Dominio del Aguila ‘Penas Aladas’ Gran Reserva 2018

They didn’t produce the 2017 vintage of the single-vineyard wine from some of their oldest vines, so after the 2016 they jumped to the 2018 Peńas Aladas Gran Reserva. It has a very intense noes of licorice, flowers (decayed violets), wet chalk, spices (nutmeg), some nuts (pecan) and a volatile twist with great freshness. It matured in French oak barrels for 53 months. it has a fine thread, a chalky and dry feeling, fine tannins and a dry and very tasty finish that’s almost salty. It has all the components and the balance with them to develop nicely in bottle. It shoud age effortlessly for 30 years. It’s very impressive, but it doesn’t reach the elegance of the 2016. 1,729 bottles produced. 99 points, Luis Gutierrez, The Wine Advocate, July 2024.