The 2009 Gran Tabula includes all three vineyards that usually make up the wine (El Varril, La Valera and La Guindalera). There is far more confidence and breeding in the nose with vivacious macerated red cherries, boysenberry jam and a touch of iodine. The palate is full-bodied with succulent ripe blueberry and boysenberry fruit. There is a firm backbone to this wine and unlike the previous vintage there is more weight and presence on the primal finish. It will need a couple of years in bottle. Drink 2014-2020. 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).