
In the 1990s, La Rioja Alta decided to try their luck in the Ribera del Duero, where terroir and microclimate meet to invite the utmost expression of the Tempranillo grape. They sought the best possible site following the advice of the Denomination’s best growers and different academic experts. Also, La Rioja Alta studied and analysed the soil, grapes and weather of many different subzones. Anguix (Burgos) was finally selected as the ideal location and in 1991 they planted the vineyard on land that was purchased the previous year. They chose to name this new venture Bodegas Aster after a Spanish flower that blooms at harvest.
The grapes from the first seven harvests were sold. In 2000, having verified the quality of the vineyard and the grapes, a winery was built representing a perfect combination of cutting-edge wine-making technology and timeless elegance in design. That year saw the creation of the first Áster offering.
Intense ruby color of high layer with garnet edge, clean and shiny. Intense nose that, from the beginning, transmits complexity, penetrating, with aromas of black fruits, blueberries and currants, undergrowth, roasted memories, toffee, coffee powder, liquorice, cloves, vanilla and lebanese cedar. Mouth with freshness and balance, with tannins ripe and creamy, which highlight its elegance, with a step harmonious and intense. Long and pleasant aftertaste, with a great variety of balsamic and spicy memories.
Review:
Complex but neat and vivid, with outstanding depth and vibrancy at the same time. White pepper, nettles, red berries, chalk, minerals and spices. Full-bodied and so cohesive and chalky on the palate, with a long, broad, dusty finish. The slight warmth in the finish does not affect the greatness of this Ribera del Duero. Drink or hold.
-James Suckling 95 Points
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Poggio San Polo Podernovi Brunello di Montalcino is made from Sangiovese.
Intense ruby red in color with garnet hues, clear and glossy. The bouquet exhibits typical aromas of violets and small red berries. Subtle nuances of forest undergrowth, aromatic wood, a touch of vanilla and jammy mixed fruit then give way to subtle hints of coffee. This Brunello is intense, persistent, broad and heady. Full-bodied and warm on the palate, with a densely-woven texture and robust body, it has a persistent finish with well-rounded tannins. The particular features of the terroir at San Polo produce a Brunello with a capacity for lengthy aging, while patient cellaring enhances the wine during ageing in the bottle.
Review:
Lovely purity of fruit with ultra fine tannins and depth, finesse and complexity. Black cherries, cedar and some flowers. It’s full-bodied with very fine tannins that drive the finish. Give it a year or two to open more, but already so enticing. Drink or hold.
-James Suckling 96 Points
The San Polo 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 8,000 bottles produced) is a textured wine with hearty fruit and touches of smoked meat and spice. At its core, the wine offers dark fruit, blackberry and ripe plum. The rich fruitiness of the wine cedes to campfire ash, mahogany and furniture wax. These results are sultry and even a bit flashy, with distant background tones of teriyaki and plum sauce. The wine is fermented in cylindrical oak fermenters and aged in oak for three years. We'll see this bottle hitting the market sometime after February 2021.
-Wine Advocate 95 Points
Paul Hobbs ALH Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc.
This wine presents the eye with a magenta hue and a vibrant ruby red rim. The nose offers up an inviting bouquet of ripe red cherry, damp earth, and nuances of fresh violet. The palate is elegantly structured, with harmonious layers of fine-grained tannins and refreshing acidity. As the wine unfolds it reveals a sublime blend of black raspberry, wild thyme and dark cacao, while savory herbal notes add a further intriguing dimensional note. The finish is long and graceful with a touch of graphite—a hallmark of southern Coombsville's cool climate and rocky volcanic soils.
Review:
A cool, composed wine with gorgeous flavors and silky texture, showing blueberries, dark chocolate, pencil shavings, minerals, violets and pomegranate. Full-bodied yet light on its feet, this feels lacy and airy despite lots of depth and concentration.
James Suckling 96 Points