2004 Bodegas Aalto P.S. Pagos Seleccionados Tinto, Ribera del Duero, Spain

In a flight of old (over 20yrs) red wines. On the nose ample ripe dark fruit. Full bodied, smooth and supple showing plenty of ripe dark fruit with some oaky notes. Felt overall still very youthful and muscular compared to the other wines of about same age. Can hold for many years in the cellar.

Do you find this review helpful? Yes – No / Comment

This has come a LONG way since last time I tasted it over 5 years ago. Then it was like blueberry pie, very new world and like a piece of oak, jammy and so not to my liking. I’d say 88 points then. Maybe even 86!

Thankfully this has settled a bit and integrated some, although still has a ways to go. Decanted 2 hours and brought to Angele in Napa. Still tight, decanted again and bought some champagne as a starter to give it more air.

Another 1-2 hrs later it kept getting better and better. After 4 hr decant was starting to finally settle w tannins smoothing a bit. Still felt a bit too new world for my taste. At 15% ABV it’s no wonder. Decent chalky aftertaste and I can’t help but wonder what this will be like in another 5-10 yrs.

Morphed and was all over the place in flavor profile first few hours. Persimmons and cherry pie at first. That transitioned into more of a caramel oak thing after 4+ hrs in the decanter. I’d say this could use an easy 6 hr decant before its tertiary flavors emerge.

Shame other tasters aren’t mentioning this/decanting or simply missed the experience altogether.
Such is life in the wine world.

Of note, my wife who has a wicked palette and usually scores wines lower than me, for a change, liked this more than me and gave it a 93. And again, such is life in the wine world!

Will hold my remaining 8 bottles for a while or decant a good 6-8 hrs prior to drinking.

Dark red; dark notes, dark berries, roasted coffee, prunes; powerful with good balance, licorice, some tannins; really quite nice and full of life after 19 years