Nose of blueberry pie with all the spices of cinnamon, orange peel, dusty clay soil, and mashed blackberries. The palate is velvety, with tannins in formal attire—gentle but firm, with appealing blueberry and blackberry fruit elegance. Unlike almost every other Ribera del Duero that exists, this one is not heavy in either body or alcoholic content at a cool 13.5%. Dusty soil appears on the finish with cordial-characteristics.

This Spanish wine harks back to a time before Spain’s love affair with oak flavors, so instead of calling it “classic” Spanish wine for Spanish food, let’s call it “authentic” Spanish wine for old-school Spanish cuisine. We are also relatively close to Basque country, so if you opt for the fresh flavors and simple preparations of Basque cuisine – at least the land-based part of the cookbook – that would also be correct.