Finca Villacreces 2014 25 Aniversario

Plenty of blackberry and blueberry character with just a hint of new wood. Medium body, firm and lightly chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Needs time to soften, but very pretty. Drink after 2020.

The very toasty eponymous 2014 Finca Villacreces follows the line of the 2012 I tasted last time. It's a blend of Tempranillo with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot from their estate vineyards in the village of Quintanilla de Onésimo. The vines are organically-farmed and the wines matured in French oak barrels for 14 months, where 50% of the barrels were new and the other half were second-use. It's a powerful, ripe and generously-oaked Ribera del Duero, with clout and concentration, but with good balance. The tannins are fine-grained and there is good freshness. It should develop nicely in bottle. 41,000 bottles produced.