The Romero de la Cruz family has fifteen hectares planted, only ten of which are used to form the backbone of the wine: vines of tinto fino grafted with their own clones by means of mass selection, which are between 25 and 80 years old. These 10 hectare comprise 7 different vineyards, around the village of Anguix. The soils surrounding this village are comprised of clay and sand leading to a finer texture of tannin in finished wines. Vines are grown in vaso form with shorter trunks than in most of Ribera del Duero helping to shield the vines from the wind which contributes to the accumulation of polyphenols and sugars. No chemicals are used in the vineyard beyond sulphur and that only if absolutely necessary.
94pts Wine Spectator Insider– 2014 vintage
Dense and structured. Cassis and plum flavors mingle with mocha, loamy earth and black olive notes, imparting a balance of fruit and savory character. Drink now through 2030.
94pts Vinous– 2014 vintage
Brilliant purple. Primary black and blue fruits, potpourri, Indian spices and vanilla on the explosively perfumed nose; a mineral flourish adds urgency and lift. Sweet, deeply concentrated, oak-spiced boysenberry and cherry cola flavors spread out steadily on the palate, picking up spiciness and a touch of star anise on the back half. Lush, broad and seamless in texture, finishing with excellent clarity and smooth tannins contributing shape and gentle grip.
93pts View from the Cellar – 2014 vintage
The cuvée Christina from Bodegas los Astrales hails from a ninety year-old vineyard and is raised entirely in new French wood for eighteen months prior to bottling. The 2014 version is excellent, offering up a deep and classy nose of black plums, black cherries, a lovely touch of soil, dark chocolate and a very well-done base of smoky new oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and quite elegant in profile, with a fine core, lovely focus and nascent complexity and a very long, ripely tannic and well-balanced finish. This carries its one hundred percent new wood very nicely, though the purist in me thinks that ninety year-old vines deserve less new wood, rather than more, so that more of the terroir here can shine through in the wine. But, this is a beautifully made and very promising bottle in the making. 2024-2060.
