2005 Bodegas Ismael Arroyo Ribera del Duero Vendimia Seleccionada Val Sotillo

Community Tasting Notes (1) Median Score: 91 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View forceberry's profile
  • Report Issue

  2/13/2021 - forceberry wrote: 84 Points

  Based on the label, this wine isn't in production anymore - at least there is no "Vendimia Seleccionada" in the Ismael Arroyo website. 13,5% alcohol.
  
  Somewhat evolved and gently translucent blackish ruby-red color. Juicy, dark-toned and rather sweetish nose with aromas of licorice root, leather, some sweet toasty oak spice, a little bit of ripe blackcurrant and juicy red plum, light cedary tones, sweet oaky hints of cocoa and smoke and a touch of blueberry juice. The wine is ripe, rich and somewhat soft on the palate with a full body and slightly sweet-toned flavors of very ripe plums and blueberries, some toasty oak spice, a little bit of jammy boysenberry, light toasty notes of cocoa and mocha, a hint of blackcurrant juice and a slightly bitter touch of extracted woody spice. The structure relies mostly on the rather extracted and quite grippy tannins as the medium acidity feels slightly insufficient to carry all this ripe fruit. The finish is powerful and quite grippy yet rather soft and sweet-toned with a long and very ripe aftertaste of blueberries and sweet blackcurrants, some savory oak spice, a little bit of cocoa oak, light evolved notes of dried dates, a hint of extracted woody bitterness and a touch of coffee chocolate.
  
  A rather big, fat and ponderous Ribera del Duero. Lots of very ripe and sweet fruit and rather overdone oak with very little in the way of freshness and balance. Fortunately the alcohol here doesn't feel completely overblown, but otherwise the wine is just too blowzy and ponderous for my taste. It is still youthful for its age, but I doubt any further aging will make the wine feel any more balanced. This is a textbook example why I amn't particularly thrilled about Ribera del Duero wines. Overpriced for its quality at 29,90€.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.