This is lush, with juicy dark cherry and currant flavors mixed with tea, anise, graphite and violet details. Plush tannins give this nice texture, with good harmony and focus. Drink now through 2030. 1,250 cases made, 500 cases imported.??–GS??Region: Spain / Ribera del Duero Select to Add

The 2018 Selección is a ripe and toasty red produced with Tempranillo from a single vineyard that yields small bunches and concentrated juice. It's generously oaked in the style of the wines from yesteryear. It matured in French oak for 18 months. 8,000 bottles were filled in January 2020.

The 2015 Selección was produced with Tempranillo from a single vineyard that yields small bunches and concentrated juice. It has contained ripeness and alcohol for a warm and dry year, and it matured in French oak barrels for 16 months. Often, more expensive means more oak, which seems to be the case here; 2015 was also a riper and warmer year, and the wine shows it. There are plenty of spicy and smoky notes with ripe black fruit and a somewhat rustic palate with powdery tannins. 8,000 bottles were filled in December 2017.

The 2014 Selección is produced with Tempranillo from a vineyard called Los Astrales with limestone-rich soils that produce small bunches and concentrated juice. It's a pure Tempranillo aged in French barriques for 16 months. It feels quite similar to most of the other wines, with quite a lot more oak aromas and flavors. 8,000 bottles produced.

The 2011 Arrocal Seleccion is pure Tempranillo with ripe, minty aromas. It is quite showy and attractive with balsamic notes of cola nut, quite marked by the oak. But it has enough intensity of fruit to keep the oak in the background, both in nose and palate. The tannins are polished and plump, and there seems to be enough acidity. It feels remarkably fresh for a warm vintage like 2011. Well done! Drink now-2018. Arrocal is located in Gumiel del Mercado in the province of Burgos. These are modern, well-crafted wines. Importer: Grapes of Spain, Lorton, VA; tel. (571) 642-0343, www.grapesofspain.com