Casa Lebai Matadiablos 2020
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95
Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of blackberry, dried thyme and a hint of leather pave the way for cassis, caramel, milk chocolate and lavender flavors. Silky tannins coat the tongue and gums and drop off to reveal a touch of earthiness in the smooth finish. Drink Through 2032.
This has a complex nose of blueberries, dried raspberries, licorice and hints of asphalt. The palate is sleek, with delicate, polished tannins, a medium to full body and the enveloping satiny sensation that makes great Riberas. This comes from a pure tempranillo headtrained, north-facing vineyard planted in 1997 at 820 meters in the village of Gumiel de Mercado. A lovely and restrained expression of tempranillo. Drink now or hold.
The red 2021 Matadiablos follows the path of the initial 2019 with the advantage of their accumulated experience and a cooler and more balanced year. It was produced with Tempranillo from 2.6 hectares of vines planted in 1997, their youngest vineyard, at 826 meters above sea level and currently being converted to organic farming. It was vinified and aged like yesteryear, looking for fine-boned wines with contained ripeness (this has 13.5% alcohol in a vintage when the grapes ripened thoroughly) through earlier picking and trying to keep the natural freshness and acidity. The grapes were foot trodden in a vat with malolactic in 500-liter barrels and oak vats and aging for 11 months in two 3,000-liter oak vats. 7,900 b ottles produced. It was bottled in September 2022. 2024 – 2032.
A gorgeous wine from Ribera del Duero , the 2020 Casa Lbai Metadiablos comes from nearly 30 year old vines and was stored in French oak for 12 months before bottling. The palate is smooth and plush with refined tannins and a gorgeous core of black fruits, with baking spices, Turkish coffee and a graphite edge. Delicious now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen years.
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