The 2005 Seleccion Especial is composed of 75% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot aged for 18 months in French and American oak. Purple-colored, it offers up a toasty bouquet of cedar, leather, black currants, and blackberry. This leads to a medium to full-bodied wine with a smooth texture, good depth, and enough ripe tannin to permit another 2-3 years of evolution. Drink this forward, tasty effort now-2015.
Abadia Retuerta, located just outside the Ribera del Duero boundary, has turned out two excellent values in the 2005 vintage.
Importer: Kobrand Corporation, New York, NY; tel. (212) 490-9300