Ribera del Duero, 2017
Lovely bright cherry red colour, fragrant and floral with raspberry, a touch of fennel, strong red cherry notes. There is a grip, an almost dried cherry tannic quality that signifies the heat stresses of the vintage more than anything overripe or baked. Not too heavy, indeed this is quite an approachable Aalto that majors on prettiness and minerality – a wine that will shine with food. 14.5%
critic reviews
Opaque ruby. An expressive bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, licorice, mocha and woodsmoke, and a spicy note builds in the glass. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering appealingly sweet blackberry, cherry cola and lavender pastille flavors that are sharpened by a peppery nuance. Smooth tannins come in late on a long, dark-fruit-driven finish, which leaves a subtle touch of vanilla behind.
The 2017 Aalto was a surprise for the vintage. They had to select the grapes from their own vineyards, and they produced less wine. It feels a little lighter and fresher, more approachable at this point in time. The oak also seems to be more integrated. It's a very drinkable Aalto in its style. They only used some 20% new oak and possibly did a softer vinification. It's approachable now, but it should also develop nicely in bottle, as the year had more acidity. 220,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2019.