Neo 2005

"The 2005 Neo is a powerful wine with a brooding bouquet of balsam wood, Asian spices, incense, and blackberry. Structured for the long haul and very rich, this impeccably balanced offering will evolve for 6-8 years and offer a drinking window extending from 2016 to 2030.

Bodegas Neo consists of a bunch of young guys having the time of their lives. They seem to be making wine everywhere (Rueda, Priorat, Bierzo, Rioja, and Ribera del Duero), as well as designing wine labels, recording music videos, and generally partying. But when it comes down to their top two wines, they are deadly serious. On my visit in May, 2010, I was shown verticals of Neo and Neo Punta Esencia. Neo is sourced from 50- to 60-year-old Tempranillo vines and typically aged in French and American oak for 15 months before bottling without fining or filtration. Neo Punta Esencia is made only in the better years. It is sourced from a single, 80-year-old vineyard producing tiny yields. It receives the “200% new oak” treatment spending 12 months in 100% new French oak before racking into a different set of new barrels for 6 months". 
 

"Un lacre muy amplio para esta nueva entrega del vino central de la bodega y de la gama, el que fuera su primer vino, y que se ha consolidado como uno de los más sólidos exponentes de la nueva ribera. Un vino de limitada producción, que en esta añada muestra gran complejidad y elegancia. Potente, maduro, fino, con gran peso de fruta y agradable untuosidad. Con gran longitud y persistencia. Su nombre puede evocar la acepción latina "neo", como revisora de un estilo, quizás un mensaje subliminal, es el resultado de la selección de uva de viña vieja realizada en diversos pagos de La Horra."