2011 Aalto is the cuvee produced with Tempranillo grapes from nine villages across Ribera del Duero, some in Valladolid and the majority in Burgos. It was fermented with indigenous yeasts and was aged for 20 months in 50% new barrels and 50% used ones. Most of the oak is from France, but 15% of the barriques are made of American wood. The wine shows the house style of ripe, exuberant and well-oaked reds, with some lactic hints and surprisingly, fresh red fruit intermixed with the aromas of riper, darker fruit and plenty of spicy oak, developing pine needle-like notes with time in the glass, and later, ripe peach. The palate is medium to full-bodied with abundant, fine-grained, slightly dusty tannins. It shows good balance and moderate acidity ending with some lactic flavors. 230,000 bottles produced. I tasted from half bottles (that is not ideal), which are not sold, only used for tastings. The wine evolves quickly once the bottle is opened, so I think this ripe vintage should be drunk in the shorter term. Drink now-2017. 2011 saw a warm end of the summer and an early harvest (it started on September) in Ribera del Duero. In Aalto they finished harvesting very healthy grapes on October 11. 2012 was extremely dry, but not as warm during the last months of the cycle. I tasted these 2011s from half-bottles that are far from ideal, especially since the half-bottles are not sold, and are used uniquely for tasting. Importer: Eric Solomon Selections, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC; Tel. (704) 358-1565, www.europeancellars.com