2004 Tinto Pesquera

2004 Tinto Pesquera
Ribera Del Duero, Spain

Today’s offering is from Ribera Del Duero, about 80 miles north of Madrid. The prominent grape varietal is Tinto Fino, which is believed to be a variation of Tempranillo. Alejandro Fernandez is the pioneer of the Ribera appellation and, as he rightfully claims, his wines are considered to be some of the greatest in the world. He believes that Ribera’s terroir allows for a beautiful expression of the Tempranillo grape, which Alejandro uses exclusively in his wines. Alejandro’s passion for Ribera wines is translated in the bottle, and his declaration that Tinto Pesquera is a world-class wine is hard to dispute.

Here is the latest Wine Advocate review:

“The 2004 Tinto Pesquera (Crianza), from a great vintage, is opaque purple with a fragrant nose of lead pencil, earth, black currants, and blackberry liqueur that jumps from the glass. This is followed by a sexy wine with layered blue and black fruits intertwined with ripe tannins and good acidity. This superb, beautifully balanced effort should evolve for 4-6 years and drink well for another 10-15.”

93 points, Wine Advocate

The complexity and pedigree of this iconic wine, along with a stellar vintage make the market price tag (of around $25) less of an obstacle when wanting to experience something exceptional. Also, for all the foodies out there, the classic food and wine pairing in Ribera is roasted lamb and Tempranillo. Lastly, for those of you who are starting to cellar wine, here is a rare opportunity to buy a case of an outstanding wine from a classic vintage that has potential to evolve.