Ribera del Duero

Condado de Haza 2004

Condado de Haza is just a short drive from Pesquera, but the two wines are very different in style.  Both show great Ribera fruit characters and see a fair bit of wood, in fact they are made by the same winemaking team.  Trying wines from each bodega side by side you can really see the differences, but the only real difference is the location and age of the vines.  Oh, and winery hygiene. 

This bottle started off a bit reductive and all over the shop, a short spell in the decanter had it opening up with mulberry and current fruit with cherry drops, fennel seeds, humbug boiled lollies and some caramel oak.  More modern in profile than the Pesqurea, powerful but restrained and quite clean. The acid was initially overwhelming, coming into balance with more airtime.  Really nice fruit in the mouth, mulberry and currents with some dark chocolate, tobacco, and liquorice.  Just a pup at the moment and needs some time to come together.  91+ Pts.

Source: Boccaccio Cellars RRP: $35 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.condadodehaza.com