Condado de Haza (Spain) Ribera del Duero 1999
Alejandro Fernandez is one of the world’s most renowned winemakers, his Pesquera wine from Ribera del Deuro being counted amongst the finest in Europe. In the mid 1990’s he opened his brand new Bodega at the Condado de Haza estate, and introduced a new wine to the world; a kind of little brother to Pesquera. 100% Tempranillo (the main grape of Pesquera, and of Rioja wines), Condado de Haza is aged in American oak barrels which impart a wonderfully deep, silky, chocolate and vanilla richness to sumptuous berry fruit on the nose. There are notes of mulberry and clove, as well as juicy sweet blackcurrants. On the palate the same theme of deep, silky black fruit continues, with a warming oak background and a firmness of ripe, sweet tannins. Acidity is moderate, and this approachable, delicious, though oaky wine should drink well for five years. Majestic special purchase at 7.99 – it is 11.99 in Oddbins.
