Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 327,329 strong:

Register Today!

Balbás Reserva 2005 Wine Review

Balbás Reserva 2005

Balbás Reserva 2005

Ribera Del Duero D.O., Spain

Community Score:89/100

Community Reviews: 9

  Add My Review


Price: $29.95

Drink: 2015-2018

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 14%

Sweetness: Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine


Winery: Balbás

Agent: Tradesa Corp.

Natalie's Score: 91/100

This full-bodied Spanish red wine has a good grip on the palate is offers more earthy, smoky, dusty aromas and flavours than fruit-forward ones. Decant for 2 hours and pair with lamb and rosemary. Complex, elegant and mature.

Luscious Lamb Wine

This Balbás Reserva 2005 was reviewed on June 11, 2016 by Natalie MacLean

Pricing & Stock Information

Reviews and Ratings

Douglas McMillan rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

A big, dark, sultry wine with aromas of dried rosemary and other herbs, earth, plums, jammy strawberries, and a touch of black pepper and vanilla. The taste is dark plum again, and there are lots of nice tannins, just on the grippy side of rounded. There's a long spicy plum finish. I paired this with a *very* tender roast beef, and it was a near perfect match.
Cherie Cole rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

90% Tempranillo and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Full bodied with great acidity and round tannins. Plum, dried dark fruit with a hint of herbs and smoke on the nose. Beautiful balance of dark fruit with vanilla and a touch of oak on the finish. Tasted May, 2017.
Heather Wall - CS; WSET Advanced rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

This full-bodied Deuro red comes in just above the magic $20 price point but worth the extra dollar. This 2005 is still showing youthful tannins and I suggest decanting at least 2 hours. Smoky, dusty, toasted oak,leather, black earth with a mix of red and black fruits. Serve with grilled or roasted red meat done medium-rare.
Tasted: August 2015
Gwen Barton rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Full-bodied, intense aromas - smoke, vanilla, tobacco, coffee. Oak aging comes through on the palate as well with more vanilla, cloves, some nuttiness- fruit flavours of cherry, and cranberry are there- but take a back seat. Lots of heat and spice on the finish. Paired well with steak.
Neil Phillips rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Medium+ in intensity, this Ribera del Duero has seen a fair bit of oak. Aromas of clove, nutmeg, vanilla, cedar...and then black fruits, red fruit jam. Slight meaty notes.

On the palate, same black fruits with added tart cherry, cranberry and herbaceous notes.

I found this a good wine, but was hoping for more complexity. I think perhaps a tad too much oak - or just a bit past its ideal drinking window.

Tasted October 2016.
Dry and subtle, with tanned leather and cigar box and made mostly from the traditional Tempranillo grape with some Cabernet. This Spanish DO wine finishes with dry tobacco and cedar. - Community Wine Reviews

1 Member would buy this wine again

If you liked the Balbás Reserva 2005, you might also like these wines:

Recipes for Balbás Reserva 2005

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

Wine of the Week

As featured on  

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 327,329 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more  

337,676

WINE
REVIEWS

327,329

ACTIVE
MEMBERS
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
WFour-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award