Founded in 2000, this fantastic 15 hectare estate of 20 to 70-yearold Tinto Fino vineyards in Bangui belongs to the Romero de la Cruz family, who drafted in Eduardo Garcia (see Mauro and Maurodos) to make their own wine rather than simply sell on the grapes as they had always done.
In the interim, a further 14 hectares of Tinto Fino have been planted; and having begun a couple of years with their very feminine 2003, sold through the chunkier 04 vintage, we are now delighted to be on the 2005 vintage, heralded big-time in Spain on release early this year and also - unfortunately for us - doing exceptionally well over at Sweden's Monopoly. Says RP: 'a worthy successor to the superb 2004, the 2005 Astrales is 100% Tinto Fino sourced from vines ranging in age from 30-85 years. The grapes were fermented with native yeasts and the wine was aged for 18 months in French and American oak, 30% new.
Purple-colored, it exhibits an enticing perfume of toasty oak, pencil lead, mineral, blackberry, and licorice. Smooth-textured, layered, and intensely flavored, the wine is currently tightly wound but very well-balanced. It will need a minimum of 5-7 years to reveal its full potential. This lengthy effort will well reward those with patience (and youth) by providing pleasure through 2030.’
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