85

Bodega Cooperativa Virgen de la Asunción 2012 El Secreto de María

Tempranillo (Ribera del Duero)

This bottling has a massively black core but a reticent nose, showing only the barest—yet intriguing—hints of lilac, tar and cassis. The palate is perky in mouthwatering acidity, but the youthful and lightly astringent tannins could use some time to relax. There’s just enough stuffing of flavors in this full-bodied and nuanced wine to allow it to hang on a while, but it likely needs to be sipped young. Enjoy now through 2017.

85

Bodega Cooperativa Virgen de la Asunción 2012 El Secreto de María

Tempranillo (Ribera del Duero)

This bottling has a massively black core but a reticent nose, showing only the barest—yet intriguing—hints of lilac, tar and cassis. The palate is perky in mouthwatering acidity, but the youthful and lightly astringent tannins could use some time to relax. There’s just enough stuffing of flavors in this full-bodied and nuanced wine to allow it to hang on a while, but it likely needs to be sipped young. Enjoy now through 2017.

85

Bodega Cooperativa Virgen de la Asunción 2012 El Secreto de María

Tempranillo (Ribera del Duero)

This bottling has a massively black core but a reticent nose, showing only the barest—yet intriguing—hints of lilac, tar and cassis. The palate is perky in mouthwatering acidity, but the youthful and lightly astringent tannins could use some time to relax. There’s just enough stuffing of flavors in this full-bodied and nuanced wine to allow it to hang on a while, but it likely needs to be sipped young. Enjoy now through 2017.