Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 327,480 strong:

Register Today!

Balbás Crianza 2005

Thanks for liking this wine! Let your friends on Twitter and Facebook know about it by clicking on the buttons here.

If you've already connected your Twitter account, then you don't need to click on the Twitter button to share your review as it'll be done for you.

Optional: Before you share your wine find with friends, you can pick a score or make a quick tasting note, or both if you like:


My Score:
 
My Tasting Notes:
Expand Box




Community Reviews

There are 3 user submitted reviews for this wine.

Camelia Bucur rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

This Bodegas Balbás Ardal Crianza 2005 is a blend of Tempranillo 90% and Cabernet Sauvignon 10% grapes. Intense dried black fruit and oak notes. On the palate there is spice and pepper aftertaste with the presence of those dried black fruit. Full bodied, well-balance tannis with low plus acidity. A nice wine to enjoy on this own or with grilled meats. Drank in November 2016
Les Kovacs reviewed this wine as follows:

Good but must decant. A little edgy right out of the bottle. Good wine for price though.
Heather Wall rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Big and juicy! Dark ruby colour with thick legs. Fresh red berries leap from the glass followed by smoke and oak. Blackberry, black cherry, violet, vanilla, toast, black earth. The tannins are polishing and evident on the long fruit driven finish. The acidity is Medium+ and in my opinion this wine is peaking now. 90% Tempranillo with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Enjoy with hearty meals - grilled steak, Prime Rib roast, beef stews. Decant 2 hours.
Tasted: December 2014




Natalie's Review

Balbás Crianza 2005, Ribera Del Duero D.O., Spain: Juicy and mouth-filling with layered flavours of mouth-watering blackberry and blueberry notes. Polished tannins with great mouth-weight. Produced by Bodegas Alitus. Lovely finish. The robust red wine is a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Pair with gourmet hamburgers. Drink: 2014-2018. 167601 14% XD 750 mL  $22.95 Score: 91/100. December 6, 2014 Best Value Red Wine. Best Beef Wine  Full Review

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  

CTV Wine of the Week!

Villa Maria White Wine
Sauvignon Blanc 2022,
Marlborough, South Island ...

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 327,480 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  

338,012

WINE
REVIEWS

327,480

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