Cathar Crianza 2009 Ribera Del Duero

My local Costco recently had Cathar Crianza 2009 in the bins for $14.99. It caught my attention because of the age (2009) and the Wine Spectator rating (92). I have since learned that the price was well below the usual for this wine.

The wine is 100% Tempanillo, which is the dominant grape of Ribera Del Duero (Bank of the River Duero) in northern Spain. The grapes are from 42 year old vines. Ribera Del Duero has hot, dry summers and long harsh winters. There are also great temperature variations during the summer days. The vines are low yielding and the grapes are hand harvested. The wine is aged 15 months in French oak.

The vines, climate, soil and care during production lead to a wonderfully complex wine. There are many layers of flavor including blackberry, cedar and spice in this medium bodied wine. I really enjoyed this wine. On my next trip to Costco, the Cathar Crianza was gone. If it is available in your local Costco, you should buy several bottles.

SC Wine Joe rating = 91 points

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