing tannins. Very good length on the finish with concentrated flavours and notes of damp earth and leather lingering. This is a rich, intense well structured Tempranillo blend which should acquire some elegance if given time in bottle (2-5 years). Great potential, strongly recommended, score 90 points.

Purchased September 28, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (312140) at $19.95

Also available at the SAQ (11881940) at $21.45

Legón Reserva 2005, DO Ribera del Duero, Spain

This wine is 100% Tempranillo grapes with maturation taking place in new French oak and alcohol coming in at 13.5%. 

This wine opened up with aromas of black cherry, blackberry, dried figs, exotic spices, leather and sandalwood. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, nicely structured by rich and concentrated flavours, balance acidity and firm tannins. Legón Reserva 2005 finish is long, robust, masculine with lots of dark fruit, spices and a nice tannic grip.

Drinking well right now when paired with beef or lamb but should keep improving and acquired some elegance over the next 3-4 years. For me, this wine hits all the right notes, starting with an exotic bouquet, great and powerful mouthfeel and a long flavourful finish. This wine is a great example as why I think Spanish wines represent value. Returned to repurchase, strongly recommended. Score 91 points.

  

Purchased January 19, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (303511) at $23.95

Telmo Rodriguez M2 De Matallana 2006, Ribera Del Duero, Spain

A beautiful wine with a real sense of place. I smell this wine, I taste it and I think yes this wine is from Ribera De Duero, Spain. This wine is made with 100% Tempranillo, biologically grown and ageing took place in French oak for 14 months 50% in new barrels and 50% in one year old barrels. This wine opens up with aromas of blueberry, black cherry, dry herbs, tobacco, minerals and smoky note. On the palate, full bodied (with alcohol at 14.5%) low acidity and beautiful velvet fruit tannins, powerful yet approachable. The finish is long, elegant, savoury with velvet tannins. I met Telmo Rodriguez at the Vancouver wine show last year, a very passionate wine maker indeed, and I just love his wines. Score 92 Points.

Purchased at the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival of 2011 at $44.00