I always eagerly await anything that LCBO releases from Bodegas Fortius/Valcarlos, as their products are outstanding and for a great price. This wine is a bit disappointing, however. It is medium bodied, slightly acidic with integrated to aged notes of red currant, cherry, Earth and leather. The tannins are refined to tannic (decant for longer than 30 min) and the finish is medium. It is good to drink now or should evolve for the next 4 years (LCBO may just do that for us, as I foresee inadequate retail). My impression: NICE (when properly decanted), 88 pts. This wine should sell under $14, as it is not on the same level as its previously released siblings in comparable price range. Tasted May/10.

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http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recomended-wines-you-can-still-buy

A far cry from the '99 Gran Reserva.

A bit of a chameleon; initially disjointed; woody, hot, acidic. Medium concentration of fruit, plenty of tannin.

An hour later it had softened. Better, but still nothing great and still out of balance...but better.

the next day it had "evolved" into a tangy, smoky, very Spanish tasting wine. Anise, raisin, sweetish but quite rustic.

My guess, however, is that it's chemistry is sound, and this could age well: The fruit has enough concentration to balance out some of the tannins and the acidity is good enough to hold it all together.

but why bother?