ON THE NOSE:
This nose is not overly generous at first, to be sure, but does offer some cherry and tobacco, some graphite and clay, as well as cream and a hint of bad breath. As it blossoms it adds a richer sense of plum and raisin in a dusty kind of way, so like many other Spanish wines. And you know what? We take simple pleasure in that! This isn’t the most elaborate nose, nor the most concentrated, nor, either, the most pronounced, but it is certainly well worth sticking your nose into, and after our Menguante Roble Tempranillo fiasco, we’ll TAKE this baby!
ON THE PALATE:
Nice classic Spanish Tempranillo profile coming through, although a bit on the watery side. Nice fruit here, the ubiquitous cherry, but also other fruits such as raspberry, and perhaps even some plum. Some sexy spice here too, and also a green herb component that is rather intriguing, all coupled with an earthiness that makes this wine more special than it may otherwise be. This is not a very complex wine, however, but it does stand on its own as what it is, making no claim to be something other, which we appreciate. If breathing in enough air while drinking, something Darcey and I now do regularly, one can find a satisfying amount of tannin here coupled with what to us is a well-balanced acidity. A mineral and clay finish completes the experience, but it doesn’t linger terribly long. This wine, we have to say, is exactly worth the $11 we paid for it, which is … well … OK! What we always hope for, of course, is the grand exceptional value, like our favorite Bodegas Tintoralba Crianza 2000 (of which we are unable to locate more, we’re so sorry to say), but that is part of the fun and excitement of trying new wines. This one is a good value as it offers something nice and very drinkable for just $11.
(Click here for an explanation of our ratings ...)
Our Rating: 87
Would we drink it again? 
Yes, it offered enough originality and enjoyability to drink this one again.
Would we buy it again?
Sure, at $11 this is a decent QPR, so it will likely find its way into our coffers again.
Winemaker's notes
"This wine is made from grapes from the Pago de Valdehermoso, a vineyard situated in Roa where some of the most complex Tinto Fino grapes in the Ribera del Duero wine producing region are produced. Respecting the authenticity of this grape, we produce this harmonious half bodied fine wine with its long spicy ending."
Other Reviews
90- points - Ian Doran
"Coming off the coat tails of a great 90 point rated effort, Valderiz has the hits still coming with the show stopping value. Dark and inky, with wonderful plum, violets, blueberry, black currants and black cherry, but still shows good earthiness in the way of chalk and the sandy soils it is grown in. Enjoy over the next 3 to 5 years."
Also see the great review (all his reviews make wonderful reading) by Elliot Essman HERE. I didn't find his review until after writing my own notes, and I'm encouraged to see that we tasted some similar things in this particular offering. If you aren't reading Elliot's wine tasting notes then you are surely missing something. He is an original, and his website is well worth perusing.
About the Ribera del Duero Region of Spain
One of Spain's truly legendary winemaking regions, the pristinely rural Ribera de Duero in central Spain is home to some of the world's best and most exclusive red wines. Laid out on a sprawling plateau along the banks of the Duero River, just 120km north of Madrid, Ribera del Duero is a land of extremes. Biting winters, sun-bleached summers and high altitudes work hand-in-hand with clayey, silty and limestone soils to create the ideal conditions for Tinto Fino, the local name for the Tempranillo grape, which makes up 95 percent of wine production.
The heart of the Ribera del Duero is the Milla de Oro, or Golden Mile, a short strip of land hugging the Duero River (which runs west toward Portugal, slicing through the Spanish wine regions of Toro and Rueda before becoming the Duoro and nourishing Portugal's Duoro and Porto regions). The Milla de Oro looks no different than the countless rows of vineyards cutting across the landscape nearby, but this is the home of iconic wineries like Vega Sicilia, Pingus, Abadia Retuerta and Mauro. It was the unique terroir here that first proved that this oftentimes harsh and arid region was capable of producing exquisitely expressive reds that would become renowned worldwide.
If you're searching for bold reds, look no further. Ribera del Duero answers the call with aromatic Tinto Fino wines that seduce with their intensity and balance. Miniscule quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Garnacha, Malbec and Merlot are also grown, although these varieties are used almost exclusively for blending. You can expect a top Ribera del Duero to be above all structured, with good body and powerful fruit flavors that rub shoulders with none-too-subtle woody notes. Excellent vintages include 1989, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2001 and 2004.
