2001 Viñedos y Bodegas García Figuero, Tinto Figuero

[TheEngineer]

2001 Viñedos y Bodegas García Figuero
Ribera del Duero
Tinto Figuero Old Vines Selection

Fans of Ribera del Duero, I think you've got to try this one. Great vintage to start and then the wine ain't bad either. Price was about $20 so right on the edge but once you tasted it, I think the price was very reasonable.

Good nose right from the start. There is a definitive scent of cherry and chocolate which is confirmed on the first tast followed by some slightly unbalanced oak, alcohol and earth. It has a long finish with same ripe fruit and chocolate.

Very good balance with good acid. It is a supple, smooth, medium body wine.

100% Tempranillo. Apparently, this is the bodegas owners first label and they use to supple juice to the very pricey Pesquera.

I've got half a bottle left so I'll report on what's its like after a bit of air time.


[This message has been edited by TheEngineer (edited 01-21-2005).]

[TheEngineer]

Still very nice. I think the oakiness settled down overnight so next time I will decant this bottle. Now both smooth in texture (as it was yesterday) and more balanced overall.

[Innkeeper]

Always decant a red unless it's a Beaujolais Nouveau or something of that ilk. Glad it was better the second day.

[TheEngineer]

Yeap....still in da learning phase .....sometimes laziness does not pay. Thought I could get away with just letting it sit in the glass....just not the same.

Thanks!

[Thomas]

Let me start a fight here: that wine sounds New World to me.

Ribera del Duero used to taste like earth and dust--the way I likes 'em! And they used to cost less too...

[TheEngineer]

Your right....not really old style Rioja but not entirely new word either. There is a decent amount of earthliness but just not like a grand reserva level....okay, quite the bit less. it's a bit more a supporting character than the main actor.

It does drnk more like a new world wine but it is still well put together. Maybe it just needed a few more years bottle time for it to come together a bit more.