Caballero Zifar 2016

The more-ambitious 2016 Caballero Zifar Tempranillo is an old-vine cuvée that comes from two plots in the village of Anguix and one from La Horra that are rich in limestone. I was expecting a little more freshness, but it seems like the grapes were picked at full ripeness, and the wine shows it: black fruit and mellow acidity. It fermented in 5,000-liter oak vats and matured in those vats and barrels for 15 months. It has a velvety, creamy/luxurious texture, and the oak flavors are still marked. 9,139 bottles and 100 magnums produced. It was bottled in April 2018.

Ripe dark plums and rich blackberries on offer with a very focused and intense feel on the palate. Glossy, succulent and deeply flavored plums hold the finish. Drink or hold.