2019 Guelbenzu, Azul, Vino de la Tierra de Ribera del Queiles, Spain.
This was a reunion of sorts, as I used to drink a lot of this Guelbenzu Azul red in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but had not had it in close to 20 years, and I happy that I still enjoyed this much! This vintage is a blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Graciano and 10% Tempranillo, making for a deep purple/garnet hued and richly flavored wine with opulent blackberry, blueberry, currant, plum and cherry fruits, along with a kiss of sweet toasty oak vanilla, anise, crushed flowers, and a touch of allspice. A nice bit of age here has sorted the flavors well and it has a lush full bodied mouth feel, so it is absolutely read to go.
The Guelbenzu winery, which had have achieved an almost cult status in States in the late 90s and still has a devoted fan base, is located in the small appellation of Ribera del Queiles in Northern Spain, nestled between Navarra and Aragon. The Azul red was crafted with all de-stemmed grapes and then saw a traditional fermentation with daily punch downs and was aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels in equal parts for about 10 months and rested in the bottle for another 12 months before release. This is quite a big wine, but still has a nice balance, though I would certainly pair it with meat dishes and or hard cheeses to cut into the tannic richness. Thanks to Renée at San Diego’s Juan Jasper for sharing this one with me.
($27 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive