Tasting Note                         

91   2001 Pesquera Tinto Crianza - Ribera del Duero (Fernandez)      1/13/08 ($22)

13.5% alc
Color: Deep garnet. Looks neither young nor old. (3.0) Bouquet: Roasted almonds and chestnuts with cedar, complementing rich black cherry and cassis fruit. (3.5) Body: Solid middleweight with excellent acidity and fruit and integrated ceadry oak. Coats somewhat with sufficient tannin. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but less intense. Could have more concentration and structure, but still excellent. (3.0) Finish: Parallels flavor step-for-step. Long and pretty. (3.0)
Overall: Very reminiscent of a peak Bordeaux with a blast of warm climate fruit, making it even more like a Bordeaux-style CA Cab, but this is faster maturing with less body and has a smoky/roasted flavor that is very Spanish. At its best now and in the next 2 years. (15.5)