Lopez Christobal roble 2012 – €8.80
Monte Pinadillo joven 2010- about €5.80
Monte Pinadillo roble 2010 – about €6.40
Paramo de Corcos joven 2011 – €6.50
All purchased in Dusseldorf in September 2013
The Pinadillo wines were OK but lacked anything special – the price a reasonable reflection on quality when compared to other German reds. The joven was a bit dull, lacking any real fruit , insert your own word for excitement. The joven was dominated by American oak. It stand up well to some inexpensive Ribera crianzas and if treated as such is a reasonable buy.
The PdC (drink cold – from the fridge) is a lovely young wine, masses of fruit, mostly cherry. About one bottle in 12 has had a touch of reductive taint, that has vanished within 10 minutes of opening. This is the benchmark joven Ribera in Germany and would probably provide a retirement income for the German vintner if he got his finger out and ordered some more.
Lopez Christobal – A near perfect roble. There is French oak, but just a hint, there is friut in abundance, it tastes great when cold from the fridge, or when it has had only half an hour in the fridge. I am not sure it is the benchmark roble, but I have bought some Valdubon roble 2011 and some Convento Orejo roble 2011, and hope for some Baden Numan roble 2011, to find out.
