Tonights wine: Torre Albéniz Reserva 2001, Ribera del Duero

Producer: Bod. peñalba López

Grapes: 50% TEMPRANILLO, 35% CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 15% MERLOT/ 14 months in french oak.

Nose: Peanuts, sweet beefstock glace, slightly of oak, cedar, anis, mocca, coffee, black cherry, plum going on prune, some spices.

Palate: Full bodied, good fruit concentration, medium developed fruit, good structure of fine tannins and good balancing acidity, long powerful finish with some tobacco and leather, fresh yet firm.

Foodmatch: Powerful dishes of red meat. lamb, beef, game. Rich mature and fat cheese. Fat food.

Cellaring: Drink now with some hours of decanting or hold for 10-15 years.

Very nice wine from the hotter than hell Valle del Duero. 2001 is great here.