‘Lautus’ Ribera del Queiles, Guelbenzu 1999

Appearance: dark purple to black, clear rim. Nose: dark black fruits, marked oak, spicy aromas. Complex. Palate: savoury black fruit palate with lively medium-high acidity, chewy medium-high tannins and balanced high alcohol. Young. Good length. Conclusion: this is the first wine I’ve had from Ribera del Queiles. A blend of 50% Tempranillo (Tinto Fino), 20% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Garnacha, this tastes like a ‘new wave’ wine, although I’d need to taste more wines from this particular region to be sure. It’s certainly seems modern in style and spends up to 12 months in French oak. Worth keeping for longer. more February 16, 2008