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
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Navarra | 3 | - |
Inc. VAT
£204.41 |
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The Magana Navarra Dignus 2013 captures the elegance of Spain's Navarra region. Crafted by the esteemed Bodegas Viña Magaña estate, this exemplary blend boasts 50% Tempranillo, 25% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. An expert in producing old vine Spanish wines, the Magaña family invites you to experience the complexity of their craft with the Dignus 2013 vintage. With 12 months aging in French oak, the Dignus 2013 presents an exceptional intensity on the palate, redolent with fresh black fruit and subtle hints of vanilla and exotic spices. Its vibrant dark red hue and refined tannins complement its long, memorable finish. Laden with the nuances of its terroir, the Magana Navarra Dignus 2013 is an exemplary testament to the vintner's art in Navarra. Enjoy this distinctive wine with a variety of robust dishes to appreciate its harmony and depth. Truly, the Dignus 2013 exemplifies the rich viticultural heritage of the Magaña estate. |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£146.00 |
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Maldivinas Movida Laderas Vino Tierra 2009 embodies the quintessential expression of Spanish viticulture. Crafted meticulously in the renowned Laderas region of Rioja, this exquisite wine benefits from a unique terroir characterised by sun-drenched slopes and well-drained limestone soils. The estate, Maldivinas, with decades of heritage and a dedication to sustainable farming practices, cultivates primarily Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes, employing traditional hand-harvesting methods combined with modern vinification techniques. Fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, followed by ageing in French oak barrels for 18 months, imparting subtle vanilla and spice notes. The meticulous selection from biodynamically managed vineyards enhances the wine’s purity and expression. On the palate, the 2009 vintage reveals a harmonious balance of ripe dark fruits, elegant tannins, and a long, lingering finish. Its complex bouquet features aromas of blackberry, plum, and a hint of tobacco, making Maldivinas Movida Laderas Vino Tierra 2009 a distinguished choice for connoisseurs seeking depth and elegance in their fine wine selection. |
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Rioja | 1 | 94 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£333.86 |
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Wine Advocate (94)I reported on the current release, the 2001 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial, previously but underrated it slightly. This cuvee is sourced from a single plot called La Plana planted at over 1500 feet of elevation. It is made up of 93% Tempranillo and 7% Mazuelo chosen for its acidity. The wine is aged for 10 months in new American oak followed by 21 months in seasoned oak. It is then held in bottle for 3-4 years prior to release. Deeply colored, spicy, elegant and complex, the wine has great volume and grip as well as exceptional length. It can be approached now but will easily have a 30 year lifespan. |
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Rioja | 1 | 99 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,406.75 |
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James Suckling (99)Marvelous aromas of crushed berries, tobacco, cedar and mushrooms. Some dried cheese. Then turns to flowers. Very complex. Full and intense with fantastic depth and power. It goes on for minutes. It is a wine that exudes tradition but gives a sense of modernity with precise winemaking. Two years in oak, one in concrete and three or four in bottle. Drink on release and age onwards. |
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Rioja | 3 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£879.95 |
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James Suckling (98)Extremely well-mannered, traditional character to this, showing layer upon layer of savory complexity on the nose, with iron, dried meat, tobacco, balsamic fruit, dried red berries, orange peel, leather and dried mushrooms. A medium-to full-bodied, linear and zesty Rioja that’s full of nuanced flavors that linger through the very long, savory finish. Floral, too. Yet, it remains bright and precise. Tempranillo with 16% mazuelo. Drink on release or hold. |
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Rioja | 2 | 100 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,143.95 |
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James Suckling (100)So much dried flower, mushroom, iron, rust, sweet berry, and grilled orange. Full-bodied with very elegant and refined tannins that melt in the mouth and give a real sense of place and integrity. Balanced and harmonious. The finesse and finish is endless. Production was 30% less than in 2011. Already so drinkable. A wonderful future. This is the new 1934 or 1964, two legends. Drink or hold. |
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Rioja | 1 | 98 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£318.04 |
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James Suckling (98)This is historical Rioja in the glass with dark-berry, Spanish-cedar, bark, mahogany and light earth aromas that follow through to a full body with firm, fine tannins that are layered and intense. It really is multilayered, with a citrus and cedar aftertaste. Wonderful length and composure. Try after 2023, but already fantastic. |
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Rioja | 1 | 94 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£203.15 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)Fresh, serious, stylish and well balanced, this is a delightful 2015, with no sign of the heat of the vintage. |
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Catalunya | 2 | 95.0 |
Inc. VAT
£304.49 |
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The exquisite Raventós i Blanc Mas del Serral 2009, a sparkling wine of exceptional complexity and grace, hails from Catalonia, Spain. Crafted by the renowned Raventós i Blanc, a winemaking dynasty dating back to 1497, this wine exemplifies perfection with three years of lees ageing and a further six years of bottle ageing. Expertly sculpted from a blend of Xarel·lo and Parellada grapes delicately harvested from the prized Mas del Serral vineyard, it oscillates between freshness and maturity. Perfect acidity and fine bubbles introduce an amalgamation of bright citrus notes balanced with aged honey undertones, culminating in a lingering, nuanced finish. A glorious testament to the terroir, the Raventós i Blanc Mas del Serral 2009 effectively captures the minerality of the limestone-rich soils of the 12-hectare estate. Unquestionably, it stands among the premier Catalan sparkling wines. |
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Catalunya | 9 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£648.80 |
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Vinous (92)(50% carinena, 48% garnacha and 2% merlot) Inky violet. Vibrant cherry, cassis and violet aromas are deepened by smoky bacon, mocha and toasty oak. Tightly wound, with firmly structured dark berry flavors and no flab. Picks up a spicy quality on the impressively long, juicy finish, which offers an intriguing, rooty cola flavor. |
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Catalunya | 1 | 95 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£470.38 |
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Wine Advocate (95)I had two vintages of the old-vine cuvée to taste side by side, starting with the 2014 Doix Costers de Vinyes Velles. Made of 55% Cariñena and 45% Garnacha from old vines on slopes on slate llicorella soils, the fermentation and aging are the same as for the centenary Carignan: fermentation in stainless steel with neutral yeasts and an élevage of 16 months in new French barriques. It has moderate alcohol and high acidity. It has already started developing some tertiary notes and shows some graphite and wet slate notes. The palate shows great balance, with concentration and freshness—what you're aiming for in a wine like this where pure power might be too much. 5,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2016. |
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Catalunya | 10 | 94 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£190.78 |
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Wine Advocate (94)The 2021 Martinet Bru was also bottled and ready for tasting. 2021 is a year of very good potential in Priorat. There is great tension here, and the wine has freshness, complexity and depth, something special, but it was not easy, as they got a lot of rain in September. It's elegant and balanced, the tannins are very fine and the wine feels very relaxed (quite remarkable, as it was recently bottled). It has to be one of the finest vintages of Martinet Bru. I find great purity here. Sara Pérez told me the 2021s seem to dance... There are some 56,000 bottles. This is bottled over a period of time, and they started in July 2022. |
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Catalunya | 1 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£369.20 |
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Wine Advocate (96)I love the 2015 Clos Martinet, which I find complex and elegant while keeping the Priorat rustic character found in the best vintages, like 2000. It's balanced, and the palate feels ethereal for the concentration it has. The tannins are abundant but very fine-grained, and there is a sense of harmony that is captivating. A great Clos Martinet. I had the chance to drink the 2000 a few days before I tasted this, and it remains one of the best years they have produced. 2015 is also among the best years. The favorites for Sara Pérez are 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2017. 12,000 bottles were filled in April 2017. |
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Catalunya | 1 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£346.32 |
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Wine Advocate (96)The flagship 2018 Clos Martinet is the wine that started it all and is still a blend of Garnacha (Tinta and Peluda), Syrah, Cariñena, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Monastrell as it was since the beginning but now with a restrained 13.5% alcohol and higher acidity. Clos Martinet is a single five-hectare terraced vineyard planted with clonal material in 1986 on decomposed llicorella slate, iron and big rocks in the soil. The varieties are co-fermented depending on the date picked—at three different ripening times—in two concrete vats and 200-liter oak vats with indigenous yeast and whole clusters. The beginning and end of the élevage was in concrete, and in between they used 2,000- and 4,100-liter oak vats and some 20% in glass demijohn and amphorae. The wine is subtle and a bit shy, insinuating rather than in your face. There is a lot less ripeness than in the past. It's medium-bodied and fluid, fresh and balanced. This is a very elegant Clos Martinet. 11,070 bottles and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2020. |
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Catalunya | 2 | 95 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£319.92 |
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Wine Advocate (95)Their flagship 2019 Clos Martinet, one of the wines produced in the first vintage of the new Priorat in 1989 by the father of Sara Pérez, is still a blend of Garnacha (Tinta and Peluda), Syrah, Cariñena, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Monastrell. The nose is dark despite the lowish alcohol (13.5%) and has an earthy touch, with hints of fountain pen ink and abundant grainy tannins. 14,000 bottles produced. |
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Catalunya | 2 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£429.12 |
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Wine Advocate (98)The nose of the 2021 Clos Martinet is amazing, very different, perfumed, elegant and nuanced. I wondered why, and there was an explanation. In 2021, it had a shorter vinification, and part was fermented with carbonic maceration and matured mostly in concrete (like in 2009, when it was 100% in concrete, a one-off) and the rest in a 2,000-liter oak foudre. There's a lot of Garnacha (65%) and the vineyard is quite warm, so they had to find a way to equalize it down. It has 13.5% alcohol and a vibrant palate that is fine-boned and elegant, full of energy and an electric sensation of lightness. It's tasty and makes you salivate, with an almost salty touch. This is an amazing vintage for Clos Martinet. 16,696 bottles, 216 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2023. |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£331.19 |
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Vinous (95)Inky ruby. A deeply perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, Moroccan spices and floral pastilles, along with suggestions of cola, licorice and smoky minerals. Shows a suave blend of depth and energy to the sharply focused black raspberry, cherry vanilla, star anise and candied violet flavors, which deepen and become sweeter with aeration. Well-knit tannins add grip to a penetrating finish that leaves behind notes of dark berry preserves and spicecake. |
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Castilla y Leon | 8 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£232.34 |
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Vinous (94)(all old-vines tempranillo; aged for 32 months in small French oak, 80% of it new): Inky ruby. An expressive, exotically perfumed bouquet evokes candied black and blue fruits, incense, vanilla, roasted coffee and potpourri, along with a bright mineral overtone. Sweet, densely packed blueberry and cherry-vanilla flavors are energized by a peppery, spicy nuance that gains strength as the wine opens in the glass. Shows the richness of the vintage to excellent effect and finishes sweet, supple and very long, leaving a sexy floral pastille quality behind. |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£130.00 |
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Vinous (95)(malo and 33 months of aging in new French and American oak barrels): Inky ruby. A strikingly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, incense, vanilla and smoky Indian spices, plus a vibrant mineral topnote. Sweet, seamless and expansive, offering sappy black raspberry and spicecake flavors that deepen in the mid-palate while maintaining vivacity. Smooth plays power and depth off of finesse and finishes with superb energy and lift, the velvety tannins adding gentle grip. |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | 97 (DWWA) |
Inc. VAT
£108.35 |
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Decanter World Wine Awards 2023 (97)Our Best in Show journey across Northern Spain continues with a 2020 Bierzo, grown just across the provincial border from Galicia into Castilla y Léon. It’s another zone of steep slopes and old vines – the variety in this case being Mencia (known as Jaen in Portugal’s Dão region). This wine is deep black-red in colour and vivacious and urgent in aroma: wild plums mingled with the woodland scents of leaf, copse and forest floor. The palate is fruit-packed and vibrant, vigorous with an energy derived both from ripe acidity and fresh though smooth tannins; look out, too, for a stony, bitter-edged finish perhaps derived from the region’s slate soils. Wonderful drinking now in the flush of youth, but fruit of this quality will hold well for a few years yet. |
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Rioja | 2 | 91 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£972.80 |
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Vinous (91)Dark red. Wild, gamey red berry and cherry scents are complicated by leather, vanilla, baking spices and cured meat. Firm, sharply focused redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors slowly unwind to reveal smoky mineral and floral pastille character. Finishes sweet, spicy and very long. |
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Rioja | 1 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£511.55 |
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Wine Advocate (96)The most classical of the wines from Muga, the 2011 Prado Enea Gran Reserva comes from a warm year that here was cooler than 2012, when they did not produce it. There won't be a 2013 either. So after this 2011, the following vintage will be 2014 but with fewer bottles and then 2015 and 2016. The wine has a developed nose with some tertiary notes, combined with some notes of ripe black fruit and sweet spices. It fees like an open, expressive and hedonistic year for Prado Enea. The palate reveals polished tannins and some balsamic and developed flavors, truffle, forest floor and hints of cigar ash and incense. Stylistically, this could be close to the 2006, which was also surprisingly fresh for the average ripeness found in Rioja in general. 92,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in early 2015 after almost 40 months in barrel. Time in bottle has polished the wine, and it's ready to drink on release, but it's a wine that is going to develop in bottle for a long time. |
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Rioja | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£374.38 |
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James Suckling (97)Really beautiful aromas of crushed blackberry, brambleberry, hazelnut, walnut and light coffee, following through to a full yet so reserved and polished body with fine, creamy-textured tannins. Fresh and exquisite finish. This is a much more refined and harmonic rendition of their classic wine. Three years in French oak from their own production. Very enjoyable now, but this will improve with age for a long time. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Navarra | 3 | - |
In Bond
£129.00 |
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The Magana Navarra Dignus 2013 captures the elegance of Spain's Navarra region. Crafted by the esteemed Bodegas Viña Magaña estate, this exemplary blend boasts 50% Tempranillo, 25% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. An expert in producing old vine Spanish wines, the Magaña family invites you to experience the complexity of their craft with the Dignus 2013 vintage. With 12 months aging in French oak, the Dignus 2013 presents an exceptional intensity on the palate, redolent with fresh black fruit and subtle hints of vanilla and exotic spices. Its vibrant dark red hue and refined tannins complement its long, memorable finish. Laden with the nuances of its terroir, the Magana Navarra Dignus 2013 is an exemplary testament to the vintner's art in Navarra. Enjoy this distinctive wine with a variety of robust dishes to appreciate its harmony and depth. Truly, the Dignus 2013 exemplifies the rich viticultural heritage of the Magaña estate. |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | - |
In Bond
£101.00 |
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Maldivinas Movida Laderas Vino Tierra 2009 embodies the quintessential expression of Spanish viticulture. Crafted meticulously in the renowned Laderas region of Rioja, this exquisite wine benefits from a unique terroir characterised by sun-drenched slopes and well-drained limestone soils. The estate, Maldivinas, with decades of heritage and a dedication to sustainable farming practices, cultivates primarily Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes, employing traditional hand-harvesting methods combined with modern vinification techniques. Fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, followed by ageing in French oak barrels for 18 months, imparting subtle vanilla and spice notes. The meticulous selection from biodynamically managed vineyards enhances the wine’s purity and expression. On the palate, the 2009 vintage reveals a harmonious balance of ripe dark fruits, elegant tannins, and a long, lingering finish. Its complex bouquet features aromas of blackberry, plum, and a hint of tobacco, making Maldivinas Movida Laderas Vino Tierra 2009 a distinguished choice for connoisseurs seeking depth and elegance in their fine wine selection. |
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Rioja | 1 | 94 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£330.00 |
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Wine Advocate (94)I reported on the current release, the 2001 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial, previously but underrated it slightly. This cuvee is sourced from a single plot called La Plana planted at over 1500 feet of elevation. It is made up of 93% Tempranillo and 7% Mazuelo chosen for its acidity. The wine is aged for 10 months in new American oak followed by 21 months in seasoned oak. It is then held in bottle for 3-4 years prior to release. Deeply colored, spicy, elegant and complex, the wine has great volume and grip as well as exceptional length. It can be approached now but will easily have a 30 year lifespan. |
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Rioja | 1 | 99 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,153.00 |
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James Suckling (99)Marvelous aromas of crushed berries, tobacco, cedar and mushrooms. Some dried cheese. Then turns to flowers. Very complex. Full and intense with fantastic depth and power. It goes on for minutes. It is a wine that exudes tradition but gives a sense of modernity with precise winemaking. Two years in oak, one in concrete and three or four in bottle. Drink on release and age onwards. |
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Rioja | 3 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
£714.00 |
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James Suckling (98)Extremely well-mannered, traditional character to this, showing layer upon layer of savory complexity on the nose, with iron, dried meat, tobacco, balsamic fruit, dried red berries, orange peel, leather and dried mushrooms. A medium-to full-bodied, linear and zesty Rioja that’s full of nuanced flavors that linger through the very long, savory finish. Floral, too. Yet, it remains bright and precise. Tempranillo with 16% mazuelo. Drink on release or hold. |
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Rioja | 2 | 100 (JS) |
In Bond
£934.00 |
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James Suckling (100)So much dried flower, mushroom, iron, rust, sweet berry, and grilled orange. Full-bodied with very elegant and refined tannins that melt in the mouth and give a real sense of place and integrity. Balanced and harmonious. The finesse and finish is endless. Production was 30% less than in 2011. Already so drinkable. A wonderful future. This is the new 1934 or 1964, two legends. Drink or hold. |
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Rioja | 1 | 98 (JS) |
In Bond
£249.00 |
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James Suckling (98)This is historical Rioja in the glass with dark-berry, Spanish-cedar, bark, mahogany and light earth aromas that follow through to a full body with firm, fine tannins that are layered and intense. It really is multilayered, with a citrus and cedar aftertaste. Wonderful length and composure. Try after 2023, but already fantastic. |
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Rioja | 1 | 94 (TA) |
In Bond
£150.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)Fresh, serious, stylish and well balanced, this is a delightful 2015, with no sign of the heat of the vintage. |
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Catalunya | 2 | 95.0 |
In Bond
£248.00 |
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The exquisite Raventós i Blanc Mas del Serral 2009, a sparkling wine of exceptional complexity and grace, hails from Catalonia, Spain. Crafted by the renowned Raventós i Blanc, a winemaking dynasty dating back to 1497, this wine exemplifies perfection with three years of lees ageing and a further six years of bottle ageing. Expertly sculpted from a blend of Xarel·lo and Parellada grapes delicately harvested from the prized Mas del Serral vineyard, it oscillates between freshness and maturity. Perfect acidity and fine bubbles introduce an amalgamation of bright citrus notes balanced with aged honey undertones, culminating in a lingering, nuanced finish. A glorious testament to the terroir, the Raventós i Blanc Mas del Serral 2009 effectively captures the minerality of the limestone-rich soils of the 12-hectare estate. Unquestionably, it stands among the premier Catalan sparkling wines. |
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Catalunya | 9 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
£520.00 |
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Vinous (92)(50% carinena, 48% garnacha and 2% merlot) Inky violet. Vibrant cherry, cassis and violet aromas are deepened by smoky bacon, mocha and toasty oak. Tightly wound, with firmly structured dark berry flavors and no flab. Picks up a spicy quality on the impressively long, juicy finish, which offers an intriguing, rooty cola flavor. |
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Catalunya | 1 | 95 (WA) |
In Bond
£372.00 |
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Wine Advocate (95)I had two vintages of the old-vine cuvée to taste side by side, starting with the 2014 Doix Costers de Vinyes Velles. Made of 55% Cariñena and 45% Garnacha from old vines on slopes on slate llicorella soils, the fermentation and aging are the same as for the centenary Carignan: fermentation in stainless steel with neutral yeasts and an élevage of 16 months in new French barriques. It has moderate alcohol and high acidity. It has already started developing some tertiary notes and shows some graphite and wet slate notes. The palate shows great balance, with concentration and freshness—what you're aiming for in a wine like this where pure power might be too much. 5,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2016. |
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Catalunya | 10 | 94 (WA) |
In Bond
£139.00 |
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Wine Advocate (94)The 2021 Martinet Bru was also bottled and ready for tasting. 2021 is a year of very good potential in Priorat. There is great tension here, and the wine has freshness, complexity and depth, something special, but it was not easy, as they got a lot of rain in September. It's elegant and balanced, the tannins are very fine and the wine feels very relaxed (quite remarkable, as it was recently bottled). It has to be one of the finest vintages of Martinet Bru. I find great purity here. Sara Pérez told me the 2021s seem to dance... There are some 56,000 bottles. This is bottled over a period of time, and they started in July 2022. |
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Catalunya | 1 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£287.00 |
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Wine Advocate (96)I love the 2015 Clos Martinet, which I find complex and elegant while keeping the Priorat rustic character found in the best vintages, like 2000. It's balanced, and the palate feels ethereal for the concentration it has. The tannins are abundant but very fine-grained, and there is a sense of harmony that is captivating. A great Clos Martinet. I had the chance to drink the 2000 a few days before I tasted this, and it remains one of the best years they have produced. 2015 is also among the best years. The favorites for Sara Pérez are 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2017. 12,000 bottles were filled in April 2017. |
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Catalunya | 1 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£270.00 |
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Wine Advocate (96)The flagship 2018 Clos Martinet is the wine that started it all and is still a blend of Garnacha (Tinta and Peluda), Syrah, Cariñena, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Monastrell as it was since the beginning but now with a restrained 13.5% alcohol and higher acidity. Clos Martinet is a single five-hectare terraced vineyard planted with clonal material in 1986 on decomposed llicorella slate, iron and big rocks in the soil. The varieties are co-fermented depending on the date picked—at three different ripening times—in two concrete vats and 200-liter oak vats with indigenous yeast and whole clusters. The beginning and end of the élevage was in concrete, and in between they used 2,000- and 4,100-liter oak vats and some 20% in glass demijohn and amphorae. The wine is subtle and a bit shy, insinuating rather than in your face. There is a lot less ripeness than in the past. It's medium-bodied and fluid, fresh and balanced. This is a very elegant Clos Martinet. 11,070 bottles and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2020. |
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Catalunya | 2 | 95 (WA) |
In Bond
£248.00 |
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Wine Advocate (95)Their flagship 2019 Clos Martinet, one of the wines produced in the first vintage of the new Priorat in 1989 by the father of Sara Pérez, is still a blend of Garnacha (Tinta and Peluda), Syrah, Cariñena, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Monastrell. The nose is dark despite the lowish alcohol (13.5%) and has an earthy touch, with hints of fountain pen ink and abundant grainy tannins. 14,000 bottles produced. |
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Catalunya | 2 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
£339.00 |
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Wine Advocate (98)The nose of the 2021 Clos Martinet is amazing, very different, perfumed, elegant and nuanced. I wondered why, and there was an explanation. In 2021, it had a shorter vinification, and part was fermented with carbonic maceration and matured mostly in concrete (like in 2009, when it was 100% in concrete, a one-off) and the rest in a 2,000-liter oak foudre. There's a lot of Garnacha (65%) and the vineyard is quite warm, so they had to find a way to equalize it down. It has 13.5% alcohol and a vibrant palate that is fine-boned and elegant, full of energy and an electric sensation of lightness. It's tasty and makes you salivate, with an almost salty touch. This is an amazing vintage for Clos Martinet. 16,696 bottles, 216 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2023. |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£266.00 |
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Vinous (95)Inky ruby. A deeply perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, Moroccan spices and floral pastilles, along with suggestions of cola, licorice and smoky minerals. Shows a suave blend of depth and energy to the sharply focused black raspberry, cherry vanilla, star anise and candied violet flavors, which deepen and become sweeter with aeration. Well-knit tannins add grip to a penetrating finish that leaves behind notes of dark berry preserves and spicecake. |
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Castilla y Leon | 8 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
£184.00 |
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Vinous (94)(all old-vines tempranillo; aged for 32 months in small French oak, 80% of it new): Inky ruby. An expressive, exotically perfumed bouquet evokes candied black and blue fruits, incense, vanilla, roasted coffee and potpourri, along with a bright mineral overtone. Sweet, densely packed blueberry and cherry-vanilla flavors are energized by a peppery, spicy nuance that gains strength as the wine opens in the glass. Shows the richness of the vintage to excellent effect and finishes sweet, supple and very long, leaving a sexy floral pastille quality behind. |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£126.00 |
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Vinous (95)(malo and 33 months of aging in new French and American oak barrels): Inky ruby. A strikingly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, incense, vanilla and smoky Indian spices, plus a vibrant mineral topnote. Sweet, seamless and expansive, offering sappy black raspberry and spicecake flavors that deepen in the mid-palate while maintaining vivacity. Smooth plays power and depth off of finesse and finishes with superb energy and lift, the velvety tannins adding gentle grip. |
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Castilla y Leon | 1 | 97 (DWWA) |
In Bond
£71.00 |
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Decanter World Wine Awards 2023 (97)Our Best in Show journey across Northern Spain continues with a 2020 Bierzo, grown just across the provincial border from Galicia into Castilla y Léon. It’s another zone of steep slopes and old vines – the variety in this case being Mencia (known as Jaen in Portugal’s Dão region). This wine is deep black-red in colour and vivacious and urgent in aroma: wild plums mingled with the woodland scents of leaf, copse and forest floor. The palate is fruit-packed and vibrant, vigorous with an energy derived both from ripe acidity and fresh though smooth tannins; look out, too, for a stony, bitter-edged finish perhaps derived from the region’s slate soils. Wonderful drinking now in the flush of youth, but fruit of this quality will hold well for a few years yet. |
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Rioja | 2 | 91 (VN) |
In Bond
£790.00 |
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Vinous (91)Dark red. Wild, gamey red berry and cherry scents are complicated by leather, vanilla, baking spices and cured meat. Firm, sharply focused redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors slowly unwind to reveal smoky mineral and floral pastille character. Finishes sweet, spicy and very long. |
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Rioja | 1 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£407.00 |
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Wine Advocate (96)The most classical of the wines from Muga, the 2011 Prado Enea Gran Reserva comes from a warm year that here was cooler than 2012, when they did not produce it. There won't be a 2013 either. So after this 2011, the following vintage will be 2014 but with fewer bottles and then 2015 and 2016. The wine has a developed nose with some tertiary notes, combined with some notes of ripe black fruit and sweet spices. It fees like an open, expressive and hedonistic year for Prado Enea. The palate reveals polished tannins and some balsamic and developed flavors, truffle, forest floor and hints of cigar ash and incense. Stylistically, this could be close to the 2006, which was also surprisingly fresh for the average ripeness found in Rioja in general. 92,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in early 2015 after almost 40 months in barrel. Time in bottle has polished the wine, and it's ready to drink on release, but it's a wine that is going to develop in bottle for a long time. |
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Rioja | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£292.00 |
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James Suckling (97)Really beautiful aromas of crushed blackberry, brambleberry, hazelnut, walnut and light coffee, following through to a full yet so reserved and polished body with fine, creamy-textured tannins. Fresh and exquisite finish. This is a much more refined and harmonic rendition of their classic wine. Three years in French oak from their own production. Very enjoyable now, but this will improve with age for a long time. |
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