The single-vineyard 2020 Finca Dofí comes from the 14 hectares of vines planted across three parajes (lieu-dits) in Gratallops, a blend of 83% Garnacha, 12% Cariñena, 4% Picapoll—a grape with low sugar and... Read More
The dense, rich 2000 Pagos Viejos possesses a saturated ruby/purple color, a layered, expansive texture, and additional oak, extract, and glycerin characteristics in the finish. It will benefit from 1-2 years of cellaring, and... Read More
Sly in the early innings and then menthol, forest, spice, charcoal and earthy black-fruit aromas emerge to rally this bruiser into its prime, which entails monster fruit flavors, rugged tannins, and a stout, peppery finish. The... Read More
The outstanding 2005 Termanthia has a much more reticent nose than the 2004, which is a difficult act to follow, but in many ways it is just as attractive, perhaps with better delineation and more elegance, scents of incense,... Read More
Fresh and intense fruity aromas well integrated with a flower touch, gentle spices & lively eucalyptus leaves touch. The aromatic experience continues, the mouthfeel is silky and vibrant. After lively and intense attack, an explosion... Read More
The 2021 Clio is ripe and heady with 16% alcohol and generous oak. It's faithful to the house style, but like many other wines from the 2021 vintage from the Gil family, this also came through as fresher and more balanced... Read More
The 2012 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial was produced with a blend of 81% Tempranillo and 19% Mazuelo (Cariñena) from the plot La Plana in the Ygay estate, which was planted in 1950 at 485 meters above sea level, the... Read More
The most classical of their wines, the 2015 Prado Enea Gran Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano, mostly from Rioja Alta (Sajazarra, Cellorigo and Fonzaleche), but the Garnacha is from different plots... Read More
The 2019 Reserva, sold as Crianza in Spain, comes from a dry and warm year with low yields and concentrated wines. The grapes from the Haro zone, the four from Rioja, Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo and Graciano fermented... Read More
Inky dark, with coconut, baking spice and leather on the otherwise fruity nose. There's a lumber yard's worth of oak here, but overall it works. The spice element is undeniable, while the quality of the fruit supercedes... Read More
A millennium wine that's now in fine form. It's a typical Garnacha-Cariñena blend that runs heavy on Garnacha. The bouquet is strong and evolved, with leather and mineral along with aromas of crushed flower petals,... Read More
The 2018 Hacienda Monasterio, the wine that was previously labeled as Crianza, is a blend of 80% Tinto Fino, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 2% Malbec selected from the 100 hectares of their organically certified vineyard... Read More
Organic egg flower with creamy truffled potato and the sweetness of the baby langoustine with Iberian jowl; roasted duck with foie gras ravioli and... Read More
Cropped from a warm and ripe year, the entry-level 2015 Termes was able to keep its poise and balance. It has balsamic aromas and flavors, with sweet fruit on the palate. It's 15% alcohol and matured in French barriques for... Read More
The 2013 Termes, from a slow ripening, cold and wet vintage, is pure Tinta de Toro (aka Tempranillo) from a number of 30- to 50-year-old vineyards in the villages of Valdefinjas, Morales de Toro, Toro, Venialbo and El Pego at... Read More
Termes is the vibrant expression of Toro, a symbol of its youthful spirit. It stands out from what Toro wines used to be, for its vigor, freshness and vivacity. Powerful yet balanced, vibrant yet complex, it is perfect to drink... Read More
It is more than three decades since this mysterious Spanish wine was born. The label: Black. The bottle: Burgundy style. The variety: Cabernet Sauvignon. Few had much faith in this project. Certainly, nobody back in 1979, could... Read More
The Mas la Plana is graceful and balanced despite its firm and dominant tannin profile. Bright crunchy acidity ensures a wine that will develop in the cellar for years to come. This polished red displays hints of... Read More
Dark cherry red with garnet highlights. Astounding aroma of black fruit (wild blackberries), with exquisite jammy (cherry) notes coming through, and a toasty nuance (roasted coffee). Dense and velvety on the palate,... Read More
This wine has a lovely dark cherry red color with subtle warm toasty glints. The aromatic expression is clean, with notes of flowers (wild scrub) and black fruit (blackberry jam) over smoky, toasty undertones (coffee).... Read More
Along with the 2014, I also tasted the 2015 Salmos, which is from an earlier and riper year. It's a similar blend of Cariñena, Garnacha and Syrah from the same vineyards and produced in a similar way, with fermentation... Read More
A ripe red from Priorat, the 2017 Salmos is a blend of 50% Cariñena, 40% Garnacha and 10% Syrah with a mixture of berry and spicy oak aromas and limited Priorat character. It's polished and balanced, and the tannins... Read More
Luminous and clear straw yellow color. Clean and intense floral aromas with deliciously ripe citrus notes (pineapple preserves). Rich and flavourful, with lush extract and a seductive midpalate.... Read More