The 2005 Dehesa la Granja, from a top-flight vintage, displays an inviting perfume of cedar, Asian spices, a hint of balsamic, licorice, and assorted black fruits. This is followed by a sweetly-fruited, well-proportioned wine with a friendly personality. It is approachable now but is likely to evolve for another 2-3 years. Drink this outstanding value from 2013 to 2020+.Bodegas y Vinedos Fernandez Rivera is another Alejandro Fernandez estate (the Rivera coming from his wife’s maiden name). Located just outside the Toro demarcation line necessitating the use of the more generic Castilla y Leon designation, the historic La Granja estate has been replanted to 325 acres of Tempranillo from clones in Pesquera.Importer: Steve Metzler, Classical Wines From Spain, Seattle, WA; Tel. (206) 297-6713

The 2004 Dehesa la Granja offers similar but more expressive aromatics, is rounder and more supple on the palate, and has outstanding depth, concentration, and length. It is more forward than the 2003 but should offer a similar drinking window. It will be at its best from 2010-2020.The Dehesa la Granja wines are part of the Grupo Pesquera and are sourced entirely from estate Tempranillo vineyards planted in 1998.Importer: Steve Metzler, Classical Wines from Spain, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 297-6713

The 2003 Dehesa la Granja offers an attractive bouquet of smoke, mocha, coffee, and blackberry. This is followed by a structured, ripe, and concentrated wine with several years of aging potential. It reveals some of the compression of the hot vintage conditions but should provide pleasure between 2011 and 2023.The Dehesa la Granja wines are part of the Grupo Pesquera and are sourced entirely from estate Tempranillo vineyards planted in 1998.Importer: Steve Metzler, Classical Wines from Spain, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 297-6713