Pagos del Rey – Castillo de Albai Reserva 2011 – Rioja

Red wine appearing to have a certain evolution. Medium deep ruby-red with a slightly fading rim. Pure nose. Offering mostly red fruit, with some dried spices like anise seed, slight touch of dried herbs, with a hint of oak and vanilla, but mostly on the fruity side. Palate has medium weight, with an influence of oak. It is a style of wine that has gotten certain oak ageing. There is still a presence of vanilla there. We have moderate to high level of tannin, just about to start to soften. Still with attractive fruit, like rose hip, plum, some dried herbs. Good freshness. I would call this today a balanced wine with good drinkability, yet with the potential for further cellaring. So nicely made in a quite traditional style.

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