Arguably among the first top quality wines from Bierzo, the 1999 Ardai Cepas Centenarias is made from 100% mencía from 90 - 100 years old vines. It is aged for 17 months in French oak. This was only my second bottle of a 6-pack that I have had for some time. I always thought the wine showed a lot of potential, and it is now starting to hit its stride, although it should drink well through the end of the decade. It now shows more elegance as its fruit, acidity, oak, minerals, and tannic grip have come into increasingly alignment. The nose shows mostly black fruit, cinnamon spice, and slight anise, and floral notes. It is medium bodied with depth and a zesty mouthfeel, and it shows focussed flavors of bright red and black fruits with excellent persistence.

P.S. Since the 2000 vintage, this wine now flies under the banner of Valtuille Cepas Centenarias.

Cereza picota con ribete granate y capa media. Nariz de intensidad baja con ligerísimo tufo inicial que desaparece, tostados, fruta negra, balsámicos y algo de carbón. En boca parece ligero, astringente y descarnado con una acidez alta que no es arropada por una estructura mayor. Flojo. Precio carísimo 29.5€;

Picota de buena capa con ribete morado. Notas de frambuesa y algo de canela. Algún recuerdo láctico. Boca algo ácida y algo de desequilibrio. Largo y con un intenso postgusto que recuerda al regaliz.

Picota oscuro con tonos granates pero de capa media. En nariz destacan notas de frambuesa y fruta negra junto a tonos balsámicos, mentolados y alcohólicos. En boca es amplio, sabroso, carnoso –se mastica- y con un buen postgusto.