Bodega Bela Ribera del Duero 2021

The bread-and-butter wine here is the 2021 Bela, produced with Tempranillo from the village of Villalba de Duero (mentioned on the label), from sandy and clay rich soils on limestone mother rock that delivers powerful but not overripe wines with a short-ish élevage to achieve a fine-boned and fresh wine. The grapes were picked between October 1st and 25th, mostly Tempranillo but some 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot too, and it matured in French oak barrels for nine months. it's ripe without excess, with very integrated oak and a velvety palate with silky tannins. It reminds me of the historical wines from the early 1990s, Valribeño and so on, with some rusticity but very honest and characterful. With time in the glass, it develops a precise note of licorice intermixed with berry fruit and some spices and herbs.

Bela Crianza is produced from selected grapes manually harvested from their own vineyards. Vinification is in stainless steel tanks, followed by 6 months in American and French new and one-year old oak barrels. Purple color in color with a nose that shows complex aromas which are perfectly assembled black fruit. As it crosses the palate is very fleshy and creamy, with a nice tannin, which gives us an idea of the longevity of the wine.

Lots of dark cherries, black olives, coffee and cumin spices to the nose. Rich and medium- to full-bodied on the palate with tight, chewy tannins and a juicy, spicy finish.