Notes from a tasting of Arzuaga wines from Ribera del Duero.
Arzuaga La Planta 2003 - Fruit and just a bit too much oak on the nose. Modern and verging on New World in style although not quite there yet. Dry and full-bodied. Spicy, dried fruit, clove. Long finish. Quite complex. Good wine for drinking now.
Arzuaga Tinto Crianza 2003 - Rather exotic nose. Flowers. Smooth attack but tannic in the finish. Very tight but full. Good quality and balance. Ripe. Needs time. Very good. 90% Tempranillo. The balance Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Pago Florentino 2003 - From La Mancha. I've had this before and so knew what to expect. Heavy. Oaky. Chocolate. Tastes like an Oz wine. All the varietal character of the Tempranillo seems to have disappeared and morphed into a Barossa Shiraz from a hot year. Good for blind tasting but not something I'd like to drink with a meal.
Arzuaga Reserva Especial 2003 - Only made in very good years. Very pronounced coffee nose. Closed, meaty, quite dry. Very long finish. We had to share one bottle among 20 guests so we got a tiny pour each which made it difficult to evaluate properly. Can't really say if I liked it or not.
Gran Arzuaga 2002 - The flagship wine which sells here for about $ 240.00. Only 4,000 bottles produced. Again a tiny pour. Lovely nose with lots of flowers. Quite spicy, dry. Smooth with a strong tannic grip in the finish. Despite the small pour, easy to see the class in this wine. Excellent wine. The price is another matter.
Pago Florentino 2004 - Drier than the 2003. Slightly weak in the finish. Smoke and tobacco prominent. A lmore traditional style than the 2003 although still heavy. I prefer this to the 2003.