The 2008 Gran Tabula undergoes a similar vinification as the Tabula, but undergoes vinification in a small vat. It comes from two (rather than the usual three) vineyards in Roa from 60-year-old vines. Cropped at 1,500 kilogram per hectare and aged in new French oak barrels for 18 months, it has an accomplished nose, the new oak seamlessly integrated into the plush black fruit laced with creme de cassis and crushed stone. The palate is well-balanced with rounded black fruit laced with graphite and Asian spices, while the slightly attenuated finish is harmonious: very composed and elegant. This is a well-crafted Ribera to age over the next decade. Just 3,500 bottles produced. Drink 2014-2025. Bodegas Tabula is situated close to the village of Olivares del Duero. They cultivate 24 hectares of vine on rich, limestone soils in the middle of which lies the modern-looking, two-story winery that I visited during my stay. The philosophy here is to respect and translate the terroir of Ribera del Duero and they do a fine job, in particular at the entry-level end and the Damana range, which is where we begin. The Damana 5 is pure Tempranillo from the 10-year-old Tabula vineyard that is aged in 80% French and 20% American oak barrels for five months. Importer: several including Casa Ventura Imports wwwvinocava.net and Vitis Imports, Inglewood, CA; tel. (310) 674-1112 and www.bibendum-wine.co.uk (UK).