La Rioja Alta Vina Alberdi Rioja Reserva 2005

Garnet with some brick at the rim. Redcurrant, dried cherry and vanilla-scented oak come forward immediately, with a quiet thread of smoke and mineral beneath. Juicy red fruit and rose pastille carry the mid-palate, sweetened by cola and vanilla bean, while the acidity stays lively and keeps the whole thing honest. Oak is well-absorbed through a finish that lingers generously. Approachable now thanks to that bright spine, but a few more years will bring greater cohesion and reward.