Steve Tanzer 89 points - The entry level 2007 Roble is 100% Tempranillo aged for seven months in seasoned American oak. Purple-colored, it offers up an intriguing nose of fungus/mushroom, cedar, espresso, and blackberry. This is followed by a medium- to full-bodied wine with concentrated, spicy black fruit flavors, excellent depth, enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years, and a pure finish. It is an excellent introduction to the wines of the Ribera del Duero DO.
Vina Sastre is one of the quality leaders in Ribera del Duero. Their vineyards are organically farmed with biodynamic principles and the wines are never fined or filtered.
Opaque ruby. Earthy cherry and cassis aromas are complicated by tobacco, menthol and mocha. Lush dark berry compote flavors are broad and sweet but reined in by zesty acidity and a bitter cherry pit quality. Finishes with concentrated, almost medicinal cherry flavor and good persistence. Drinking well now. -ST