Bodegas Ysios – Edicion Limitada 2009 – Rioja

Red wine with a quite deep core, deep ruby centre, but starting to lose some colour at the rim. Fine nose, starts out quite discreetly here. A certain level of complexity, some evolution; I get some fine spices here, spice box. Rather on the red fruity side with some hints of plum, red currant. There’s some present wood, but not too much, not too roasted, not too much vanilla but just wood, a hint of cedar, perhaps a hint of tobacco. Good grip on the palate, I would put this in the rather medium-weight category, perhaps a little bit above medium. In terms of texture I would say this is a wine that has probably just come around, because we have a fair amount of extract here, but I think tannins today are grainy. The fruit is very juicy and accessible, rounded with that mix of red and dark berries, some hints of plum. The oak is also really sucked up by the fruit. Well-kept freshness; I would say more of a restrained style in terms of oak use and extraction, a good emphasis on that fruit, a certain elegance, and a long vibrant finish.

Tasted by the Best Sommelier of the World, Andreas Larsson.