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Spain Red
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Multi-region Wineries
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Casa Rojo, Macho Man Monastrell, DO Jumilla 2013 10.71 +/89 Very good wine with strong cherries and pleasant smooth velvety texture, but a bit not our taste
Casa Rojo, Alexander vs. the Ham Factory (Crianza), DO Ribera del Duero 2013 17.50 + Very tannic (needs 2h+). Red and black fruits: raspberries, cassis, blackberries, cherries. Also leather and bitter chocolate. Pairs well with spicy food. Not very long.
Torres, Celeste Roble, Ribera del Duero 2016 ~ Character-less
Galicia & Asturia
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Demencia, Demencia, DO Bierzo 2009 19.95 !/95 As dark as a night, very complex and intense with velvety texture. Eucalyptus, mulberries, and currant (black raisins). A bit sweet, but not exceedingly. Long and very different finish with bitter chocolate, cassis, and cherries.
Demencia, Pyjama, DO Bierzo 2013 9.95 + Dry, powerfull, tannic. Well balanced but with a bit excesive alcohol for my taste. Cherries, dark furits.
Raul Perez, La Vitoriana (Lomas de Valtuille), Bierzo 2017 !/94 Full, oily, dry, complex, with mellow tanins, fruity (a bit of decanting). Compote of dark fruits, strawberry jam, fig. Long finish with prunes, cassis, grape skins, fallen leaves.
Raul Perez, Los Arrotos del Pendon, Tierra de Leon 2015 18.35 !/93 med+. Blackberries, cassis, raspberries. Earth and chocolate.
Raul Perez, Ultreia (Mencia), Bierzo 2016 15.36 !/93 med, very dry, long. Strawberries, raspberries, casis. Leather, juniper, lime zest, spices.
Raul Perez, Ultreia Saint Jacques (Mencia), Bierzo 2017 9.50 +/92 mid+, tannic, long, aroma! Sour cherries, raspberies, lingonberries. Ends with leather and subtle spiciness.
Raul Perez & Niepoort, Ultreia Douro, Douro (Niepoort plot) 2017 ~/89 med,3h!. Sour cheries, red currant. Peach skin, prunes. White pepper and currant seeds. Seeds too pronounced and shadow the complxity.
Losada, (Mencia), Bierzo 2017 14.90 +/91 Full, oily. body-, finish+. Black plums, black cherries, vanilla, dark chocolate, cream.
Gancedo, Xestal Mencia, Bierzo 2008 ~/87
Fedellos do Couto, Lomba dos Ares, Ribeira Sacra 2017 17.95 !/92 med, long, youthful. Red currant, pomegranate, sour cherries. Cranberries.
Dominio del Urogallo, Pesico (Verdejo Tinto, Mencía, Albarín Tinto, Carrasquin), Asturia 2015 16.90 !/95 mid+, dry, complex, long. Syroupy texture, lingering, and balanced. Fruit forward: cassis, sour cherries, red currant, earthness. Subtle minerality, peaches, and ripe pommergranate.
Rioja, Navarra, and Mountains
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La Rioja Alta, Vina Ardanza Selection Especial (Reserva), Rioja 2010 21.50 !/93 Med, very dry, lingering. Off the style (due to Granatxa). Lots of pomegranate and its skin, sour cherries, physalis.
Ramon Bilbao, Gran Reserva, Rioja 2009 19.50 + Classic Rioja. Cherries, raspberries, cassis. Long spicy finish.
Altos Ibericos, Crianza, Rioja 2015 ~ Simple, but easy going
El Coto, Coto de Imaz Reserva, Rioja 2017 .
Borsao, Tres Picos (Garnacha), Campo de Borja 2014 13.25 ! Quite unusual but in a good way. Raspberries, cherries, red currant. Smooth, balanced, jammy, but not too sweet. Good also right out of the bottle without long decantation.
Borsao, Berola, Campo de Borja 2016 11.25 !/94 Full, dry, tannic, powerfull and very well integrated.
Borsao, Garnacha, Campo de Borja 2017 ~
Borsao, Zarihs Syrah, Campo de Borja 2015 14.30 ~ Full, oily, velvety. But excessive licorice kills it.
Bodega Pirineos, Selecccion Marbore, DO Somontano 2007 +/90 Very complex & long. Good immideately, but improves with time. Dark fruits, lingonberry, leather, tobacco.
Vinas del Vero, La Miranda Secastilla (Garnacha), DO Somontano 2014 8.40 +/89 Misses texture and complexity, but great nose
Proyecto Garnachas, La Garnacha Salvaje del Moncayo, Aragon 2016 ~/87 med, not too complex, on a sweeter side. Plums, bitter chocolate.
El Escoces Volante, Manga del Brujo, Caltayud 2015 ~ A lot of cassis. Some plums, cherries, and spices (black pepper, vanilla). Medium, balanced. Relatively complex, and medium long.
Douro and center
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Bodega Teso la Monja, Almirez, DO Toro 2010 18.60 +/91 Cheries & black currant. Moderate bitter finish. Not as good as 2012? Needs 3h decanting.
Bodega Teso la Monja, Almirez, DO Toro 2012 15.90 !/96 E! Strong blackberry, complex texture, long finish, requires 3h+ decantenation
Bodega Teso la Monja, Romanico, DO Toro 2013 9.85 ./86 Blackcurrant, but not much more. Well balanced, but quite simple and without finish.
Quinta de la Quietud, Acitud de Quietud, DO Toro 2014 20.25 !/94 Full, complex, velvety, medium long. Blackberies, raspberries, cassis. Ends: bitter chocolate and subtle spices.
Quinta de la Quietud, Acitud de Quietud, DO Toro 2015 20.25 +/91 Med+, tannic, balanced. Lacking in palate and complexity. Blackberries, raspberries, prunes, leather, smoke.
Dominio del Bendito, El Primer Paso, DO Toro 2018 13.40 !/93 Full, oily, complex, balanced. Compote of dark fruits, rowanberies, prunes, raspberries, jam of fig.
Bodegas San Roman, DO Toro 2016 28.00 !/93 Full, powerfull, 2h+
Bodegas San Roman, Prima, DO Toro 2016 10.80 +/90 Med+, balanced. Sour cherries, cassis, earthy. Subtle spices and strawberry jam.
Terra d'Uro, Uro, DO Toro 2014 31.45 +/91 Full, but as of 2020 still needs a couple of years in cellar to open.
Numanthia, Termes, DO Toro 2013 19.90 +/90 Complex, but slightly unbalanced
Divina Proporcion, Madremia, DO Toro 2017 11.20 +/90 Full. Dark fruits and way too much licorice.
Muruve, Tinta de Toro Reserva, DO Toro 2014 11.40 +/90 mid+, 2h+, sour cheris & plums, but lacks character.
Maguila, Angelitos Negros, DO Toro 2017 8.15 ~/88 Full, soft tanins, dull finish. Cassis, raspberies, pomergranate, smoke. Finish: plums, vanilla, white pepper.
Iturria, Tinto Iturria (90% Tinto de Toro, 10% Granacha), DO Toro 2011 13.50 .
Tinto Pesquera, Crianza, Ribera del Duero 2014 +/92 Possibly 4.5 - complex and needs time to open, but drank at once. Medium to full, velvety, high acidity. Prunes, sour cherries, cassis. Spices in the finish.
Venta las Vascas, DO Ribera del Duero 2016 13.90 +/91
Aalto, DO Ribera del Duero 2016 32.00 +/90 full, not too complex. Blackeries & cassis.
Protos, Roble, Ribera del Duero +/90
Aster, Crianza, DO Ribera del Duero +/90
Finca Villacreces, Pruno, DO Ribera del Duero 2009 13.63 ~/88
Finca Azaya, DO Ribera del Duero 2017 19.00 ~/88 mid+, short. Plums, tabaco. Ends with subtle cassis.
Dominio de Atauta, La Celestina Crianza, Riber del Duero ~/88
Finca Torremilanos, Crianza, DO Ribera del Duero ~/87
Alvar de Dios, Camino de los Arrieros (Rufete & Juan Garcia), DO Arribes 2017 12.80 +/90 mid, Pomergranate, raspberries, red currant, pomergranate peel. Finishes with earth and lingonberry.
Dehesa de Luna, Vino de la tierra de castilla, Castilla 2014 9.90 +/90 E! Dark fruits with pleasant bitterness in the finish, drinkable without long decantenation
Quinta de Quercus, Single Vineyard (Tempranillo), Castilla 2013 12.90 +/89 Darl fruits, well balanced, but short
Bodegas Mano a Mano, Venta La Ossa TNT, Castilla 2016 17.40 +/91 Sour cherries, lingonberry, fallen leaves.
El Gordito, Tinto, Castilla i Leon 2013 8.75 +
Leda, Mas de Leda, Castilla i Leon 2015 12.90 ~
Barcelona, Priorat, Mideteranean Coast
------------------
Albert u Noya, Lignum, Penedes 2014 10.00 ~ Pleasant light to medium bodied with cherries, cassis and quite long bitter finish. Not really a highlight...
Clos Lentiscus, Perill Noir (Sumoll), Penedes 2011 13.75 +/91 mid. Compote of red fruits. Sour cherries, wild strawberries, fallen leaves, some earthy and nutty notes. Something herbal in the finish.
Casa Gran del Siurana, Cruor, DOQ Priorat 2013 !/93
Merum Priorati, Inici Viticultura Extrema, DOQ Priorat 2014 14.50 !/95 Dry, tanic, velvety, and long. Light acidity. Mainly sour cherries and pomegranate. Both going long in the finish. More red fruits in the body.
L'Encastell, Roquers de Porrera, Priorat 2015 !
Les Cousins Marc & Adria, Sagesse, Priorat 2012 25.00 !/94 full, heavy, very dry, very tannic, velvety. Cassis, blackberries. Figs, prunes, chocolate, and spices. Excelent nose and finish, but something is missing in the body. Needs time to open.
Les Cousins Marc & Adria, L'Inconscient, Priorat 2018 10.65 +/92 mid+, tannic, jammy, 1h+. Quite complex & hard to describe (cassis, blackberries, red fruit jam, earthy notes)
Clos del Portal (Portal del Priorat), Negre des Negres, DOQ Priorat 2017 22.15 +/92 Nice, but not too complex. Full, medium tanic, oily. 1h + spicy food. Cherries, plums, earthness, chocolate. Ends: spices and cassis (fruits!)
Gravitum, 2pr, Priorat 2018 21.45 +/90 full, syroupy. Black cherries, cassis. Licorice, white pepper, subtle chocolate.
Costers del Priorat, Petit Pissarres, Priorat 2017 15.95 +/90 med+. Cassis, sour cherries, subtle fig, fallen leaves, tobacco, and again fig.
Alfredo Arribas, 4 Gotes, Priorat +/89
Vinicola del Priorat, Clos Genrat, Priorat 2017 ~/87 too much if licorice.
Mas d'en Gil, VI de Vila Bellmunt, Priorat 2016 ~/87
Vinicola del Priorat, Nadiu, Priorat 2015 ~
Acustic Celler, Ritme, DOQ Priorat 2013 14.50 +/91 Fine dark fruits, long finish
Acustic Celler, Ritme, DOQ Priorat 2016 +
Acustic Celler, Acustic (Carinyena, Garnatxa), DO Montsant 2014 13.55 + Sour cherries, cassis, pomegranate, more red fruits. Balanced, complex, long zesty finish.
Acustic Celler, Acustic (Carinyena, Garnatxa), DO Montsant 2016 +
Vendrell Rived, L'Alleu, DO Monsant 2016 12.90 !?/96 full, tanic, oily, long. Cassis, fig, leather. Finish: casis, rowanberry. Subtle tobacco.
Portal del Montsant, Brunus Blend, DO Montsant 2016 !/93 full, dry, moderately complex, long, 1h+. Leather, black currant, and cherries. Mid: physalis. Ends: Leather & lime zest.
Portal del Montsant, Santbru, Montsant 2016 18.95 +/90 full, tanic, mid. complexity. Compote of black fruits, quince, lime, chokeberries, fallen leaves. Liqorice in the finish.
Ordonez, Zerran Tinto, DO Montsant 2014 12.85 +/91 mid+, velvety, oily, and long. Misses complexity in the beginning, but finish is nice. Blackberries, aronia, dark chocolate, autumn leaves
Franck Massard, El Brindis (Carignan, Garnatcha), DO Montsant 2016 +/88
Pinord, Catar, DO Monsant ~/88 mid
Coca i Fito, Jaspi Negre, DO Monsant ~
De Muller, Syrah, Tarragona 2017 .
Angosto, Los Almendros, DO Valencia 2010 16.20 +/89
Atalaya, Laya, Almansa 2019 ~/87
Luzon, Por Ti, Jumilla 2015 21.90 !/93 Med+, velvety, long, complex. Sour cherries, strawberries, tobacco. Cassis, dark chocolate, mild spicies.
Alceno, 50 Barricas - Premium Syrah (85% Syrah, 15% Monastrell), DO Jumilla 2012 10.90 + Unusual: Nectarines, cherries. Pomergranates in the finish. Velvety, oily.
Casa Castillo, El Molar, Jumilla 2017 14.20 ~/87 Med+, short. Liqor of dark fruits, liqorice, strawberry jam.
Juan Gil, Silver Label, Jumilla 2017 10.95 ~/87 Full, long finish, but non-existing body. First hints of cherries, then earthness, and finishes with black chocolate.
Senorio de Barahonda, Barahonda Barrica (Monastrell, Syrah), DO Yecla 2012 8.95 . Way too much blackberies
Bodegas Volver, Tarima Hill (Monastrell Old Vines), DO Alicante 2013 14.50 + Cassis, cherries, plums. Quite Smoky, has tobacco notes. Well balanced. Medium finish. Goes well directly when opened.Cassis, cherries, plums. Quite Smoky, has tobacco notes. Well balanced. Medium finish. Goes well directly when opened.
Gran Recosind, Crianca (Cab+Merlot+Tempranillo), Emporda 2014 ~
South
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Huerta de Albala, Taberner, Cadiz 2015 20.40 +/91 2h+. Complex, but too much spices. Leather, sour cheries, prunes, compote of dark fruits.
Huerta de Albala, Barbazul Tinto, Cadiz 2017 8.50 +~/90 med+, mid+ long, great texture (velvety, smooth), great aroma (dark fruits). Cassis & blackberries dominate + dark chocolate & gooseberies. Ends: dark chocolate, cassis, bitterness.
Tenerife
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Vina Norte (Barrica Reserve), DO Tacoronte-Acentejo
Marba, Baboso Negro Edicion Limitada, DO Tacoronte-Acentejo 2016 ~ Good, but not out style. Eucalyptus, raspberries, figues, plums, earth. Medium to full bodied, well balanced, and does not need long to open.
Bodegas Monje, Listan Negro, Tacoronte-Acentejo 2013 -
Tajinaste, Blanco Afrutado, Valle de la Orotava 2015 . Too sweet.
Insulares Tenerife, Tagara Blanco Afrutado, Ycoden-Daute-Isora 2017 ~ Bitter, fruity, but too sweet.
Vinatigo, Vijariego Blanco, Ycoden-Daute-Isora 2016 ~ Red currant, gooseberry, but lacks complexity.
Spain White
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Avelino Vegaas, Montespina Verdejo, DO Rueda 2015 6 +/89
Felix Lorenzo Cachazo, Carrasvinas Rueda Verdejo, DO Rueda 2019 ~/87
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