Varietal: 100% Tinta del Pais Robert Parker (92pts): The 2000 Valderiz Tomas Esteban (named after the proprietor) comes from 80-year-old, bush trained, Tempranillo vines which have been biodynamically farmed. The wine spent 30 months in French oak of which 30% was new. Purple/opaque in color, the wine has aromatics more reminiscent of Syrah than Tempranillo with bacon, blood, soy, and smoke making a splendid first impression. This is followed by a wine with superb depth, ripe flavors of black fruits and minerality in the background. There is excellent balance and enough sweet tannin to support another 5 years of bottle age.