The 2010 Pico Cuadro has a fresh, vibrant bouquet of dark cherries, orange zest, a touch of tobacco and cassis that is tightly wound at the moment, but seems to marry well with the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with higher acidity than the 2009, lending this 2010 fine tension and race. It is a little angular toward the finish, but it remains a well-made, vibrant Ribera del Duero. Drink 2013-2020.
I visited Pico Cuadro, apparently the smallest bodega member of the Consejo Regulador, to meet winemaker Felipe Castrillo Martin (no relation). When he began in 2004, the production was just 12,000 bottles, although it has since expanded. He does not own vineyards but sources from growers under contract from around Ribera del Duero under which he manages the vines throughout the growing season. The wine is fermented in nine wooden vats in the winery located in Quintanilla de Onesimo. I found this address to be a good source of well-crafted wines.
Importer: Classic Wine Selections, Stamford, CT; tel. (203) 975-2522