The wine is stainless-steel fermented for approximately 22 days, then transferred to 98% new French Allier and 2% American Oak barrels, where it undergoes malolactic fermentation. It is then aged for 14 months. The wine is lightly fined, and then bottled unfiltered.
"The 2005 Allende is 100% Tempranillo barrel-fermented and aged for 14 months in mostly new French oak. Purple-colored, it offers up an enticing bouquet of pain grille, crushed stone, spice box, scorched earth and blackberry. Ripe, layered, and complex, it has gobs of spicy fruit, several years of aging potential, and a lengthy finish. "
92 Points
The Wine Advocate
"Ruby-red. Sexy cherry and roasted meat aromas are complicated by dried orange peel and licorice. Bitter cherry and anise flavors develop a smoky quality with air and are framed by silky tannins. Gains sweetness on the long, spicy finish, which echoes the exotic orange quality. This is extremely suave."