Spain - All Red Wines
One of the most famous vineyards for red wines in Spain is Vega Sicilia, located in Ribera del Duero. Their flagship wine, Vega Sicilia Único, is a legendary red that exemplifies the region's mastery in crafting age-worthy and complex wines. With its deep color, intense aromatics, and a harmonious blend of Tempranillo and other varietals, Vega Sicilia Único has become an iconic representation of Spanish winemaking.
In Priorat, Clos Mogador is celebrated for its exceptional red wines. Their Clos Mogador, crafted from a blend of Grenache, Carignan, and other local varieties, showcases the rugged landscape of the region with its concentrated flavors, firm tannins, and remarkable aging potential.Moving to the region of Bierzo, Descendientes de Jose Palacios is a notable vineyard known for its Mencía-based red wines. Their Petalos del Bierzo is a stellar example of the region's winemaking excellence, offering vibrant fruit flavors, floral aromatics, and a lively acidity that epitomizes the elegance of Bierzo's red wines.
Spain's fine red wines beautifully reflect the country's winemaking diversity, from the bold and structured reds of Ribera del Duero and Rioja to the powerful and mineral-driven wines of Priorat and the elegant and aromatic expressions of Bierzo. With their depth, complexity, and the legacy of Spain's winemaking heritage, these red wines embody the essence of Spain's vibrant wine culture. Spanish red wines promise a journey of flavors that capture the essence of this captivating wine country.
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Spain - All Red Wines
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Wine Advocate (100)
I was really looking forward to the bottled version of the 2018 Pingus after a great showing of the cask sample last year. Part of the wine matured in 20,000-liter oak casks, so it's not all barrique. This is the first time they used the vats, and based on the results, Sisseck thinks in the future Pingus will be around 50% in oak vats. The Pingus vines were planted in 1929 in two different sectors of the village of La Horra, Barroso and San Cristobal and contain some 2% other varieties. The vineyards are certified organic and biodynamic and are manicured like few vineyards in Spain. The wine is subtle and harmonious, elegant and insinuating, with all the components in very good balance. This is precise and pure; Sisseck is thorough and meticulous, and the wine shows that precision. This follows the line of the 2016, showing very well even if it was bottled only one month before I tasted it. 9,300 bottles were filled in August 2020.Inc. VAT£2,340.41 -
Wine Advocate (100)
I was really looking forward to the bottled version of the 2018 Pingus after a great showing of the cask sample last year. Part of the wine matured in 20,000-liter oak casks, so it's not all barrique. This is the first time they used the vats, and based on the results, Sisseck thinks in the future Pingus will be around 50% in oak vats. The Pingus vines were planted in 1929 in two different sectors of the village of La Horra, Barroso and San Cristobal and contain some 2% other varieties. The vineyards are certified organic and biodynamic and are manicured like few vineyards in Spain. The wine is subtle and harmonious, elegant and insinuating, with all the components in very good balance. This is precise and pure; Sisseck is thorough and meticulous, and the wine shows that precision. This follows the line of the 2016, showing very well even if it was bottled only one month before I tasted it. 9,300 bottles were filled in August 2020.Inc. VAT£5,779.24 -
Inc. VAT£1,999.61 -
Wine Advocate (98-100)
The subtle, austere and nuanced sample of the 2021 Pingus I tasted was harmonious, balanced and elegant. It's basically pure Tempranillo from La Horra that is young but surprisingly harmonious, very precise, clean, pure, with no apparent oak despite being a barrel sample. The wine is maturing in barrels that were previously used for PSI; Sisseck purchased a couple of 1,500-liter oak vats that he's using for PSI, and he still doesn't know if he's going to age part of Pingus in it. Purity, elegance and precision. The wine is medium-bodied, the tannins super fine and the mouthfeel is velvety, with a restrained 13.8% alcohol. There should be around 8,200 bottles, and the expectation today is to bottle it around June 2023. I tasted the barrel samples from 2021, a dry year in Ribera del Duero, with a little rain in June, but it's a vintage for which Peter Sisseck felt the key was the low temperatures at night. So, 2021 is cooler than 2020; and in 2021, they harvested one week earlier than in 2020, earlier than the majority of wineries in Ribera del Duero, as he finished when the most hadn't even started. All the wines are between 13.5% and 14% alcohol (the Flor was a little higher, 14.2%, with 20% new barrels). However, Sisseck still classifies 2021 as a warm vintage, following the path of 2015 and 2016, perhaps a little more austere, perhaps the tannins are a little more noticeable and the wines are going to benefit from the élevage, for Sisseck a more classical vintage. But it's not a super warm vintage like 2009 or 2015, perhaps more in the line of the 2018 with more punch, closer to the 2016 and 2018 than 2015. But it's going to be a heterogeneous vintage in Ribera del Duero, despite what the official classification of the vintage by the appellation might have been (excellent, nonetheless!). I think the 2021s here are incredibly elegant. The first year when they harvested early was 2016, and this is the evolution within that era. In 2021, all wines, except PSI, are certified organic, and they used the new barrels that had previously been used for PSI, so no new oak in Pingus again. Amelia was fermented with 50% full clusters; it's a rare and limited wine from a single vineyard that is sold exclusively in the US. There might be a new wine in 2021, a textured red with grip and good volume, a wine with 20% Garnacha fermented with 25% full clusters. It's not clear what they are going to do with it, the result of a half hectare of five-year-old vines Sisseck planted with Tinta del País and Garnacha. There are four (used) barrels of this. Time will tell. ...Inc. VAT£2,000.89 -
Wine Advocate (98-100)
The subtle, austere and nuanced sample of the 2021 Pingus I tasted was harmonious, balanced and elegant. It's basically pure Tempranillo from La Horra that is young but surprisingly harmonious, very precise, clean, pure, with no apparent oak despite being a barrel sample. The wine is maturing in barrels that were previously used for PSI; Sisseck purchased a couple of 1,500-liter oak vats that he's using for PSI, and he still doesn't know if he's going to age part of Pingus in it. Purity, elegance and precision. The wine is medium-bodied, the tannins super fine and the mouthfeel is velvety, with a restrained 13.8% alcohol. There should be around 8,200 bottles, and the expectation today is to bottle it around June 2023. I tasted the barrel samples from 2021, a dry year in Ribera del Duero, with a little rain in June, but it's a vintage for which Peter Sisseck felt the key was the low temperatures at night. So, 2021 is cooler than 2020; and in 2021, they harvested one week earlier than in 2020, earlier than the majority of wineries in Ribera del Duero, as he finished when the most hadn't even started. All the wines are between 13.5% and 14% alcohol (the Flor was a little higher, 14.2%, with 20% new barrels). However, Sisseck still classifies 2021 as a warm vintage, following the path of 2015 and 2016, perhaps a little more austere, perhaps the tannins are a little more noticeable and the wines are going to benefit from the élevage, for Sisseck a more classical vintage. But it's not a super warm vintage like 2009 or 2015, perhaps more in the line of the 2018 with more punch, closer to the 2016 and 2018 than 2015. But it's going to be a heterogeneous vintage in Ribera del Duero, despite what the official classification of the vintage by the appellation might have been (excellent, nonetheless!). I think the 2021s here are incredibly elegant. The first year when they harvested early was 2016, and this is the evolution within that era. In 2021, all wines, except PSI, are certified organic, and they used the new barrels that had previously been used for PSI, so no new oak in Pingus again. Amelia was fermented with 50% full clusters; it's a rare and limited wine from a single vineyard that is sold exclusively in the US. There might be a new wine in 2021, a textured red with grip and good volume, a wine with 20% Garnacha fermented with 25% full clusters. It's not clear what they are going to do with it, the result of a half hectare of five-year-old vines Sisseck planted with Tinta del País and Garnacha. There are four (used) barrels of this. Time will tell. ...Inc. VAT£955.45 -
Wine Advocate (98-100)
The subtle, austere and nuanced sample of the 2021 Pingus I tasted was harmonious, balanced and elegant. It's basically pure Tempranillo from La Horra that is young but surprisingly harmonious, very precise, clean, pure, with no apparent oak despite being a barrel sample. The wine is maturing in barrels that were previously used for PSI; Sisseck purchased a couple of 1,500-liter oak vats that he's using for PSI, and he still doesn't know if he's going to age part of Pingus in it. Purity, elegance and precision. The wine is medium-bodied, the tannins super fine and the mouthfeel is velvety, with a restrained 13.8% alcohol. There should be around 8,200 bottles, and the expectation today is to bottle it around June 2023. I tasted the barrel samples from 2021, a dry year in Ribera del Duero, with a little rain in June, but it's a vintage for which Peter Sisseck felt the key was the low temperatures at night. So, 2021 is cooler than 2020; and in 2021, they harvested one week earlier than in 2020, earlier than the majority of wineries in Ribera del Duero, as he finished when the most hadn't even started. All the wines are between 13.5% and 14% alcohol (the Flor was a little higher, 14.2%, with 20% new barrels). However, Sisseck still classifies 2021 as a warm vintage, following the path of 2015 and 2016, perhaps a little more austere, perhaps the tannins are a little more noticeable and the wines are going to benefit from the élevage, for Sisseck a more classical vintage. But it's not a super warm vintage like 2009 or 2015, perhaps more in the line of the 2018 with more punch, closer to the 2016 and 2018 than 2015. But it's going to be a heterogeneous vintage in Ribera del Duero, despite what the official classification of the vintage by the appellation might have been (excellent, nonetheless!). I think the 2021s here are incredibly elegant. The first year when they harvested early was 2016, and this is the evolution within that era. In 2021, all wines, except PSI, are certified organic, and they used the new barrels that had previously been used for PSI, so no new oak in Pingus again. Amelia was fermented with 50% full clusters; it's a rare and limited wine from a single vineyard that is sold exclusively in the US. There might be a new wine in 2021, a textured red with grip and good volume, a wine with 20% Garnacha fermented with 25% full clusters. It's not clear what they are going to do with it, the result of a half hectare of five-year-old vines Sisseck planted with Tinta del País and Garnacha. There are four (used) barrels of this. Time will tell. ...Inc. VAT£2,848.34 -
Vinous (90)
Good medium ruby. Explosive aromas of black cherry, roasted tomato, olive, game and nutty oak. Sweet, lush and gamey; a bit less densely packed than the young 2001 but still stuffed with fruit. Shows a syrah-like animal aspect.Inc. VAT£295.20 -
Vinous (93)
Inky ruby. Potent, mineral- and smoke-accented dark berry and violet scents show excellent clarity and lift. Silky and seamless in texture, offering sweet blackberry and boysenberry flavors and notes of spicecake and floral pastilles. Closes with strong thrust, appealing sweetness and sneaky, slow-mounting tannins. Very suave, even now, but this wine will be much better in another five to seven years.Inc. VAT£2,422.18 -
James Suckling (95)
Almost black-purple color. Dense black fruits aromas, fine oak and elegant dry tannins that are beautifuly integrated in the rich body. The long finish is already graceful thanks to the spot-on balance. Drink now.Inc. VAT£1,225.27 -
Vinous (95)
Deep violet. Smoke- and spice-accented dark berries and cherry on the highly perfumed nose. Lively bitter cherry, blueberry and violet pastille flavors stain the palate, showing fine definition and a supporting spine of tangy acidity. Opens up and deepens on the strikingly long, incisive finish, which features gently chewy tannins and lingering florality.Inc. VAT£752.44 -
Decanter (96)
In the shadow of Pingus? Only, perhaps, if you taste it after the grand vin, because Flor de Pingus is another haute-couture masterpiece in its own right, again with that highly polished tannic texture and layers of dark but succulent and perfectly ripe mulberry fruit, suggestions of something darker and savoury emerging, but for now this is just a gloriously sensual young wine with a pronounced sense of place. Biodynamic.Inc. VAT£1,232.47 -
James Suckling (97)
Blackberries, black cherries and hot crushed stones with cement and black licorice. Subtle yet complex aromas. Medium to full body and an exquisite texture, with intense tannins and a long, flavorful finish. The verve and mouth-feel is luxurious and captivating. This is very structured. Try after 2024.Inc. VAT£1,334.47 -
Inc. VAT£826.84 -
Inc. VAT£1,246.18 -
Inc. VAT£853.49 -
Introducing the Quinta Sardonia Ribera Duero 2011, a luxuriant exemplar of Spanish winemaking mastery. Quinta Sardonia, a biodynamically farmed vineyard on the limestone hillsides of Sardon de Duero, bestows us with an extraordinary red blend. Heavily influenced by the singular terroir, this Tempranillo-led blend reveals subtle suggestions of Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Merlot, aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. The Quinta Sardonia Ribera Duero 2011 is an exquisitely balanced marriage of ripened red fruit notes, herbal nuances, and a hint of exotic spice. Its elegant minerality and firm tannin structure promise longevity, making it an admirable addition to any cellar. Could there be a more charming demonstration of Ribera Duero's capacity to yield intense, complex wines with poised sophistication? Those serious about wine will know that a bottle of Quinta Sardonia Ribera Duero 2011 is a possession of true distinction.
Inc. VAT£517.49 -
The Rodero Ribera Duero Reserva 2014 is a product of artistry and refinement, emanating from the profound greeneries of Ribera del Duero in Spain. Cultivated by the esteemed Bodegas Rodero, this Grand Reserve is an embodiment of age-old viticulture skills and state-of-the-art techniques. Matured in carefully selected French oak barrels for no less than 24 months, and rested for another 36 in the bottle, it impeccably harmonises intensity with finesse.
The Rodero Ribera Duero Reserva 2014 boasts a regal burgundy hue with purple undertones and an impressive nose showcasing blackberry, vanilla, and cocoa nuances. Its velvety palate surprise with plum, cherry and liquorice notes wonderfully balanced with soft tannins and a sustained finish. The Rodero Ribera Duero Reserva 2014 is an eloquent expression of the Tempranillo grape varietal blend and a testament to Bodegas Rodero's winemaking legacy. An elegant addition worthy of the most discerning oenophile's collection.
Inc. VAT£895.24 -
The acclaimed Rodero Ribera Duero Reserva 2015 is an embodiment of elegance and tradition hailing from Spain's prestigious Ribera del Duero region. Created by the family-owned Bodegas Rodero, with a winemaking reverence going back nine generations, their dedication to the land is exemplary and resonates in every vintage.
This exquisite 2015 Reserva is a blend of 75% Tempranillo and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for a minimum of 16 months in French oak barrels and an additional 36 months in bottle. The end product showcases the perfect balance of fruit and oak, encapsulating complex flavours of ripe berries, spicy oak nuances and velvety tannins with a prolonged finish.
The result of meticulous viticulture and winemaking, the Rodero Ribera Duero Reserva 2015 is a classic offering, promising both longevity and ever-growing complexity in the bottle. This vintage manifests the depth of understanding between the winegrowers and their exceptional terroir.
Inc. VAT£895.24 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The 2018 Matallana is the only wine they produced in Ribera del Duero, a traditional blend of Tempranillo with approximately 15% other varieties —Valenciano (Bobal), Navarro (Garnacha) and white Albillo—from different soils in five different villages, Sotillo de la Ribera, Roa, Fuentecén, Fuentemolinos and Pardilla. It fermented in oak and stainless steel vats with indigenous yeasts and matured for 14 months in French oak barrels of different ages. It has 14.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.68. The wine is subtle, harmonious and elegant, complex and with integrated oak, very expressive with velvety tannins and a long, dry, chalky finish. This is superb, elegant but with the Duero rusticity and stone minerality. It has to be the finest Matallana to date. 22,020 bottles produced. It was bottled in May and June 2020. They skipped the 2017 of this wine as the year was decimated by killer frost.Inc. VAT£796.18 -
James Suckling (94)
Fresh blackberries, tangy spices and hints of graphite and oyster shell on the nose, following through to a full-bodied, juicy palate, with fine-grained, chalky tannins that dissipate into the center-palate before a long, tangy finish. Drinkable now, but best after 2024.Inc. VAT£877.27 -
Tim Atkin MW (97)
Valdaya's top red, Mirum, keeps improving with every vintage and is now among the best wines in Ribera del Duero. Made with Tinto Fino from old-vine parcels - Los Bueyes and Las Piedras - in Baños de Valdearodos, it's very much a limestone-influenced style from 925 metres, with subtle wood, chalky minerality, red berry fruit, tension and floral, violet top notes. Long, stylish and beautifully judged. 2022-30Inc. VAT£403.24 -
Tim Atkin MW (97)
One of the great wines of Spain, not just Ribera del Duero, Mirum comes from a single, 1.2-hectare parcel in Baños de Valdearados. Fermented in concrete vats and aged in 20% new wood, it's pure, focused and violetscented, with pure plum and black cherry fruit, wonderful vivacity and focus, textured tannins, subtle wood spices and a long, chiselled, balanced finish. Drink 2023-32Inc. VAT£381.64 -
A gorgeous Tempranillo that has been left to slumber in the winery cellar for close to two decades, this ex-winery parcel of Valsardo Ribera del Duero Reserva Superior 2002 is a total no brainer. Showcasing fully integrated, soft and supple tannins, there remains plenty of lovely black fruit with classic gamey and leathery notes alongside its impeccable backbone and freshness. Made without sulphur and at only 12.5% ABV, this blend of 90% Tempranillo, with the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, has aged amazing well.
Sourced directly from the winery, this parcel is, in fact, a clearance sale as the winery no longer bottles under its own label, and as such they are selling off all remaining inventory. With the winery now having halted production, this is a piece of Ribera del Duero history.Inc. VAT£199.24 -
Wine Advocate (93)
The 2009 Alion, pure Tempranillo aged in French oak, has had the benefit of a couple more years in bottle than the 2011 and shows more nuances, more restraint and a more serious aroma profile. It’s also a ripe year, with notes of plums and shy violets, the oak well-integrated into the wine. The palate is full-bodied with abundant, fine-grained tannins and a velvety, juicy texture, with good extraction and stuffing: I think this will be longer lived than the 2011. They have different styles – this is classier, and 2011 is more exuberant – but they are both at a similar quality level. 320,000 bottles produced. Drink now-2021.Inc. VAT£838.84 -
James Suckling (96)
Fresh and very floral with violets and berries. Blackberries and orange peel, too. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, linear tannins. Excellent length and structure. Seriously structured, Better after 2024, but already beautiful.Inc. VAT£589.49 -
James Suckling (95)
Ripe, tarry plums and black cherries with violets, rocks, coffee and graphite. Refined notes of balsamic fruit and cocoa powder, too. Full-bodied and juicy with an iron fist of tannins, yet at the same time so velvety and polished. Very long, focused finish, showing lots of finesse and layers. Drinkable now, but better after 2025.Inc. VAT£435.29 -
(6x75cl) 2020Wine Advocate (95)
2020 was drier than average until the harvest, when it rained and diluted the grapes, and they had to wait to regain concentration. The result is that the 2020 Alión is a wine with better balance and freshness. They felt the skins were very ripe and they could extract more and use a little more American oak (4%) in the élevage. From 2019, they kept the press wine separate until June, and they keep separate quantities of press wines that are aged in different containers depending on the quality of the wine. They used a percentage of concrete and oak vats for the élevage, which gives the wine more verticality and freshness. It's a subtle and elegant Alión, not as dense as some other vintages, but with nice balance and very elegant tannins. In 2020, they produced 285,485 bottles of this wine, 7,115 magnums and some larger formats. It was bottled in May 2022.Inc. VAT£458.44 -
Vinous (95)
Inky ruby. Highly aromatic scents of ripe cherry and dark berries, singed plum, cured tobacco and succulent herbs, with a vanilla undertone. Sweet, expansive and powerful, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors with smoke and floral accents. Rich and full but surprisingly lively, with excellent finishing thrust and sweet, harmonious tannins adding grip. Shows the ripeness of the vintage to good effect; this is a somewhat approachable and exotic Unico, especially with some air, but it has the concentration to age slowly.Inc. VAT£833.21 -
Vinous (95)
Inky ruby. Highly aromatic scents of ripe cherry and dark berries, singed plum, cured tobacco and succulent herbs, with a vanilla undertone. Sweet, expansive and powerful, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors with smoke and floral accents. Rich and full but surprisingly lively, with excellent finishing thrust and sweet, harmonious tannins adding grip. Shows the ripeness of the vintage to good effect; this is a somewhat approachable and exotic Unico, especially with some air, but it has the concentration to age slowly.Inc. VAT£2,209.22 -
Wine Enthusiast (98)
Lightly baked and hinting at raisin and fine herbs, the bouquet on this benchmark Spanish red enfolds aromas of tobacco, moss and ripe tomato. In the mouth, it's elegant and silky but also full and expansive. Flavors of baked berry fruits, baking spices, herbs and cocoa finish with a light coating of toast. This is an amazingly complete, exemplary wine that's just entering its prime. If past vintages of Unico are an indication, it will age well through 2035.Inc. VAT£1,185.62
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Wine Advocate (100)
I was really looking forward to the bottled version of the 2018 Pingus after a great showing of the cask sample last year. Part of the wine matured in 20,000-liter oak casks, so it's not all barrique. This is the first time they used the vats, and based on the results, Sisseck thinks in the future Pingus will be around 50% in oak vats. The Pingus vines were planted in 1929 in two different sectors of the village of La Horra, Barroso and San Cristobal and contain some 2% other varieties. The vineyards are certified organic and biodynamic and are manicured like few vineyards in Spain. The wine is subtle and harmonious, elegant and insinuating, with all the components in very good balance. This is precise and pure; Sisseck is thorough and meticulous, and the wine shows that precision. This follows the line of the 2016, showing very well even if it was bottled only one month before I tasted it. 9,300 bottles were filled in August 2020.In Bond£1,945.00 -
Wine Advocate (100)
I was really looking forward to the bottled version of the 2018 Pingus after a great showing of the cask sample last year. Part of the wine matured in 20,000-liter oak casks, so it's not all barrique. This is the first time they used the vats, and based on the results, Sisseck thinks in the future Pingus will be around 50% in oak vats. The Pingus vines were planted in 1929 in two different sectors of the village of La Horra, Barroso and San Cristobal and contain some 2% other varieties. The vineyards are certified organic and biodynamic and are manicured like few vineyards in Spain. The wine is subtle and harmonious, elegant and insinuating, with all the components in very good balance. This is precise and pure; Sisseck is thorough and meticulous, and the wine shows that precision. This follows the line of the 2016, showing very well even if it was bottled only one month before I tasted it. 9,300 bottles were filled in August 2020.In Bond£4,800.00 -
In Bond£1,661.00
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Wine Advocate (98-100)
The subtle, austere and nuanced sample of the 2021 Pingus I tasted was harmonious, balanced and elegant. It's basically pure Tempranillo from La Horra that is young but surprisingly harmonious, very precise, clean, pure, with no apparent oak despite being a barrel sample. The wine is maturing in barrels that were previously used for PSI; Sisseck purchased a couple of 1,500-liter oak vats that he's using for PSI, and he still doesn't know if he's going to age part of Pingus in it. Purity, elegance and precision. The wine is medium-bodied, the tannins super fine and the mouthfeel is velvety, with a restrained 13.8% alcohol. There should be around 8,200 bottles, and the expectation today is to bottle it around June 2023. I tasted the barrel samples from 2021, a dry year in Ribera del Duero, with a little rain in June, but it's a vintage for which Peter Sisseck felt the key was the low temperatures at night. So, 2021 is cooler than 2020; and in 2021, they harvested one week earlier than in 2020, earlier than the majority of wineries in Ribera del Duero, as he finished when the most hadn't even started. All the wines are between 13.5% and 14% alcohol (the Flor was a little higher, 14.2%, with 20% new barrels). However, Sisseck still classifies 2021 as a warm vintage, following the path of 2015 and 2016, perhaps a little more austere, perhaps the tannins are a little more noticeable and the wines are going to benefit from the élevage, for Sisseck a more classical vintage. But it's not a super warm vintage like 2009 or 2015, perhaps more in the line of the 2018 with more punch, closer to the 2016 and 2018 than 2015. But it's going to be a heterogeneous vintage in Ribera del Duero, despite what the official classification of the vintage by the appellation might have been (excellent, nonetheless!). I think the 2021s here are incredibly elegant. The first year when they harvested early was 2016, and this is the evolution within that era. In 2021, all wines, except PSI, are certified organic, and they used the new barrels that had previously been used for PSI, so no new oak in Pingus again. Amelia was fermented with 50% full clusters; it's a rare and limited wine from a single vineyard that is sold exclusively in the US. There might be a new wine in 2021, a textured red with grip and good volume, a wine with 20% Garnacha fermented with 25% full clusters. It's not clear what they are going to do with it, the result of a half hectare of five-year-old vines Sisseck planted with Tinta del País and Garnacha. There are four (used) barrels of this. Time will tell. ...In Bond£1,661.00 -
Wine Advocate (98-100)
The subtle, austere and nuanced sample of the 2021 Pingus I tasted was harmonious, balanced and elegant. It's basically pure Tempranillo from La Horra that is young but surprisingly harmonious, very precise, clean, pure, with no apparent oak despite being a barrel sample. The wine is maturing in barrels that were previously used for PSI; Sisseck purchased a couple of 1,500-liter oak vats that he's using for PSI, and he still doesn't know if he's going to age part of Pingus in it. Purity, elegance and precision. The wine is medium-bodied, the tannins super fine and the mouthfeel is velvety, with a restrained 13.8% alcohol. There should be around 8,200 bottles, and the expectation today is to bottle it around June 2023. I tasted the barrel samples from 2021, a dry year in Ribera del Duero, with a little rain in June, but it's a vintage for which Peter Sisseck felt the key was the low temperatures at night. So, 2021 is cooler than 2020; and in 2021, they harvested one week earlier than in 2020, earlier than the majority of wineries in Ribera del Duero, as he finished when the most hadn't even started. All the wines are between 13.5% and 14% alcohol (the Flor was a little higher, 14.2%, with 20% new barrels). However, Sisseck still classifies 2021 as a warm vintage, following the path of 2015 and 2016, perhaps a little more austere, perhaps the tannins are a little more noticeable and the wines are going to benefit from the élevage, for Sisseck a more classical vintage. But it's not a super warm vintage like 2009 or 2015, perhaps more in the line of the 2018 with more punch, closer to the 2016 and 2018 than 2015. But it's going to be a heterogeneous vintage in Ribera del Duero, despite what the official classification of the vintage by the appellation might have been (excellent, nonetheless!). I think the 2021s here are incredibly elegant. The first year when they harvested early was 2016, and this is the evolution within that era. In 2021, all wines, except PSI, are certified organic, and they used the new barrels that had previously been used for PSI, so no new oak in Pingus again. Amelia was fermented with 50% full clusters; it's a rare and limited wine from a single vineyard that is sold exclusively in the US. There might be a new wine in 2021, a textured red with grip and good volume, a wine with 20% Garnacha fermented with 25% full clusters. It's not clear what they are going to do with it, the result of a half hectare of five-year-old vines Sisseck planted with Tinta del País and Garnacha. There are four (used) barrels of this. Time will tell. ...In Bond£793.00 -
Wine Advocate (98-100)
The subtle, austere and nuanced sample of the 2021 Pingus I tasted was harmonious, balanced and elegant. It's basically pure Tempranillo from La Horra that is young but surprisingly harmonious, very precise, clean, pure, with no apparent oak despite being a barrel sample. The wine is maturing in barrels that were previously used for PSI; Sisseck purchased a couple of 1,500-liter oak vats that he's using for PSI, and he still doesn't know if he's going to age part of Pingus in it. Purity, elegance and precision. The wine is medium-bodied, the tannins super fine and the mouthfeel is velvety, with a restrained 13.8% alcohol. There should be around 8,200 bottles, and the expectation today is to bottle it around June 2023. I tasted the barrel samples from 2021, a dry year in Ribera del Duero, with a little rain in June, but it's a vintage for which Peter Sisseck felt the key was the low temperatures at night. So, 2021 is cooler than 2020; and in 2021, they harvested one week earlier than in 2020, earlier than the majority of wineries in Ribera del Duero, as he finished when the most hadn't even started. All the wines are between 13.5% and 14% alcohol (the Flor was a little higher, 14.2%, with 20% new barrels). However, Sisseck still classifies 2021 as a warm vintage, following the path of 2015 and 2016, perhaps a little more austere, perhaps the tannins are a little more noticeable and the wines are going to benefit from the élevage, for Sisseck a more classical vintage. But it's not a super warm vintage like 2009 or 2015, perhaps more in the line of the 2018 with more punch, closer to the 2016 and 2018 than 2015. But it's going to be a heterogeneous vintage in Ribera del Duero, despite what the official classification of the vintage by the appellation might have been (excellent, nonetheless!). I think the 2021s here are incredibly elegant. The first year when they harvested early was 2016, and this is the evolution within that era. In 2021, all wines, except PSI, are certified organic, and they used the new barrels that had previously been used for PSI, so no new oak in Pingus again. Amelia was fermented with 50% full clusters; it's a rare and limited wine from a single vineyard that is sold exclusively in the US. There might be a new wine in 2021, a textured red with grip and good volume, a wine with 20% Garnacha fermented with 25% full clusters. It's not clear what they are going to do with it, the result of a half hectare of five-year-old vines Sisseck planted with Tinta del País and Garnacha. There are four (used) barrels of this. Time will tell. ...In Bond£2,364.00 -
Vinous (90)
Good medium ruby. Explosive aromas of black cherry, roasted tomato, olive, game and nutty oak. Sweet, lush and gamey; a bit less densely packed than the young 2001 but still stuffed with fruit. Shows a syrah-like animal aspect.Inc. VAT£295.20 -
Vinous (93)
Inky ruby. Potent, mineral- and smoke-accented dark berry and violet scents show excellent clarity and lift. Silky and seamless in texture, offering sweet blackberry and boysenberry flavors and notes of spicecake and floral pastilles. Closes with strong thrust, appealing sweetness and sneaky, slow-mounting tannins. Very suave, even now, but this wine will be much better in another five to seven years.In Bond£1,980.00 -
James Suckling (95)
Almost black-purple color. Dense black fruits aromas, fine oak and elegant dry tannins that are beautifuly integrated in the rich body. The long finish is already graceful thanks to the spot-on balance. Drink now.In Bond£989.00 -
Vinous (95)
Deep violet. Smoke- and spice-accented dark berries and cherry on the highly perfumed nose. Lively bitter cherry, blueberry and violet pastille flavors stain the palate, showing fine definition and a supporting spine of tangy acidity. Opens up and deepens on the strikingly long, incisive finish, which features gently chewy tannins and lingering florality.In Bond£611.00 -
Decanter (96)
In the shadow of Pingus? Only, perhaps, if you taste it after the grand vin, because Flor de Pingus is another haute-couture masterpiece in its own right, again with that highly polished tannic texture and layers of dark but succulent and perfectly ripe mulberry fruit, suggestions of something darker and savoury emerging, but for now this is just a gloriously sensual young wine with a pronounced sense of place. Biodynamic.In Bond£995.00 -
James Suckling (97)
Blackberries, black cherries and hot crushed stones with cement and black licorice. Subtle yet complex aromas. Medium to full body and an exquisite texture, with intense tannins and a long, flavorful finish. The verve and mouth-feel is luxurious and captivating. This is very structured. Try after 2024.In Bond£1,080.00 -
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Introducing the Quinta Sardonia Ribera Duero 2011, a luxuriant exemplar of Spanish winemaking mastery. Quinta Sardonia, a biodynamically farmed vineyard on the limestone hillsides of Sardon de Duero, bestows us with an extraordinary red blend. Heavily influenced by the singular terroir, this Tempranillo-led blend reveals subtle suggestions of Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Merlot, aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. The Quinta Sardonia Ribera Duero 2011 is an exquisitely balanced marriage of ripened red fruit notes, herbal nuances, and a hint of exotic spice. Its elegant minerality and firm tannin structure promise longevity, making it an admirable addition to any cellar. Could there be a more charming demonstration of Ribera Duero's capacity to yield intense, complex wines with poised sophistication? Those serious about wine will know that a bottle of Quinta Sardonia Ribera Duero 2011 is a possession of true distinction.
In Bond£412.00 -
The Rodero Ribera Duero Reserva 2014 is a product of artistry and refinement, emanating from the profound greeneries of Ribera del Duero in Spain. Cultivated by the esteemed Bodegas Rodero, this Grand Reserve is an embodiment of age-old viticulture skills and state-of-the-art techniques. Matured in carefully selected French oak barrels for no less than 24 months, and rested for another 36 in the bottle, it impeccably harmonises intensity with finesse.
The Rodero Ribera Duero Reserva 2014 boasts a regal burgundy hue with purple undertones and an impressive nose showcasing blackberry, vanilla, and cocoa nuances. Its velvety palate surprise with plum, cherry and liquorice notes wonderfully balanced with soft tannins and a sustained finish. The Rodero Ribera Duero Reserva 2014 is an eloquent expression of the Tempranillo grape varietal blend and a testament to Bodegas Rodero's winemaking legacy. An elegant addition worthy of the most discerning oenophile's collection.
In Bond£730.00 -
The acclaimed Rodero Ribera Duero Reserva 2015 is an embodiment of elegance and tradition hailing from Spain's prestigious Ribera del Duero region. Created by the family-owned Bodegas Rodero, with a winemaking reverence going back nine generations, their dedication to the land is exemplary and resonates in every vintage.
This exquisite 2015 Reserva is a blend of 75% Tempranillo and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for a minimum of 16 months in French oak barrels and an additional 36 months in bottle. The end product showcases the perfect balance of fruit and oak, encapsulating complex flavours of ripe berries, spicy oak nuances and velvety tannins with a prolonged finish.
The result of meticulous viticulture and winemaking, the Rodero Ribera Duero Reserva 2015 is a classic offering, promising both longevity and ever-growing complexity in the bottle. This vintage manifests the depth of understanding between the winegrowers and their exceptional terroir.
In Bond£730.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The 2018 Matallana is the only wine they produced in Ribera del Duero, a traditional blend of Tempranillo with approximately 15% other varieties —Valenciano (Bobal), Navarro (Garnacha) and white Albillo—from different soils in five different villages, Sotillo de la Ribera, Roa, Fuentecén, Fuentemolinos and Pardilla. It fermented in oak and stainless steel vats with indigenous yeasts and matured for 14 months in French oak barrels of different ages. It has 14.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.68. The wine is subtle, harmonious and elegant, complex and with integrated oak, very expressive with velvety tannins and a long, dry, chalky finish. This is superb, elegant but with the Duero rusticity and stone minerality. It has to be the finest Matallana to date. 22,020 bottles produced. It was bottled in May and June 2020. They skipped the 2017 of this wine as the year was decimated by killer frost.In Bond£625.00 -
James Suckling (94)
Fresh blackberries, tangy spices and hints of graphite and oyster shell on the nose, following through to a full-bodied, juicy palate, with fine-grained, chalky tannins that dissipate into the center-palate before a long, tangy finish. Drinkable now, but best after 2024.In Bond£699.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (97)
Valdaya's top red, Mirum, keeps improving with every vintage and is now among the best wines in Ribera del Duero. Made with Tinto Fino from old-vine parcels - Los Bueyes and Las Piedras - in Baños de Valdearodos, it's very much a limestone-influenced style from 925 metres, with subtle wood, chalky minerality, red berry fruit, tension and floral, violet top notes. Long, stylish and beautifully judged. 2022-30In Bond£320.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (97)
One of the great wines of Spain, not just Ribera del Duero, Mirum comes from a single, 1.2-hectare parcel in Baños de Valdearados. Fermented in concrete vats and aged in 20% new wood, it's pure, focused and violetscented, with pure plum and black cherry fruit, wonderful vivacity and focus, textured tannins, subtle wood spices and a long, chiselled, balanced finish. Drink 2023-32In Bond£302.00 -
A gorgeous Tempranillo that has been left to slumber in the winery cellar for close to two decades, this ex-winery parcel of Valsardo Ribera del Duero Reserva Superior 2002 is a total no brainer. Showcasing fully integrated, soft and supple tannins, there remains plenty of lovely black fruit with classic gamey and leathery notes alongside its impeccable backbone and freshness. Made without sulphur and at only 12.5% ABV, this blend of 90% Tempranillo, with the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, has aged amazing well.
Sourced directly from the winery, this parcel is, in fact, a clearance sale as the winery no longer bottles under its own label, and as such they are selling off all remaining inventory. With the winery now having halted production, this is a piece of Ribera del Duero history.In Bond£150.00 -
Wine Advocate (93)
The 2009 Alion, pure Tempranillo aged in French oak, has had the benefit of a couple more years in bottle than the 2011 and shows more nuances, more restraint and a more serious aroma profile. It’s also a ripe year, with notes of plums and shy violets, the oak well-integrated into the wine. The palate is full-bodied with abundant, fine-grained tannins and a velvety, juicy texture, with good extraction and stuffing: I think this will be longer lived than the 2011. They have different styles – this is classier, and 2011 is more exuberant – but they are both at a similar quality level. 320,000 bottles produced. Drink now-2021.In Bond£683.00 -
James Suckling (96)
Fresh and very floral with violets and berries. Blackberries and orange peel, too. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, linear tannins. Excellent length and structure. Seriously structured, Better after 2024, but already beautiful.In Bond£472.00 -
James Suckling (95)
Ripe, tarry plums and black cherries with violets, rocks, coffee and graphite. Refined notes of balsamic fruit and cocoa powder, too. Full-bodied and juicy with an iron fist of tannins, yet at the same time so velvety and polished. Very long, focused finish, showing lots of finesse and layers. Drinkable now, but better after 2025.In Bond£343.50 -
(6x75cl) 2020
Wine Advocate (95)
2020 was drier than average until the harvest, when it rained and diluted the grapes, and they had to wait to regain concentration. The result is that the 2020 Alión is a wine with better balance and freshness. They felt the skins were very ripe and they could extract more and use a little more American oak (4%) in the élevage. From 2019, they kept the press wine separate until June, and they keep separate quantities of press wines that are aged in different containers depending on the quality of the wine. They used a percentage of concrete and oak vats for the élevage, which gives the wine more verticality and freshness. It's a subtle and elegant Alión, not as dense as some other vintages, but with nice balance and very elegant tannins. In 2020, they produced 285,485 bottles of this wine, 7,115 magnums and some larger formats. It was bottled in May 2022.In Bond£366.00 -
Vinous (95)
Inky ruby. Highly aromatic scents of ripe cherry and dark berries, singed plum, cured tobacco and succulent herbs, with a vanilla undertone. Sweet, expansive and powerful, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors with smoke and floral accents. Rich and full but surprisingly lively, with excellent finishing thrust and sweet, harmonious tannins adding grip. Shows the ripeness of the vintage to good effect; this is a somewhat approachable and exotic Unico, especially with some air, but it has the concentration to age slowly.In Bond£689.00 -
Vinous (95)
Inky ruby. Highly aromatic scents of ripe cherry and dark berries, singed plum, cured tobacco and succulent herbs, with a vanilla undertone. Sweet, expansive and powerful, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors with smoke and floral accents. Rich and full but surprisingly lively, with excellent finishing thrust and sweet, harmonious tannins adding grip. Shows the ripeness of the vintage to good effect; this is a somewhat approachable and exotic Unico, especially with some air, but it has the concentration to age slowly.In Bond£1,833.00 -
Wine Enthusiast (98)
Lightly baked and hinting at raisin and fine herbs, the bouquet on this benchmark Spanish red enfolds aromas of tobacco, moss and ripe tomato. In the mouth, it's elegant and silky but also full and expansive. Flavors of baked berry fruits, baking spices, herbs and cocoa finish with a light coating of toast. This is an amazingly complete, exemplary wine that's just entering its prime. If past vintages of Unico are an indication, it will age well through 2035.In Bond£980.00
