Wine Advocate (97)

The 2021 4 Kilos is beautiful, perfumed, elegant, nuanced and subtle with floral notes, Mediterranean herbs, red berries and a spicy twist. It's expressive, open and fine-boned, with a moderate 12% alcohol and a velvety palate. This is medium-bodied, delicate and precise, very much in line with the 2020.

Vinous (93)

Opaque purple color. Intensely perfumed nose displays spicy dark berry and floral character, with zesty minerals and black tea adding complexity. Pliant blackberry and cherry flavors are impressively fresh, becoming deeper and sweeter with air. An admirably balanced wine, playing depth against vivacity and finishing with outstanding clarity and length. This is the most elegant example of this bottling I've tasted.

Wine Advocate (93)

The 2013 Aalto is a lighter wine, with less color, more freshness as it should be in a cooler vintage. It has a bright color which also denotes high acidity. The year was not easy and they had to work more on the origin of grapes: it has less from La Horra and more from La Aguilera, a cooler village, both in the province of Burgos, because in La Horra they had more frost problems. It's aged in less than 30% new barrels and the oak feels better integrated, definitively less oaky than other vintages. The nose has a combination of red and black fruit, spicy aromas and a sense of freshness, with even some violets. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with very fine tannins, abundant but well padded by juicy fruit, good acidity and freshness. This is a lot more fluid and balanced, with better-integrated oak than in the past. This is a fresher Aalto that should age nicely in bottle. 175,000 bottles were filled in July 2015 after 18 months in barrel. 2013 has delivered the freshest bottles of Aalto so far, a lighter regular Aalto and one of the best PS to date.

Wine Advocate (93-95)

When I tasted it, the 2016 Aalto had already been blended and taken out of the barrels, waiting to be bottled in a couple of weeks. It's still young and tender, with peachy aromas, a little creamy and with a soft palate where the tannins are fine-grained. In 2016, they used more vineyards, grapes from their own plots and others purchased from suppliers. They expect to fill some 280,000 bottles in late June 2018. 2016 was a higher-yielding year that provided fresh and balanced wines. It should age nicely. Javier Zaccagnini has left the Aalto project to focus on his solo project Sei Solo. So, this time I tasted the wine with Mariano García.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2018 Aalto reflects the cooler conditions of the year, with a more austere profile, subtle aromas and a harmonious palate. This is a classic example of modern, ripe and well-oaked Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, which this year feels creamy, juicy and balanced. This follows the path of 2017 with integrated oak (they used only around 20% new oak) and a lively palate in a more drinkable and approachable style. They added some new vineyards from the zone of Boada where the soils are red and the wines bring freshness and lots of fruit. The wine had a shorter maceration with the skins and a softer vinification. This is finer and more balanced, with finesse but still very much recognizable as Aalto. 300,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2020. They have a new white first produced in 2019 and a non-vintage red blend to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the winery. They are also going to release small lots of library releases. The 2018s reflect the cooler year and show more integrated oak, following the path of the 2017.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2018 Aalto reflects the cooler conditions of the year, with a more austere profile, subtle aromas and a harmonious palate. This is a classic example of modern, ripe and well-oaked Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, which this year feels creamy, juicy and balanced. This follows the path of 2017 with integrated oak (they used only around 20% new oak) and a lively palate in a more drinkable and approachable style. They added some new vineyards from the zone of Boada where the soils are red and the wines bring freshness and lots of fruit. The wine had a shorter maceration with the skins and a softer vinification. This is finer and more balanced, with finesse but still very much recognizable as Aalto. 300,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2020. They have a new white first produced in 2019 and a non-vintage red blend to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the winery. They are also going to release small lots of library releases. The 2018s reflect the cooler year and show more integrated oak, following the path of the 2017.

The Aalto Ribera Del Duero 2019 is a cherished result of mastery and resilience, hailing from Ribera Del Duero, Spain. This fine red wine, crafted by the esteemed Bodegas Aalto, boldly reveals a striking blend of Tempranillo grapes. The Aalto Ribera Del Duero 2019 proffers a beautiful, deep cherry red hue, while enrapturing the palate with a melody of black fruit, sweet spices, and cocoa. Expert ageing in French and American oak barrels has conferred an exquisite body and structure, promising a captivating journey with every sip.

The brilliance of Bodegas Aalto is noticeable in every bottle, with renowned winemakers Mariano Garcia and Javier Zaccagnini offering over 40 years of experience in the Ribera Del Duero region. Their esteemed partnership driving a steadfast commitment to quality, sensitivity to terroir, and a meticulous approach to viticultural and vinification practices.

Imbued with elegance, complexity, and outstanding depth, the Aalto Ribera Del Duero 2019 encapsulates the essence of fine Spanish craftsmanship.

Wine Advocate (94)

The nose of the red 2020 Aalto comes blasting with tons of toasted oak, spice, smoke and more toast, ripe berries and a luxurious creaminess like the finest modern wines from the turn of the century. This is predictable but exactly what their customers are looking for, with ripe berries, generous oak and a velvety palate with volume, soft tannins and mellow acidity. It matured in French and American oak barrels for 18 months. Some things never change. 330,000 bottles. It was bottled in July 2022.

Steeped in tradition, the Aalto Ribera Del Duero 2021 hails from Spain's eminent Ribera Del Duero region, renowned for its exceptional viticulture. Crafted by Bodegas Aalto, a winery celebrated for its commitment to quality, this fine wine captures the essence of the region's unique terroir. Hand-harvested from 40 to 100-year-old vines and artfully aged in French and American oak barrels, this Tempranillo manifests a complexity that is testament to its prestigious origin and meticulous production.

Aalto Ribera Del Duero 2021 is the epitome of elegance, offering a captivating array of flavours, marked by vivid red fruit notes complemented by refined hints of spice and oak. Its rich, velvety texture and well-balanced acidity culminate in a persistent and enveloping finish. Perfectly encapsulating Bodegas Aalto's mastery of winemaking, Aalto Ribera Del Duero 2021 is a wine of distinction, designed for the discerning palate.

Vinous (94)

Dark ruby. Strongly perfumed scents of exotic cherry-cola, blackberry, vanilla and Asian spices. Weighty but focused dark fruit flavors offer striking clarity and palate-staining concentration, with soft tannins building on the close. The cola quality lingers on the long, sweet finish. This wonderfully balances richness and vivacity.

Unveiling sheer opulence in a glass, the Aalto Ribera del Duero PS 2019 is a fine Spanish offering created under the Aalto winery's esteemed portfolio. Hand-crafted to perfection in Ribera del Duero, Spain's premier wine region, this tantalising Tempranillo illustratively encapsulates the essence of its terroir. Aalto’s laudable commitment to sustained viticulture and manual harvesting techniques sets the stage for the impeccably made Aalto Ribera del Duero PS 2019.

The wine boasts masterful maturation in new fine-grain French oak barrels for 22 months, achieving unparalleled structure, depth and complexity. Flirting on the palate with expressive notes of black fruit, mocha, and a subtle hint of tobacco, this stellar wine harbours impressive aging potential.

Under the expertise of Mariano García, former Vega Sicilia winemaker, the Aalto Ribera del Duero PS 2019 has swiftly emerged as a significant force on the international wine scene. Its intricate tapestry of flavours promises a transcendent tasting experience for the discerning palate.

Immerse yourself in the distinguished taste of Aalto Ribera del Duero PS 2019. Born from the fertile soils of Spain's premium wine region, Ribera del Duero, this wine encapsulates the centuries-old grape cultivating traditions and modern winemaking techniques of reputed producer Mariano Garcia. The blend utilises Tempranillo grapes harvested from vines aged over 60 years and is aged 22 months in new French oak barrels to create its robust profile.

On the palate, Aalto Ribera del Duero PS 2019 impresses with a rich tapestry of flavours ranging from black fruits to nuances of cocoa and spices. Its structured tannins and excellent acidity culminate in a long and thrilling finish, making it a splendid complement to an array of dishes.

Commended by esteemed wine critics, this vibrant yet complex wine delivers a seamless fusion of power and elegance. Experience the ultimate indulgence with Aalto Ribera del Duero PS 2019, a testament to the winemaking prowess of Ribera del Duero.

Wine Advocate (95)

The heady and ripe 2020 PS follows the house style and the profile of the regular Aalto from the same vintage, with slightly higher ripeness, more creaminess and toastier oak. It's predictable and very good at it, with abundant, slightly dusty tannins and some chalkiness in the pungent, intense and oaky finish. It has 15% alcohol and mellow acidity. For fans of oaky and ripe Tempranillo. 35,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 2022 after 21 months in new French oak barrels.

Hailing from one of Spain's finest wineries, Aalto Ribera del Duero PS 2021 is an exquisite embodiment of masterful winemaking. This elite Tempranillo hails from the region's highest-altitude vineyards, meticulously crafted by the venerable Aalto Bodegas y Viñedos. Originating in Quintanilla de Arriba in Ribera del Duero, it speaks to the superior terroir of its birthplace.

Aalto Ribera del Duero PS 2021 bestows a complex bouquet of black berries, dark chocolate, and tobacco, layered with earthy and spicy tones. It's an alluring narrative of Ribera's classical back vintage, benefiting from two years of judicious maturation in French and American oak barrels, creating a weighty balance between fruit and structure.

Aalto, established in 1999 by Mariano García and Javier Zaccagnini, has evolved into a pillar of the Ribera del Duero's vinous landscape, and their 2021 PS is proof indeed. Experience authentic, premium vinification with this compelling essence of Spanish viticulture.

Wine Advocate (93)

The 100% Tempranillo 1996 Cuvee Campanario represents a blend of the finest parcels of Tempranillo. The wine was aged in 100% new French Limousin oak for 16 months, then bottled without filtration. It reveals a saturated purple color, and is more backward both aromatically and on the palate, as well as more impressive. The wine's bouquet falls in the black fruit spectrum of aromas - blackberries, black raspberries, and overripe cherries. Full-bodied and tightly-knit, with intriguing mineral notes, this powerful, rich, layered wine could easily pass for a top-class Bordeaux in a blind tasting. The result of 28 days of maceration, the high tannin is sweet and well-integrated in the wine's framework. However, I would not recommend drinking this offering for 2-3 more years. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2020. Congratulations are in order for this impressive new winery that is already turning out wines of exceptional quality.

Wine Advocate (93-96)

The 1996 Pago Negralada was to be bottled approximately a month after I tasted it. Made from a single Tempranillo vineyard, planted more than 2100 feet above sea level, the alluvial and clay soil mixture gives the wine a distinctive character. This is unquestionably a spectacular effort, displaying a saturated purple color, and a knock-out blackberry, chocolate, licorice, and earthy-scented nose. Exquisitely balanced, this full-bodied wine is crammed with fruit, yet it does not come across as heavy or overbearing. This wine has benefited from having its malolactic take place in barrel (which tends to integrate the wood into the wine earlier, and, some say, more effectively than when it is done in tank). The layers of fruit are ripe, the wine's purity impeccable, and the overall balance impressive. This stunningly rich, potentially brilliant wine will admirably showcase the heights that Tempranillo can achieve. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2018. Congratulations are in order for this impressive new winery that is already turning out wines of exceptional quality.

Showcasing the crowning jewel of Spain's Duero Valley, Abadia Retuerta Pago Negralada 2018 exudes quintessential viticulture expertise. Crafted by unconventional producers, Abadia Retuerta, this single varietal vintage is a symphony of Tempranillo, encased in the winery's historic 12th century estate.

The 2018 iteration presents an exquisite display of meticulous vinification. Harvested from 20-year-old vines, hand-picked for perfection, each grape is cold-soaked, enhancing their intricate flavours. The juice then matures for 17 months in French-oak barrels, graciously absorbing subtle, woody underpinnings that complement the wine's robust character.

Dancing on the palate, Abadia Retuerta Pago Negralada 2018 delivers bold, fruity roundness, met with well-structured tannins and a smooth, lingering finish. A harmonious mixture of plums, blackberries and a hint of liquorice grace your senses, creating an unforgettable tasting experience. Reserved for those who appreciate exceptional wine craftsmanship, this is a Spanish enthralling masterpiece that will surely be a superb addition to any fine wine collection.

Vinous (94)

Bright, dark ruby. Sappy, pungent, superripe aromas of cassis, black cherry, clove, mace and mint. Supersweet and extraordinarily concentrated; expands to take over the mouth. Thick but lively chocolatey fruit is huge but not at all heavy. The utterly suave and ripe tannins spread out to coat the entire palate. Superb persistence of flavor. An extraordinary pure cabernet from Spain. Incidentally, the '97 fruit from these vines was blended into the Cuvee El Palomar from that vintage.

Renowned as a masterpiece, Algueira Dolio Ribeira Sacra 2019 emanates from the heart of Ribeira Sacra, Spain. It reveals the refined craft of Algueira, a respected family vineyard whose meticulous tending of old-vine Mencia grapes has rendered a wine of impeccable class. Aged for twelve months in French oak barrels, it is the embodiment of supreme craftsmanship and unadulterated excellence.

This exquisite beverage draws you in with its deep crimson hue, subtle nose of ripe red fruits and wildly expressive palate that harmoniously blends blackberries, cherries, and smoky minerals. Its enigmatic character resonates a perfect balance of depth, complexity and vivacity, promising a sensual soirée of nuanced flavours.

A lingering mineral-driven, spicy finish adds allure to this delightfully structured wine, highlighting its unique terroir-centric personality. Memorable and sophisticated, Algueira Dolio Ribeira Sacra 2019 offers an awe-inspiring window into the potential of Galician winemaking.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (96)

Medium intensity ruby red colour, floral rose bud, raspberry leaf, red cherry, dried herbs, black tea, lemongrass, intense and fragrant, a wine that appeals to lovers of intense flavours, a foodie wine because it is about texture and contrast, rather than being layered with sweet oak. Extremely juicy on the finish, mouthwatering and extremely drinkable, joyful, crammed with flavour and interest. Can be drunk soon, or will have a good ten years ageing in it. Just the second vintage on the Place de Bordeaux, and already it feels like it has found its place. A clear win for me. Granite, schist soils, native yeast fermentation in 500l barrels with stems, vineyards ranging from 200-600m in altitude. Just 6,668 bottles produced by winemaker Fernando Gonzalez Riveiro. I have tasted this a few times over the summer in different situations, and each time the biggest takeaway is that it is full of character and life, and is one that you will enjoy sharing with friends.

Wine Advocate (88)

The oaky 2014 Buenagente has notes of sawdust and toast coupled with some spices. The palate reveals fine-grained tannins and a dry finish. 57,000 bottles. It was bottled in June 2016.

Wine Advocate (97-100)

I also tasted the very young barrel sample of the 2021 Quiñón de Valmira, a year with stress and small berries with a very mild summer that resulted in a wine with great concentration and finesse, with a pH of 3.46 and six grams of acidity (higher than the average). The wine is still a baby (six months old!), but it feels quite balanced and is not oaky at all; it is harmonious, clean and quite expressive, even if it has lots of concentration and a big structure. This is a great vintage of Valmira in the making, super balanced, perhaps the finest ever? They expect to fill some 4,300 bottles around April 2023.

Decanter (97)

Quiñón de Valmira is not just a wine. As Palacios’ top Rioja it leads the transformation of Rioja Baja, now known as Rioja Oriental; puts the overlooked Garnacha back centre stage; and highlights the Sierra de Yerga as a fine vineyard origin. The palate is very appealing: succulent with a resounding red fruit and dark cherry ripeness, plus a lift of orange zest. Vivid, penetrating and long. Alvaro Palacios says Valmira is 'all about the aftertaste and the length'. Viñedo singular. 5,552 bottles produced.

James Suckling (96)

Subtle nose of dried rose petals, slate and hints of red cherries. Full body, a beautiful structure and a dense and harmonious texture. Single vineyard. So delicious now. Why wait?

James Suckling (96)

Subtle nose of dried rose petals, slate and hints of red cherries. Full body, a beautiful structure and a dense and harmonious texture. Single vineyard. So delicious now. Why wait?

James Suckling (97)

This is a very tight and fine-grained red with a compressed mouthfeel. The fruit comes through to a class and elegance. Such length. Ethereal structure. Unique. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (97)

This is a very tight and fine-grained red with a compressed mouthfeel. The fruit comes through to a class and elegance. Such length. Ethereal structure. Unique. Drink or hold.

Wine Advocate (96+)

The origin of everything here and the first single-vineyard red, the 2018 Finca Dofí excels in 2018. Those 10 hectares planted 20 years ago in the village of Gratallops are mostly Garnacha, but the wine also has some 8% Cariñena and 2% white grapes. They all fermented after being destemmed and lightly crushed in oak vats with indigenous yeasts. The wine matured in large oak barrels (bocoyes and foudres) for 16 months. This is the refined version of the Gratallops (the vineyard is in the village!) but with an extra degree of depth and complexity, especially nuance and elegance, showcasing the captivating finesse and harmony of the vintage, which is a little in the style of the 2016 with more energy. I see that these 2018s are quite transparent and show the style of the zone, the iron soils, the dusty roads and the warmth of the soils; it's round and lush, spherical but with a spike of freshness. The élevage has been polished so as to render it almost invisible. This is drinkable now, and I think it's also going to age nicely in bottle and drink nicely throughout its life. 29,540 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2020.

Wine Advocate (96+)

The origin of everything here and the first single-vineyard red, the 2018 Finca Dofí excels in 2018. Those 10 hectares planted 20 years ago in the village of Gratallops are mostly Garnacha, but the wine also has some 8% Cariñena and 2% white grapes. They all fermented after being destemmed and lightly crushed in oak vats with indigenous yeasts. The wine matured in large oak barrels (bocoyes and foudres) for 16 months. This is the refined version of the Gratallops (the vineyard is in the village!) but with an extra degree of depth and complexity, especially nuance and elegance, showcasing the captivating finesse and harmony of the vintage, which is a little in the style of the 2016 with more energy. I see that these 2018s are quite transparent and show the style of the zone, the iron soils, the dusty roads and the warmth of the soils; it's round and lush, spherical but with a spike of freshness. The élevage has been polished so as to render it almost invisible. This is drinkable now, and I think it's also going to age nicely in bottle and drink nicely throughout its life. 29,540 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2020.