One of the best kept secrets of Ribera del Duero, Finca Villacreces produces a sexy red from 75% Tempranillo and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Aged 14 months in new and one-year old French casks, this 2,000-case cuvee exhibits a deep ruby/purple color along with a bouquet of smoky hickory wood, barbecue spices, vanilla, black currants, cherries, melted asphalt, and licorice. The complex aromatics are followed by a delicious, fruit-driven, opulent, medium to full-bodied offering with no hard edges. Drink it over the next 5-7 years. Importer: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565