87+(?) 2008 Luna Beberide Finca la Cuesta (Bierzo) 11/26/10 ($23)
100% Mencia 14% alc
Color: Deep black plum. (3.0) Bouquet: Black tar and eucalyptus complement black plum and black cherry fruit. (3.0) Body: Excellent acidity and minerality with good tannin, but not enough fruit to meet. Solid middleweight. (2.5) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but shows too much cedary oak. (2.5) Finish: Parallels flavor with cedar, tannin and fruit lingering. (2.5)
Overall: I've only had two other vintages of this wine, '05 and '07. Both were truly excellent, showing pure, old vines fruit with elegance and complexity. This one shows some of that, but a combination of tannin and too much cedary oak cover the old vines fruit. This should improve and integrate in the next 2-5 years, but will it be worth the wait. Leaves a big question mark in my mind. (13.5)
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