Ismael Arroyo is one of the founding fathers and leading lights of the Ribera del Duero denominacion in northern Spain. Arroyo’s ValSotillo Crianza hails from 100% old-vine Tinto del Pais (Tempranillo) grown near the town of Sotillo del Duero and aged for fourteen months in American oak barrels. Opaque black-plum in the glass, the ValSotillo Crianza opens with deep aromas of fresh blueberries, cassis, Maduro tobacco, coconut, and vanilla. Lush and velvety on the fore-palate, the wine tightens to reveal plentiful chewy tannins, layers of plum and cherry fruit, and sexy barrel notes of smoke, vanilla, coconut, and caramel. Long and lingering, the wine finishes with reprises of dark berry fruit accented by old-school Ribera barrel notes. The wine’s structure begs that you give this youngster a long decant before serving with hearty fare like leg of lamb, pork shoulder roast, potato-based tapas, grilled sausages, and sauteed mushrooms. Enjoy now and over the coming decade. Very limited.
An August 2019 newsletter selection
