Just wanted to post a quick note to say I’m still here. I just got back from a 2 day trip to Ribera del Duero where I visited two bodegas and talked with a new wine tour company. I had a great time and I will have write ups on both bodegas hopefully before the weekend is over. So much to tell and I’m excited about this new tour company. They’ll be providing a chance for all of you to visit and see this region from an insiders perspective.

I’ll leave you with a small taste of the wines I tried with a note on a 2004 Joven Roble. Turns out 2004 was one of the best vintages in recent history. My luck being that many of the young wines from 2004 were the first thing on Restaurant menus everywhere I went. What was interesting is that most if not all bodegas offered a Joven (young wine) that usually never gets any oak treatment, and a slightly oaked version of the same wine alongside it. While I do like wines without oak and Jovens especially due to their simple nature, I was surprised how good these wines were. I think it mainly has to due with the better than average vintage. I’m sure that in a lesser year the oak might overpower the fruit some.

So stay tuned and get ready to hear about Riber del Duero.

Till soon,
Ryan Opaz

• 2004 Bodegas Balbas Ribera del Duero Joven Roble – Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero (1/20/2006)
  Dark rich purple color the intensity in such a young wine is impressive. Chocolate, grape, and black fruit mingle on the nose and make it hard to get my nose out of the glass. The palate shows a medium acidity with firm tannins that are fine and provide a good structure for short term aging. Flavors of chocolate, anise and blackfruit mingle on the palate creating a flavor profile that is both easy to drink and yet interesting. Fun wine from a great vintage.
  

Spanish wine