At a glance

Producer

Legaris

Region

Ribera del Duero, Spain

Grape variety

Tempranillo (Tinto Fino) with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine type

Red

Body

Full-bodied and Smooth

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

€40-€80 (depending on provenance, rarity, and condition)

Tasting profile

Dried cherry, leather, damp earth, cedar, sweet tobacco, and hints of balsamic. Fruit presence faded; sandalwood, tertiary notes predominate.

Evolution: Primary fruit nearly gone, structure softened, aromatics evolve toward forest floor, spice, cedar, and umami.

At peak: Showed best 2010-2015. Now, interest from complexity and tertiary aromas; pleasure depends on cellaring history.

Structure

Acidity

Moderate, may be softening with age

Tannins

Integrated, resolved, likely silky at this stage

Alcohol

Medium to high (typically 14-14.5%)

Aging potential

Originally robust, but 20+ years old; best enjoyed now if cellared well

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2010 to 2015

Optimal window

2007 to 2016

Current status

Late maturity, possibly declining but can show well if well-cellared

Current condition

Advanced maturity; tertiary development dominates—consume soon; diminishing freshness

20+ years is past the peak for most Ribera del Duero Reservas, even from strong vintages. 2001 was an excellent year, but the wine is now in full maturity and fades based on provenance. Best bottles show elegance and complexity but increasingly fragile.

Food pairing

Aged Manchego, braised game, mushroom ragout, roasted lamb, or as a contemplative wine with hard cheeses.

Serving

Decant

Not required

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 5/10

Conventional viticulture in 2001. Over the years, Legaris gradually introduced energy efficiencies and some sustainable practices, but late-1990s/early-2000s production relied on standard chemical/irrigation protocols. No lightweight packaging or water recycling policies documented for this vintage.

In 2001, Legaris operated conventionally: no organic farming, no environmental certification, and limited documented sustainability practices. As a result, the sustainability score is average. Improvements have since been adopted by the estate—solar panels, water use reductions, and vineyard biodiversity—but these post-date the 2001 vintage. The overall impact includes long-haul transportation for exports, contributing additional emissions. Therefore, this bottle does not strongly reflect modern sustainability efforts, and drinkers prioritizing green credentials may wish to investigate more recent vintages.