The 2005 Valdegatiles is sourced from a single site on the estate with ungrafted vines over 100 years old. The wine was aged in French oak, 33% new, for 18 months. Notes of cedar, saddle leather, mineral, blackberry, and black cherry are enticing. This leads to a wine with huge structure but excellent balance. The wine is intense, layered, and very long but it demands 12-15 years of cellaring. However, this is a case in which patience will be rewarded. In short, this is not a wine for those unable to delay gratification. This is a true vins de garde that will require much patience but in the end, it will be rewarded. Dominio de Atauta was established in 1999 with the first vintage the following year. The vineyards are 100% Tinto Fino, most of them ungrafted vines of 60+ years of age. The estate is biodynamically farmed and all wines are bottled without fining or filtration. Importer: Manny Berk, The Rare Wine Co., Sonoma, CA; tel. (707) 996-4484