Bodegas Alejandro Fernandez 2003 Ribera del Duero Pesquera ($30). A charming wine, with plush layers of perfectly ripe berry fruit supported by tobacco, toasty oak and a fresh acidity that keeps things lively through the finish. Ready to drink now and over the next four or five years. (World Wide Wine 10/06)

Bodegas Emilio Moro

2007 Ribera del Duero Malleolus de Sanchomartin ($200). Mint and coconut aromas and flavors accent deep plum and black cherry fruit. Loads of spice notes from beginning to end, along with touches of mineral and cedar on the long, rich finish. Modern style, blockbuster, a “wow” wine. Ready to drink now and over the next 10 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2011-06-30)

Ribera del Duero. The Moro family has been making wine in this part of Spain for two generations. They take pride in the land, its grapes, and their wines – a pride that shows in each of their bottlings. The 1998 vintage shows plenty of backbone supporting ripe, concentrated plum and berry fruit, with mineral and espresso notes that emerge on the finish. Ready to drink now and over the next few years. Priced around $25, with the structure to age nicely, this is certainly one of the best values available from this popular region. (Robyn’s Picks, 02/02)

Bodegas Monasterio 2000 Ribera del Duero Hacienda Monasterio Crianza ($32). Lush and concentrated, with aromatic red berry and cherry fruit, sweet herbs, smoke and floral notes that mingle on the focused finish. Very good. Ready to drink now and over the next four or five years. (World Wide Wine 10/06)

Bodegas Senorio de Nava 1998 Ribera del Duero Crianza ($20). Simple and straightforward, with a clean fruit taste and moderate herbal notes. Light tannins. Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine, 10/01)

Bodegas Vizcarra Ramos 2008 Ribera del Duero JC ($24). Really lovely stuff — balanced and charming. Should be interesting to see how this evolves! With vanilla extract, chocolate and tobacco accents to the red, red fruit — think cherry, cranberry, red plum. Picks up toasty oak and toasted vanilla on the lush, bright finish. Ready to drink now and over the next 4-5 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2011-06-30)

Bodegas y Vinedos Montecastro 2006 Ribera del Duero ($45). Aromatic coconut and chocolate accent ripe black fruit — plum, blackberry — that stays forward through the finish, picking up notes of dried basil and tarragon through the somewhat firm finish. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2011-06-30)

Condado de Haza

2006 Ribera del Duero Crianza ($30). Starts a little rough and rustic, but then the black cherry and plum fruit kicks in, with smoke and mineral accents. After a bit of breathing time, the finish smooths out and  picks up rich, chocolatey note. Ready to drink now. and over the next 2-3 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2010-06-18)

2003 Ribera del Duero ($25). Slightly rustic, but offering appealing, ripe black cherry and berry flavors, accented with plenty of oak, smoky tobacco and dried herbs. Ready to drink now and over the next three or four years. (World Wide Wine 10/06)

Hnos. Cuadrado-Garcia 1999 Ribera del Duero Finca Villacreces Crianza ($28). Fruity and balanced, even for a rainy vintage, with pretty red plum and berry flavors laced with smoke, mineral and toasty oak. Has an appealing fresh quality, with underlying tannins that offer structure and a crisp, focused finish. Ready to drink now and over the next two or three years. (World Wide Wine 10/06)

Legaris 2007 Ribera del Duero Crianza ($35). Tobacco and dill aromas introduce a lean, racy style of Ribera. With mint and tarragon notes accenting medium-bodied, bright cherry and plum fruit, a nice finish and appealing overall balance and integration. Ready to drink now and over the next 4-5 years. Locate this wine online or in your area. (2011-06-30)

Tinto Pesquera 1996 Ribera Del Duero Reserva ($50). 100% Tempranillo and tightly wound, this wine is just beginning to show its fruit, including a concentrated cranberry note. This is a complex wine, intricately structured, and with substantial tannins. It needs several more years of bottle age, and should continue to improve for ten to fifteen years. (Weekend Wine, 07/01)