Arrocal, Arrocal Seleccion Especial, Ribera del Duero Red 2021
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91
Wine Spectator
An herbaceous red, offering an overtone of forest scrub, crushed pine, cedar and brambly herb flavors, with a mix of ripe mulberry, plum skin, raspberry and loamy earth notes. This is bright and light on its feet, with well-knit, fine-grained tannins on the plush finish. Drink now through 2029. 1,717 cases made, 750 cases imported.
Bodegas Arrocal’s Selección Especial hails from slightly higher elevation vineyards, sitting at eight hundred and fifty-five meters, with these vines having been planted in 1985. They are farmed organically and the wine is fermented with native yeasts, prior to being aged for eighteen months in cask, with half of the barrels new each year. The wine is a touch riper than the 2021 Crianza, coming in at 14.5 percent octane and revealing a superb aromatic constellation of black cherries, black plums, cigar wrapper, complex chalky soil tones, a touch of hazelnut, bitter chocolate, a lovely framing of nutty new oak and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a rock solid core of fruit, lovely soil undertow, ripe tannins and impeccable balance on the long, poised and seamless young finish. Fine, fine juice. 2035- 2075+.
Bodegas Arrocal, Ribera del Duero (Castilla y León, Spain) “Selección Especial” 2021 ($42, Grapes of Spain / Aurelio Cabestrero): This is a terrific release from one of Ribera del Duero’s fastest rising bodegas. Although the wine is rich, structured, and age-worthy, I was especially impressed by how expressive and easy to enjoy it is at this relatively early stage in its development. Aged in French oak barrels — half of them new — it is nevertheless only moderately woody, with nice spice and toast notes that enhance rather than obscure the delicious fruit. Similarly, the midpalate and finish show lovely notes of dark cherries and berries that are firmed up by a gentle tug of tannin but not rendered astringent by excessive wood tannins. This is a great choice for consumers and restaurateurs who need a wine that can show well now but also for those who can provide it another 5+ years to really hit its stride.
2021 Bodegas Arrocal ‘Selección Especial’ Ribera del Duero- The outstanding 2021 ‘Selección Especial’ comes from the Los Astrales Vineyard which dates back to 1985. This is soft, round and generous on the mouth, delivering a beautiful core of black fruits alongside coffee grounds, violets and shades of graphite. Beautifully structured and layered, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2024-2034-
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