The 2008 Crianza spent 18 months in new French oak before bottling without filtration. This strikingly perfumed effort displays layered fruit, savory flavors, and outstanding density. It has enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years and will deliver optimum drinking from 2013 to 2020. Vina Sastre is a benchmark estate in Ribera del Duero. It is committed to organic farming and biodynamic principles with the wines naturally made and bottled without fining or filtration.Importer: Andre Tamers, De Maison Selections, Chapel Hill, NC; www.demaisonselections.com

Kicks off with a blend of herbs, wild flowers, lavender and toasty oak. It’s a fresh, clean, semirich RDD with beautiful berry fruit, chocolate and a slight bit of char. An exciting wine with delicious core flavors and no toughness, hard tannins or heat. A bit dark and bitter on the finish, like a good espresso. Drink now–2014. ——M.S.(10/1/2010)—— 91