2009 Condado De Haza Alenza Gran Reserva Ribera Del Duero

The Alenza (from “ALEjandro” and “esperaNZA,” Alejandro’s devoted wife) is produced only in the riper vintages, from the last grapes harvested.  The 2006 is the 8th release of this wine, an expression of Tempranillo is aged for 36 months in American oak and 30 months in the bottle, a very complex and concentrated bouquet of dark berry fruit mixed with aromas of dried meats, leather, fine herbs and a good amount of spice and earth notes, even more complex on the second day.  Wow, a big and chewy wine with lots of dark berry and plum fruit, some dry tannins at the end, this wine is still quite youthful and will last for a few decades in the cellar with a long-layered finish echoing the dried meats and earth notes through the finish.  Finish 50+    Most Excellent