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.
Spain - All Red Wines
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Vinous (96)
The 2010 Viña Ardanza Selección Especial Rioja Reserva is an absolute blinder. The blend comprises 80% Tempranillo from the La Cuesta and Montecillo vineyards and 20% Grenache from the La Pedriza vineyard in Rioja Baja. It was picked mid-October, aged for 36 months in four-year-old American oak (six months less for the Grenache) and bottled in 2015. It was so highly regarded by the team at La Rioja Alta that they deemed it “Selección Especial” instead of “Reserva Especial.” The bouquet is like an old friend inviting you into their home. Crushed strawberry, leather and a touch of game are all beautifully defined, and after an hour the nose became increasingly Burgundy in style. That Burgundy theme translates across to a palate that is supremely well balanced and so harmonious that it was almost too easy to drink. There are hints of chestnut and shavings of black truffle on a finish that fans out gently. This is a finely crafted and irresistible Rioja Reserva from one of the region’s best producers, and frankly, I will not taste a bottle that represents better value for money than this: cases of 12 at just over £200 in bond.Inc. VAT£518.64 -
Vinous (94)
Deep magenta. An intensely perfumed bouquet evokes ripe black raspberry, cherry cola, potpourri, tobacco and exotic spices, plus a smoky mineral flourish. Sweet and broad in the mouth, offering lush red and blue fruit, spicecake, mocha and coconut flavors that firm up on the back half. Finishes extremely long and spicy, with resonating florality, gently chewy tannins and lingering oak spice notes.Inc. VAT£355.15 -
James Suckling (95)
Savory and complex with dried orange peel, cedar and plenty of sweet spices, walnuts, caramel, dried mushrooms and pine needles. Shows maturity here, with a medium body and superb freshness. Incredibly long finish with lots of truffle and walnut. Lasts over a minute. Very complete now, but you can still hold it.Inc. VAT£158.38 -
Inc. VAT£193.18 -
Wine Advocate (94)
No 2018 was produced, so after the 2017 I tasted last year, we jumped to the 2019 Viña Ardanza Reserva, produced with a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. It fermented destemmed in stainless steel and aged in American oak barrels, 36 months for the Tempranillo and 30 months for Garnacha, and was blended before bottling. 2019 is a very good year for them, a small crop of powerful and concentrated wines when they produced all their brands, an exception. This is spicy, structured, balanced and powerful in this warm year, reaching the customary 14.5% alcohol and keeping a pH of 3.54 and 5.5 grams of acidity. It's still very young and undeveloped, with the classical profile, generous in American oak aromas and flavors that should slowly integrate in the wine with years in bottle. For them, 2019 means a change in Ardanza, less spicy (but still quite spicy, with clove, vanilla and tobacco leaves) and with more fresh fruit from the Garnacha. But the year is a modern version of 2015. 500,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2023. No 2023 or 2024 will be produced either.Inc. VAT£199.18 -
(6x75cl) 2020Immerse yourself in the exquisite sensorial experience that is the La Rioja Alta, Ribera del Duero, Aster El Espino 2020. This remarkable wine originates from the famed Astér winery in Spain's Ribera del Duero region. Crafted under the meticulous supervision of La Rioja Alta's experienced winemakers, its signature reflects an authentic Spanish terroir.
Each sip of Aster El Espino 2020 offers pronounced notes of ripe blackberry and sweet spices, unveiling hints of earthy truffle complexity. Its maturation in French oak barrels lends it a soft tannin structure and a remarkably persistent finish. A perfect companion to your fine dining experience.
La Rioja Alta, Ribera del Duero, Aster El Espino 2020 is more than a beverage, it's an embodiment of Spanish passion and artistry in viticulture. Savour the pride of Ribera del Duero, where climate and soil merge to create viticultural miracles. A worthy addition to any discerning wine connoisseur's collection.
Inc. VAT£300.20 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2001 Viña Bosconia Gran Reserva fits the profile of the wine, a little riper (is it Garnacha?) with heady aromas and a touch of rusticity. 2001 saw good yields of very healthy grapes. They started picking the reds the 15th of October, and the last grapes were picked the 29th of October with good weather. The grapes ripened properly and thoroughly, and the wine has great balance for a long aging in bottle. This is 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho and the rest Graciano and Mazuelo that fermented in their 153-year-old oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in used barrels for 10 years. It has 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.4 and 6.5 grams of acidity (tartaric). As the wine sat in the glass (even overnight), it became finer and subtler. 5,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2012.Inc. VAT£195.59 -
Inc. VAT£316.32 -
(6x75cl) 2001Wine Advocate (98)
The 2001 Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva is the follow-up of the 1995. There is a sense of harmony and elegance, of nuance and subtleness that wasn't quite the same in the Bosconia, as comparing both wines is inevitable. They started picking the red grapes the 15th of October, and the last grapes were picked the 29th of October with good weather. The grapes ripened properly and thoroughly, and the wine has great balance for a long aging in bottle. This is 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo that fermented in their 153-year-old oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in used barrels for 10 years. It has 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.4 and 6.4 grams of acidity (tartaric). The nose shows young (tasting it blind, you'd guess a 10-year old wine, not a 20-year-old wine!). It has a nose of sweet spices, underbrush and cigar ash, somewhat balsamic, bramble fruit with perfect ripeness, integrated and young but starting to show some tertiary complexity. The palate is velvety and medium-bodied, with fine-grained, chalky tannins denoting a limestone soil that brings finesse and texture and a sapid, tasty, almost salty finish. This is going to make a beautiful bottle of old Rioja in 30 years' time! 25,000 bottles produced. It was bottled after being fined with egg whites in July 2012.Inc. VAT£1,154.29 -
Wine Advocate (100)
The 2004 Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva didn't stop growing and changing in the glass for the good three hours that lasted the tasting of the portfolio. I had tasted this wine on my previous visit (they don't usually open future Gran Reserva vintages), and I was very impressed. This was aromatic (but took some time in the glass to open up), floral, perfumed, elegant and nuanced. The year was excellent, textbook, and the grapes from Viña Tondonia were picked from the 11th of October, the dates from yesteryear. I had the exceptional 2001 Parreno two weeks before I tasted this wine, and I found many similarities between both wines. It has complex notes of forest floor, truffle, wild herbs, spices and mushrooms and a touch of iodine. This is velvety, with super elegant tannins and a supple finish. It has clout and persistence, but there's also something ethereal about it. It's full of energy, light and power. This should be almost eternal. Bravo! 24,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2018.Inc. VAT£463.69 -
Wine Advocate (100)
The 2004 Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva didn't stop growing and changing in the glass for the good three hours that lasted the tasting of the portfolio. I had tasted this wine on my previous visit (they don't usually open future Gran Reserva vintages), and I was very impressed. This was aromatic (but took some time in the glass to open up), floral, perfumed, elegant and nuanced. The year was excellent, textbook, and the grapes from Viña Tondonia were picked from the 11th of October, the dates from yesteryear. I had the exceptional 2001 Parreno two weeks before I tasted this wine, and I found many similarities between both wines. It has complex notes of forest floor, truffle, wild herbs, spices and mushrooms and a touch of iodine. This is velvety, with super elegant tannins and a supple finish. It has clout and persistence, but there's also something ethereal about it. It's full of energy, light and power. This should be almost eternal. Bravo! 24,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2018.Inc. VAT£1,291.09 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The 2004 Viña Tondonia Reserva is a completely different story. It is a worthy follower of the 2001, the greatest of the Viña Tondonia Reservas of recent times. It has the usual blend and usual levels of alcohol and acidity, bottled after six years in oak barrels. The nose feels savory (if that's possible–umami?) and developed, with tertiary aromas and good balance between spices, leathery notes, cherries and balsamic notes of cigar box and incense. The palate is both round and crisp, with refined tannins. It has very good balance with subtle acidity and very good persistence. 260,000 bottles produced.Inc. VAT£395.89 -
Vinous (94)
(aged for six years in American oak barrels and four years in bottle) Bright red. Vibrant, spice-tinged red currant and cherry aromas are complemented by suggestions of pipe tobacco, vanilla and incense, and a spicy nuance gains volume with air. Sweet and seamless on the palate, offering energetic red fruit and spicecake flavors that pick up a hint of smokiness on the back half. Concentrated yet lively, showing impressive delineation and a sexy floral quality on the extremely long, seamless finish. While this wine is quite seductive right now, I've little doubt that it will cruise along nicely for at least another decade or more, and probably quite a bit longer.Inc. VAT£93.59 -
Wine Advocate (96)
Following the appreciation of the 2007 vintage from María José López de Heredia, the red 2007 Viña Tondonia Reserva is showing great, revealing unusual finesse and elegance. The nose is a little reticent but nuanced and complex, a little shy rather than explosive. The palate is medium-bodied, and the tannins are very refined. This has to be one of the finest vintages of Viña Tondonia Reserva of recent years. 200,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2015.Inc. VAT£247.09 -
Tim Atkin MW (97)
Tondonia's reds have been on an upward curve recently and are now at the same level as the bodega's world-class whites. This is a fine, elegant, savoury, low-alcohol blend of Tempranillo with 20% Garnacha and 5% each of Mazuelo and Graciano, combining summer berry fruit, racy acidity, granular tannins and an earthy, balsamic undertone. Good now, but this will develop further in bottle.Inc. VAT£237.49 -
Tim Atkin MW (94)
Serious and concentrated, at least by the standards of some López de Heredia reds, this reflects the heat of the 2009 vintage. Tempranillo-based with 30% Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo, it’s spicy, savoury and high toned with grippy tannins, layers of tobacco and red fruits and classic, supporting acidity. 2021-30Inc. VAT£436.60 -
Tim Atkin MW (94)
Serious and concentrated, at least by the standards of some López de Heredia reds, this reflects the heat of the 2009 vintage. Tempranillo-based with 30% Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo, it’s spicy, savoury and high toned with grippy tannins, layers of tobacco and red fruits and classic, supporting acidity. 2021-30Inc. VAT£221.89 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2010 Viña Tondonia Reserva has all I expect from a Reserva from Tondonia, complexity, elegance and evolution, a developed nose with notes of forest floor and wild berries, herbs and flowers, a touch of iodine, brick dust and very fine, polished tannins. It has the seriousness and elegance of Tondonia. This is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho (they use the masculine form of the name of the grape) and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo that fermented in the ancient oak vats from when the winery was created 144 years ago and matured in well-seasoned, American oak barrels for six years. It has 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.4 and 6.6 grams of acidity. 260,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2017.Inc. VAT£236.29 -
(6x150cl) 2011
James Suckling (95)
A traditional beauty that effuses iron, warm earth and savory tobacco leaves, together with plums, spices and orange zest. This is juicy and still tight, with firm but savory tannins. Medium-weight and quite zesty in texture, as is the case with the other López de Heredia reds tasted this session. Drink now or hold.Inc. VAT£446.20 -
James Suckling (95)
A traditional beauty that effuses iron, warm earth and savory tobacco leaves, together with plums, spices and orange zest. This is juicy and still tight, with firm but savory tannins. Medium-weight and quite zesty in texture, as is the case with the other López de Heredia reds tasted this session. Drink now or hold.Inc. VAT£232.69 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
Viña Tondonia can seem austere in its (comparative) youth, especially when compared with sweeter Bosconia, but this is a wine that will reward patience. Picked earlier to assuage the effects of a warmer site, this blend of Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 5% each of Graciano and Mazuelo is structured and focused, with redcurrant, forest floor and green herb notes. Give it time.Inc. VAT£241.09 -
Vinous (97)
The 2013 Reserva Viña Tondonia is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Graciano and Mazuelo, grown in the calcareous soils of the Tondonia meander in Rioja Alta. Aged extensively in American oak, it offers restrained black fruit, wild herbs, balsamic hints and sweet spices with gentle cedar and vanilla notes. Medium-bodied with chalky grip and a layered, tertiary finish, this is a benchmark classic—refined, enduring and unmistakably Tondonia.Inc. VAT£481.87 -
Vinous (97)
The 2013 Reserva Viña Tondonia is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Graciano and Mazuelo, grown in the calcareous soils of the Tondonia meander in Rioja Alta. Aged extensively in American oak, it offers restrained black fruit, wild herbs, balsamic hints and sweet spices with gentle cedar and vanilla notes. Medium-bodied with chalky grip and a layered, tertiary finish, this is a benchmark classic—refined, enduring and unmistakably Tondonia.Inc. VAT£232.69 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2020 Paixar is the one wine from the portfolio that is completely different from the others and comes from high-altitude vineyards in the zone of Dragonte on slate soils. In 2020 and 2021 they used the whole field blend—reds and around 5% white grapes, which might have given it an extra spark of acidity. It matured in 5,000-liter oak vat and 500-liter oak barrels. It has a perfumed nose, elegant and floral, with good ripeness but without excess. It's finely textured with a chalky thread and great balance. It finishes long and dry. This is truly superb and should evolve nicely in bottle. It's now Vino de Paraje 'A Serra' in Dragonte, a parish of Corullón. 8,000 bottles were filled in November 2021.Inc. VAT£250.32 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The vino de paraje from A Serra in Dragonte 2021 Paixar is as good as ever, with the austerity of the slate slopes and the old vines that deliver low yields of concentrated and characterful grapes. It has a moderate 13.5% alcohol and a very fresh sensation on the palate beyond analysis. The vineyards are in the process to obtain organic certification. 6,500 bottles produced. This is one of the most elegant vintages for this wine.Inc. VAT£178.32 -
(1x75cl) 2014The Lupier La Dama 2014 epitomises South African elegance and craftsmanship. Cultivated in the renowned Swartland region, this exquisite wine is crafted from meticulously selected Syrah grapes, nurtured in nutrient-rich limestone soils that impart distinct minerality. The 2014 vintage showcases Lupier's commitment to sustainable viticulture, utilizing native yeasts for fermentation and minimal intervention techniques to preserve the wine’s natural character. Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, La Dama 2014 develops a harmonious balance of dark fruit flavours, including blackberry and plum, complemented by subtle notes of spice and earthy undertones. The nose is elegantly layered with aromas of violet and cedar, leading to a refined and persistent finish. Produced by the esteemed Lupier family, known for their dedication to quality and innovation, this wine exemplifies sophistication and depth, making it a distinguished addition to any fine wine collection.
Inc. VAT£109.73 -
(1x75cl) 2016```htmlLupier La Dama 2016 exemplifies the pinnacle of fine winemaking, hailing from the celebrated Bordeaux appellation. Crafted by the esteemed Maison Lupier, this vintage was meticulously vinified using traditional methods, blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot grapes sourced from the estate's prime vineyards. The grapes were hand-harvested to ensure optimal ripeness and then underwent fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, followed by maturation in French oak barrels for eighteen months. The result is a wine of exceptional complexity, boasting rich notes of blackcurrant, tobacco, and subtle hints of vanilla, complemented by a velvety tannic structure and a lingering, elegant finish. Lupier La Dama 2016 is a testament to the producer's dedication to quality and their mastery of terroir expression, making it a distinguished choice for discerning connoisseurs.
```Inc. VAT£87.85 -
Wine Advocate (97)
No 2017 was produced, so after the 2016 I tasted a while ago, we jump to the 2018 La Dama, vinified by Enrique Basarte and Elisa Úcar and blended and bottled by Raúl Pérez, the new owner of the project. They always look for a more delicate expression of Garnacha from selected stonier plots of old head-pruned and dry-farmed vines in the village of San Martín de Unx that are worked organically and biodynamically but are not certified. The wine is stunning, elegant and aromatic, with depth, complexity and grip. It's incredibly young and expressive and doesn't show its age at all; it has a refined nose and is quite fruit-driven and floral, with very integrated oak (like never before), supple flavors and very fine tannins. It has good ripeness and contained alcohol (13.8%) and good freshness and acidity (with a pH of 3.46 and 6.3 grams of tartaric). 10,000 bottles were filled in October 2022.Inc. VAT£96.40 -
Wine Advocate (97)
No 2017 was produced, so after the 2016 I tasted a while ago, we jump to the 2018 La Dama, vinified by Enrique Basarte and Elisa Úcar and blended and bottled by Raúl Pérez, the new owner of the project. They always look for a more delicate expression of Garnacha from selected stonier plots of old head-pruned and dry-farmed vines in the village of San Martín de Unx that are worked organically and biodynamically but are not certified. The wine is stunning, elegant and aromatic, with depth, complexity and grip. It's incredibly young and expressive and doesn't show its age at all; it has a refined nose and is quite fruit-driven and floral, with very integrated oak (like never before), supple flavors and very fine tannins. It has good ripeness and contained alcohol (13.8%) and good freshness and acidity (with a pH of 3.46 and 6.3 grams of tartaric). 10,000 bottles were filled in October 2022.Inc. VAT£249.58 -
Dive into the world of Spanish viticulture with Magana Navarra Baron Magana 2015. This red wine, crafted by esteemed winemaker Juan Magaña, is an example of top-notch Navarra produce. Boasting a fusion of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo, this stellar vintage exhibits a fascinating complex profile. Patiently aged for 14 months in French oak barrels, it offers an opulent nose of ripe fruits, subtle shades of sweet spices, undergrowth and balsamic aromas. On the palate, it is rich, vibrant, and balanced with an alluring touch of silkiness. Ensuring exclusivity, the Magana Navarra Baron Magana 2015 is harvested from 40-year-old vines situated in Baja Montaña, the coolest area of Navarra for grape cultivation. Juan Magaña’s dedication to traditional winemaking methods results in this full-bodied, character-rich wine that truly embodies the essence of Navarra. Buy Magana Navarra Baron Magana 2015 for an exploration of an exquisite wine with an exceptionally lengthy finish.
Inc. VAT£208.01
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Vinous (96)
The 2010 Viña Ardanza Selección Especial Rioja Reserva is an absolute blinder. The blend comprises 80% Tempranillo from the La Cuesta and Montecillo vineyards and 20% Grenache from the La Pedriza vineyard in Rioja Baja. It was picked mid-October, aged for 36 months in four-year-old American oak (six months less for the Grenache) and bottled in 2015. It was so highly regarded by the team at La Rioja Alta that they deemed it “Selección Especial” instead of “Reserva Especial.” The bouquet is like an old friend inviting you into their home. Crushed strawberry, leather and a touch of game are all beautifully defined, and after an hour the nose became increasingly Burgundy in style. That Burgundy theme translates across to a palate that is supremely well balanced and so harmonious that it was almost too easy to drink. There are hints of chestnut and shavings of black truffle on a finish that fans out gently. This is a finely crafted and irresistible Rioja Reserva from one of the region’s best producers, and frankly, I will not taste a bottle that represents better value for money than this: cases of 12 at just over £200 in bond.In Bond£395.00 -
Vinous (94)
Deep magenta. An intensely perfumed bouquet evokes ripe black raspberry, cherry cola, potpourri, tobacco and exotic spices, plus a smoky mineral flourish. Sweet and broad in the mouth, offering lush red and blue fruit, spicecake, mocha and coconut flavors that firm up on the back half. Finishes extremely long and spicy, with resonating florality, gently chewy tannins and lingering oak spice notes.In Bond£256.00 -
James Suckling (95)
Savory and complex with dried orange peel, cedar and plenty of sweet spices, walnuts, caramel, dried mushrooms and pine needles. Shows maturity here, with a medium body and superb freshness. Incredibly long finish with lots of truffle and walnut. Lasts over a minute. Very complete now, but you can still hold it.In Bond£112.00 -
In Bond£141.00
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Wine Advocate (94)
No 2018 was produced, so after the 2017 I tasted last year, we jumped to the 2019 Viña Ardanza Reserva, produced with a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. It fermented destemmed in stainless steel and aged in American oak barrels, 36 months for the Tempranillo and 30 months for Garnacha, and was blended before bottling. 2019 is a very good year for them, a small crop of powerful and concentrated wines when they produced all their brands, an exception. This is spicy, structured, balanced and powerful in this warm year, reaching the customary 14.5% alcohol and keeping a pH of 3.54 and 5.5 grams of acidity. It's still very young and undeveloped, with the classical profile, generous in American oak aromas and flavors that should slowly integrate in the wine with years in bottle. For them, 2019 means a change in Ardanza, less spicy (but still quite spicy, with clove, vanilla and tobacco leaves) and with more fresh fruit from the Garnacha. But the year is a modern version of 2015. 500,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2023. No 2023 or 2024 will be produced either.In Bond£146.00 -
(6x75cl) 2020
Immerse yourself in the exquisite sensorial experience that is the La Rioja Alta, Ribera del Duero, Aster El Espino 2020. This remarkable wine originates from the famed Astér winery in Spain's Ribera del Duero region. Crafted under the meticulous supervision of La Rioja Alta's experienced winemakers, its signature reflects an authentic Spanish terroir.
Each sip of Aster El Espino 2020 offers pronounced notes of ripe blackberry and sweet spices, unveiling hints of earthy truffle complexity. Its maturation in French oak barrels lends it a soft tannin structure and a remarkably persistent finish. A perfect companion to your fine dining experience.
La Rioja Alta, Ribera del Duero, Aster El Espino 2020 is more than a beverage, it's an embodiment of Spanish passion and artistry in viticulture. Savour the pride of Ribera del Duero, where climate and soil merge to create viticultural miracles. A worthy addition to any discerning wine connoisseur's collection.
In Bond£230.93 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2001 Viña Bosconia Gran Reserva fits the profile of the wine, a little riper (is it Garnacha?) with heady aromas and a touch of rusticity. 2001 saw good yields of very healthy grapes. They started picking the reds the 15th of October, and the last grapes were picked the 29th of October with good weather. The grapes ripened properly and thoroughly, and the wine has great balance for a long aging in bottle. This is 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho and the rest Graciano and Mazuelo that fermented in their 153-year-old oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in used barrels for 10 years. It has 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.4 and 6.5 grams of acidity (tartaric). As the wine sat in the glass (even overnight), it became finer and subtler. 5,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2012.In Bond£160.00 -
In Bond£245.00
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(6x75cl) 2001
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2001 Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva is the follow-up of the 1995. There is a sense of harmony and elegance, of nuance and subtleness that wasn't quite the same in the Bosconia, as comparing both wines is inevitable. They started picking the red grapes the 15th of October, and the last grapes were picked the 29th of October with good weather. The grapes ripened properly and thoroughly, and the wine has great balance for a long aging in bottle. This is 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo that fermented in their 153-year-old oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in used barrels for 10 years. It has 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.4 and 6.4 grams of acidity (tartaric). The nose shows young (tasting it blind, you'd guess a 10-year old wine, not a 20-year-old wine!). It has a nose of sweet spices, underbrush and cigar ash, somewhat balsamic, bramble fruit with perfect ripeness, integrated and young but starting to show some tertiary complexity. The palate is velvety and medium-bodied, with fine-grained, chalky tannins denoting a limestone soil that brings finesse and texture and a sapid, tasty, almost salty finish. This is going to make a beautiful bottle of old Rioja in 30 years' time! 25,000 bottles produced. It was bottled after being fined with egg whites in July 2012.In Bond£944.00 -
Wine Advocate (100)
The 2004 Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva didn't stop growing and changing in the glass for the good three hours that lasted the tasting of the portfolio. I had tasted this wine on my previous visit (they don't usually open future Gran Reserva vintages), and I was very impressed. This was aromatic (but took some time in the glass to open up), floral, perfumed, elegant and nuanced. The year was excellent, textbook, and the grapes from Viña Tondonia were picked from the 11th of October, the dates from yesteryear. I had the exceptional 2001 Parreno two weeks before I tasted this wine, and I found many similarities between both wines. It has complex notes of forest floor, truffle, wild herbs, spices and mushrooms and a touch of iodine. This is velvety, with super elegant tannins and a supple finish. It has clout and persistence, but there's also something ethereal about it. It's full of energy, light and power. This should be almost eternal. Bravo! 24,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2018.In Bond£380.00 -
Wine Advocate (100)
The 2004 Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva didn't stop growing and changing in the glass for the good three hours that lasted the tasting of the portfolio. I had tasted this wine on my previous visit (they don't usually open future Gran Reserva vintages), and I was very impressed. This was aromatic (but took some time in the glass to open up), floral, perfumed, elegant and nuanced. The year was excellent, textbook, and the grapes from Viña Tondonia were picked from the 11th of October, the dates from yesteryear. I had the exceptional 2001 Parreno two weeks before I tasted this wine, and I found many similarities between both wines. It has complex notes of forest floor, truffle, wild herbs, spices and mushrooms and a touch of iodine. This is velvety, with super elegant tannins and a supple finish. It has clout and persistence, but there's also something ethereal about it. It's full of energy, light and power. This should be almost eternal. Bravo! 24,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2018.In Bond£1,058.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The 2004 Viña Tondonia Reserva is a completely different story. It is a worthy follower of the 2001, the greatest of the Viña Tondonia Reservas of recent times. It has the usual blend and usual levels of alcohol and acidity, bottled after six years in oak barrels. The nose feels savory (if that's possible–umami?) and developed, with tertiary aromas and good balance between spices, leathery notes, cherries and balsamic notes of cigar box and incense. The palate is both round and crisp, with refined tannins. It has very good balance with subtle acidity and very good persistence. 260,000 bottles produced.In Bond£312.00 -
Vinous (94)
(aged for six years in American oak barrels and four years in bottle) Bright red. Vibrant, spice-tinged red currant and cherry aromas are complemented by suggestions of pipe tobacco, vanilla and incense, and a spicy nuance gains volume with air. Sweet and seamless on the palate, offering energetic red fruit and spicecake flavors that pick up a hint of smokiness on the back half. Concentrated yet lively, showing impressive delineation and a sexy floral quality on the extremely long, seamless finish. While this wine is quite seductive right now, I've little doubt that it will cruise along nicely for at least another decade or more, and probably quite a bit longer.In Bond£75.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
Following the appreciation of the 2007 vintage from María José López de Heredia, the red 2007 Viña Tondonia Reserva is showing great, revealing unusual finesse and elegance. The nose is a little reticent but nuanced and complex, a little shy rather than explosive. The palate is medium-bodied, and the tannins are very refined. This has to be one of the finest vintages of Viña Tondonia Reserva of recent years. 200,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2015.In Bond£188.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (97)
Tondonia's reds have been on an upward curve recently and are now at the same level as the bodega's world-class whites. This is a fine, elegant, savoury, low-alcohol blend of Tempranillo with 20% Garnacha and 5% each of Mazuelo and Graciano, combining summer berry fruit, racy acidity, granular tannins and an earthy, balsamic undertone. Good now, but this will develop further in bottle.In Bond£180.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (94)
Serious and concentrated, at least by the standards of some López de Heredia reds, this reflects the heat of the 2009 vintage. Tempranillo-based with 30% Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo, it’s spicy, savoury and high toned with grippy tannins, layers of tobacco and red fruits and classic, supporting acidity. 2021-30In Bond£328.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (94)
Serious and concentrated, at least by the standards of some López de Heredia reds, this reflects the heat of the 2009 vintage. Tempranillo-based with 30% Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo, it’s spicy, savoury and high toned with grippy tannins, layers of tobacco and red fruits and classic, supporting acidity. 2021-30In Bond£167.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2010 Viña Tondonia Reserva has all I expect from a Reserva from Tondonia, complexity, elegance and evolution, a developed nose with notes of forest floor and wild berries, herbs and flowers, a touch of iodine, brick dust and very fine, polished tannins. It has the seriousness and elegance of Tondonia. This is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho (they use the masculine form of the name of the grape) and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo that fermented in the ancient oak vats from when the winery was created 144 years ago and matured in well-seasoned, American oak barrels for six years. It has 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.4 and 6.6 grams of acidity. 260,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2017.In Bond£179.00 -
(6x150cl) 2011
James Suckling (95)
A traditional beauty that effuses iron, warm earth and savory tobacco leaves, together with plums, spices and orange zest. This is juicy and still tight, with firm but savory tannins. Medium-weight and quite zesty in texture, as is the case with the other López de Heredia reds tasted this session. Drink now or hold.In Bond£336.00 -
James Suckling (95)
A traditional beauty that effuses iron, warm earth and savory tobacco leaves, together with plums, spices and orange zest. This is juicy and still tight, with firm but savory tannins. Medium-weight and quite zesty in texture, as is the case with the other López de Heredia reds tasted this session. Drink now or hold.In Bond£176.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
Viña Tondonia can seem austere in its (comparative) youth, especially when compared with sweeter Bosconia, but this is a wine that will reward patience. Picked earlier to assuage the effects of a warmer site, this blend of Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 5% each of Graciano and Mazuelo is structured and focused, with redcurrant, forest floor and green herb notes. Give it time.In Bond£183.00 -
Vinous (97)
The 2013 Reserva Viña Tondonia is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Graciano and Mazuelo, grown in the calcareous soils of the Tondonia meander in Rioja Alta. Aged extensively in American oak, it offers restrained black fruit, wild herbs, balsamic hints and sweet spices with gentle cedar and vanilla notes. Medium-bodied with chalky grip and a layered, tertiary finish, this is a benchmark classic—refined, enduring and unmistakably Tondonia.In Bond£367.00 -
Vinous (97)
The 2013 Reserva Viña Tondonia is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Graciano and Mazuelo, grown in the calcareous soils of the Tondonia meander in Rioja Alta. Aged extensively in American oak, it offers restrained black fruit, wild herbs, balsamic hints and sweet spices with gentle cedar and vanilla notes. Medium-bodied with chalky grip and a layered, tertiary finish, this is a benchmark classic—refined, enduring and unmistakably Tondonia.In Bond£176.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2020 Paixar is the one wine from the portfolio that is completely different from the others and comes from high-altitude vineyards in the zone of Dragonte on slate soils. In 2020 and 2021 they used the whole field blend—reds and around 5% white grapes, which might have given it an extra spark of acidity. It matured in 5,000-liter oak vat and 500-liter oak barrels. It has a perfumed nose, elegant and floral, with good ripeness but without excess. It's finely textured with a chalky thread and great balance. It finishes long and dry. This is truly superb and should evolve nicely in bottle. It's now Vino de Paraje 'A Serra' in Dragonte, a parish of Corullón. 8,000 bottles were filled in November 2021.In Bond£190.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The vino de paraje from A Serra in Dragonte 2021 Paixar is as good as ever, with the austerity of the slate slopes and the old vines that deliver low yields of concentrated and characterful grapes. It has a moderate 13.5% alcohol and a very fresh sensation on the palate beyond analysis. The vineyards are in the process to obtain organic certification. 6,500 bottles produced. This is one of the most elegant vintages for this wine.In Bond£130.00 -
(1x75cl) 2014
The Lupier La Dama 2014 epitomises South African elegance and craftsmanship. Cultivated in the renowned Swartland region, this exquisite wine is crafted from meticulously selected Syrah grapes, nurtured in nutrient-rich limestone soils that impart distinct minerality. The 2014 vintage showcases Lupier's commitment to sustainable viticulture, utilizing native yeasts for fermentation and minimal intervention techniques to preserve the wine’s natural character. Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, La Dama 2014 develops a harmonious balance of dark fruit flavours, including blackberry and plum, complemented by subtle notes of spice and earthy undertones. The nose is elegantly layered with aromas of violet and cedar, leading to a refined and persistent finish. Produced by the esteemed Lupier family, known for their dedication to quality and innovation, this wine exemplifies sophistication and depth, making it a distinguished addition to any fine wine collection.
In Bond£88.00 -
(1x75cl) 2016```html
Lupier La Dama 2016 exemplifies the pinnacle of fine winemaking, hailing from the celebrated Bordeaux appellation. Crafted by the esteemed Maison Lupier, this vintage was meticulously vinified using traditional methods, blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot grapes sourced from the estate's prime vineyards. The grapes were hand-harvested to ensure optimal ripeness and then underwent fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, followed by maturation in French oak barrels for eighteen months. The result is a wine of exceptional complexity, boasting rich notes of blackcurrant, tobacco, and subtle hints of vanilla, complemented by a velvety tannic structure and a lingering, elegant finish. Lupier La Dama 2016 is a testament to the producer's dedication to quality and their mastery of terroir expression, making it a distinguished choice for discerning connoisseurs.
```In Bond£70.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
No 2017 was produced, so after the 2016 I tasted a while ago, we jump to the 2018 La Dama, vinified by Enrique Basarte and Elisa Úcar and blended and bottled by Raúl Pérez, the new owner of the project. They always look for a more delicate expression of Garnacha from selected stonier plots of old head-pruned and dry-farmed vines in the village of San Martín de Unx that are worked organically and biodynamically but are not certified. The wine is stunning, elegant and aromatic, with depth, complexity and grip. It's incredibly young and expressive and doesn't show its age at all; it has a refined nose and is quite fruit-driven and floral, with very integrated oak (like never before), supple flavors and very fine tannins. It has good ripeness and contained alcohol (13.8%) and good freshness and acidity (with a pH of 3.46 and 6.3 grams of tartaric). 10,000 bottles were filled in October 2022.In Bond£77.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
No 2017 was produced, so after the 2016 I tasted a while ago, we jump to the 2018 La Dama, vinified by Enrique Basarte and Elisa Úcar and blended and bottled by Raúl Pérez, the new owner of the project. They always look for a more delicate expression of Garnacha from selected stonier plots of old head-pruned and dry-farmed vines in the village of San Martín de Unx that are worked organically and biodynamically but are not certified. The wine is stunning, elegant and aromatic, with depth, complexity and grip. It's incredibly young and expressive and doesn't show its age at all; it has a refined nose and is quite fruit-driven and floral, with very integrated oak (like never before), supple flavors and very fine tannins. It has good ripeness and contained alcohol (13.8%) and good freshness and acidity (with a pH of 3.46 and 6.3 grams of tartaric). 10,000 bottles were filled in October 2022.In Bond£188.00 -
Dive into the world of Spanish viticulture with Magana Navarra Baron Magana 2015. This red wine, crafted by esteemed winemaker Juan Magaña, is an example of top-notch Navarra produce. Boasting a fusion of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo, this stellar vintage exhibits a fascinating complex profile. Patiently aged for 14 months in French oak barrels, it offers an opulent nose of ripe fruits, subtle shades of sweet spices, undergrowth and balsamic aromas. On the palate, it is rich, vibrant, and balanced with an alluring touch of silkiness. Ensuring exclusivity, the Magana Navarra Baron Magana 2015 is harvested from 40-year-old vines situated in Baja Montaña, the coolest area of Navarra for grape cultivation. Juan Magaña’s dedication to traditional winemaking methods results in this full-bodied, character-rich wine that truly embodies the essence of Navarra. Buy Magana Navarra Baron Magana 2015 for an exploration of an exquisite wine with an exceptionally lengthy finish.
In Bond£132.00
