11/04. Bought in Spain, Jan-01 for $95.
A couple of weeks ago we had the other flagship wine of Abadia Retuerta - Pago Negralada. While the Negralada was Tempranillo based, this Valdebellon is pure Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is aged in French barrique for more than 2 years before bottling.
We had this with grilled duck accompanied by baked-then-fried potatoes. Yummy!
COLOR: Pretty dark purple red. No clearing around the rim. Noticeable sediment.
NOSE: Quite mute at first, dominated by oak notes. With time it opened up to reveal slightly smokey yet deep dense black fruit aromas. Definitely young on the nose but you can just sense the intensity waiting to be unleashed there.
TASTE: Big wine on the palate. Again at first the harsh tannins almost having the upper hand over the sweetish concentrated fruity flavors. But with time (and especially with the food) tannins softened and a mouthfilling superbly balanced and extremely tasty serious wine emerged.
LENGTH: Long bitter-sweet aftertaste. More bitter than sweet at first and the other way around towards the end.
TEXTURE & BALANCE: Big expressive wine that needs at least three more years to totally open and soften up. Excellent winyness with loads of fruit on a firm backbone. Will undoubtedly become perfectly balanced and harmonized given time.
OVERALL: Outstanding! One of the best Cabernet I have had in years. Will become extraordinary in a few years.

MARK: 19-19.5/20.

BUY MORE? Yes.

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Jacob "Yak" Shaya.