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(1x70cl) 1985Crafted by the renowned Torres winery, the Reserva del Mamut Brandy 1985 is a prestigious spirit that exudes sophistication. Renowned for exceptional finesse, this vintage brandy is a result of meticulous distillation from the Parellada grape variety grown exclusively in Spain's Penedès region. Possessing an exquisite dark mahogany hue, it arrests the senses with bold aromas of dried fruits, nuts, and a hint of vanilla. The palate is engrossed by harmonious, complex, and velvety notes, loved globally for their extraordinary balance.
The Torres family, with notable persistence in producing quality wine and spirits since 1870, matured the Reserva del Mamut Brandy in American oak barrels, allowing it to hone its distinctive character over three long decades. Every sip of the Torres, Reserva del Mamut Brandy 1985, reveals the masterful craftsmanship and legacy of this revered family.
A measure of Torres, Reserva del Mamut Brandy 1985 in your snifter is more than a drink; it's a journey well-travelled across sensory delight and heritage.
Inc. VAT£1,316.39 -
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£389.98 -
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£329.98 -
Tim Atkin MW (98)
Great sites make great wines in the right hands. Las Piedras, an isolated, 80-year-old, limestone-based vineyard at 925 metres in cooler climate Banos de Valdearados, supplies the fruit for this world-class Tinto Fino from one of Ribera del Duero's most exciting producers. Intensely perfumed, with thyme and fennel scents, filigree tannins, crunchy plum and black cherry flavours and refined 25% new oak. Simply delicious from Marta Ramas and Miguel Fisac.Inc. VAT£377.98 -
(6x75cl) 2020Inc. VAT£256.91 -
Decanter (98)
Ripe dark fruits, notes of cherry, dried fig and boysenberry along with sage, black liquorice, potpourri, light rose petal and violet floral notes. Very fine tannins on the palate with a powdery aspect to the wine overall, lengthy acidity leading to a crisp finish. Very open note, but still developing. Certified as 'velles vinyes'.Inc. VAT£1,644.80 -
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£163.46 -
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£609.64 -
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£714.80 -
(6x75cl) 2019
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£441.20 -
(1x150cl) 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.Inc. VAT£204.79 -
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.Inc. VAT£482.38 -
(1x150cl) 2021Jeb Dunnuck (96)
A blend of plots from across the region of varying altitudes and viticulture, some estate and some not, from Soria to Valbueno de Duero, the 2021 Alion is a full-bodied 100% Tempranillo of great finesse from an outstanding vintage noted for its balance and silkiness. Juicy red plum coats a palate of gorgeous length and breadth. Aged in both French and American oak for 12 months, with another 18 months in bottle, it shows the excellence of the year and the producer’s winemaking approach. Drinking well now, it will continue to develop over the next 15-20 years.Inc. VAT£174.41 -
(1x300cl) 2021Jeb Dunnuck (96)
A blend of plots from across the region of varying altitudes and viticulture, some estate and some not, from Soria to Valbueno de Duero, the 2021 Alion is a full-bodied 100% Tempranillo of great finesse from an outstanding vintage noted for its balance and silkiness. Juicy red plum coats a palate of gorgeous length and breadth. Aged in both French and American oak for 12 months, with another 18 months in bottle, it shows the excellence of the year and the producer’s winemaking approach. Drinking well now, it will continue to develop over the next 15-20 years.Inc. VAT£471.23 -
Tim Atkin MW (97)
Little by little, this no-expense-spared winery is approaching the peak of Rioja and now deserves to be considered among the region’s leading producers. Fine, perfumed, elegant and well balanced, with notes of blackberry and orange zest, complemented by sweet, aromatic oak and finishing with freshness and balletic poise.Inc. VAT£456.35 -
Wine Advocate (94)
2019 was a more concentrated and powerful year, warmer and drier, but it was saved by the 80 liters of rain in the first half of September. They tried to select the higher-altitude vineyards to have more freshness, and they reduced the number of new barriques used (55%) and increased the use of foudre (45%) for the élevage of the 2019 Macán. It fermented in stainless steel with 10% of their own yeasts. It has a moderate 14% alcohol, mellow acidity and good freshness and balance. 2019 was a dry and warm year when they did a soft vinification to avoid harsh tannins. The wine is very powerful and dense, with a big structure, and it has plenty of tannins. The oak is still noticeable in the aromatics. Give it some more time in bottle and enjoy with powerful food. 87,377 bottles, 2,583 magnums and some larger formats were produced. It was bottled in August 2021.Inc. VAT£355.55 -
Wine Advocate (94)
Their second wine in the Bordeaux sense is the 2018 Macán Clásico, which in the cooler and late year (they picked between October 2nd and 14th) fermented in stainless steel and matured in 50% new French oak barrels, 10% American oak barrel and 40% used ones for 12 months. The wine has moderate ripeness and alcohol (14%) in a fresher, subtler and more elegant year with good freshness (a pH of 3.75) and balance. It's young and creamy, a baby that will improve as it burns down that fat. Separating the press wine by quality and aging it separately seems to have increased the precision. It has to be one of the finest vintages for this wine; it is round and nicely textured. It could be an improved version of the 2016. 151,411 bottles, 1,053 magnums and some larger formats were filled during August 2020.Inc. VAT£293.15 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The 2020 Macán Clásico was cropped from a more generous crop. The grapes were put in a cold chamber for one night and then underwent a cold soak of three to four days, after which they inoculated the yeasts—in 2020, 25% of it was their native yeast. It fermented in stainless steel, and the élevage was 45% in new French and 5% new American oak barrels, 28% in second use barrel and 22% in stainless steel for one year. The bottled wine has 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.78 and 4.5 grams of acidity (tartaric). This is one of the most elegant vintages of this bottling so far. It has showy aromatics with notes of smoky bacon, a bit meaty, and the thing that surprised me the most was the velvety texture. 202,697 bottles, 1,998 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in August 2022.Inc. VAT£283.55 -
(1x150cl) 2021Jeb Dunnuck (97)
From the sister property of Vega Sicilia in Rioja, a partnership between the Alvarez and Rothschild families, the 2021 Macan Clasico has unrelenting freshness and is gorgeously aromatic. The vintage conditions were perfect and the wines able to achieve exceptional quality. Here, the Tempranillo is joined by 3% Garnacha, which provides additional brightness to juicy layers of red berry, cigar, and dried herb, with a foundation of supple tannins. Medium-bodied, the oak is well-integrated, interweaving the lilting spice and toast notes from a combination of French and American barrels that aged the wine for 14-16 months. With a long, silky, and finessed finish, it’s drinking perfectly now. Continue to enjoy over the next 10-15 years.Inc. VAT£1,216.69 -
(6x75cl) 2021Jeb Dunnuck (97)
From the sister property of Vega Sicilia in Rioja, a partnership between the Alvarez and Rothschild families, the 2021 Macan Clasico has unrelenting freshness and is gorgeously aromatic. The vintage conditions were perfect and the wines able to achieve exceptional quality. Here, the Tempranillo is joined by 3% Garnacha, which provides additional brightness to juicy layers of red berry, cigar, and dried herb, with a foundation of supple tannins. Medium-bodied, the oak is well-integrated, interweaving the lilting spice and toast notes from a combination of French and American barrels that aged the wine for 14-16 months. With a long, silky, and finessed finish, it’s drinking perfectly now. Continue to enjoy over the next 10-15 years.Inc. VAT£1,233.80 -
(1x150cl) 2004Vinous (93)
Saturated ruby. Intensely perfumed, expansive aromas of dark berries, kirsch, oak spices and mocha, with a suave mineral undercurrent. Rich, focused dark berry and cherry flavors are framed by strong but harmonious tannins and complicated by notes of dark chocolate, candied violet and vanilla bean. Lush and sweet on the impressively sappy, long finish. Although I'm confident that this will age well, it's mighty delicious now.Inc. VAT£391.07 -
(1x75cl) 2013Wine Advocate (93)
The challenge in Toro is to achieve the elegance usually linked with the name of Vega Sicilia, and with the 2013 Pintia, it's achieved by fine-tuning the harvest date to maintain the freshness of aromas and acidity of the wine. The grapes were picked between September 26th and October 10th and fermented after a cold soak. Malolactic occurred in 70% French barrels, 25% American oak and the remaining 5% in Hungarian barriques. It's a more elegant year for Pintia, as cooler vintages usually help counterbalance the natural power of Toro. It's also a lighter year with good freshness, and this showed a fine thread on the palate and was nicely textured, elegant within the rusticity of the zone. It was bottled in April 2015. 149,449 bottles, 5,558 magnums and some larger formats were produced.Inc. VAT£96.26 -
(1x75cl) 2016Vinous (95)
Saturated ruby. Expansive cherry, black raspberry, potpourri and exotic spice aromas are complemented by subtle licorice and woodsmoke flourishes. Vibrant and sharply focused in the mouth, with a spine of juicy acidity adding focus to palate-staining black and blue fruit liqueur, violet pastille, mocha and spicecake flavors. The floral quality resonates emphatically on the clinging finish, which features lingering cherry and smoky mineral notes. There's noteworthy elegance here, a trait that's not exactly common for Toro.Inc. VAT£120.80 -
(6x75cl) 2020Vinous (94)
The 2020 Pintia is Tempranillo from Toro. It opens with fine plum, delicate spice, cherry, barrel notes and a hint of orange peel. A touch of jam adds to the warmth. Rich and intense, the palate is broad and textured with firm tannins. For a Toro, the mouthfeel is unusually smooth, with a core of red fruit. Nicely balanced.Inc. VAT£342.43 -
(2x75cl) 1991Wine Advocate (95)
The current release of Vega Sicilia’s flagship offering, the 1991 Unico Reserva, will have to satisfy lovers of this great Spanish red until the 1994 is released in 2005. The 1991 is a gorgeous, deep ruby/purple-colored, remarkably youthful effort offering sweet vanilla notes intertwined with black currants, cherry liqueur, flowers, spice box, and tobacco leaves. Full-bodied and intense, with sweet tannin, outstanding density as well as purity, and a layered mouthfeel, this unevolved 1991 needs another 3-4 years of cellaring; it should last for 20-25 years. It’s a wine of great elegance as opposed to power.Inc. VAT£1,300.12 -
Wine Advocate (95)
Having skipped over releasing a 2001 due to frost damage, the 2002 Unico is a result of a severe selection as attested by the label which shows that just 42,932 bottles were produced instead of 108,536 in 2000. It has an incredibly intense nose, much more linear and focused than the more flamboyant 2000, with scents of dark cherry, creme de cassis and a touch of honey and melted dark chocolate. The palate is medium-bodied with a slight grainy texture on the entry, a hint of cooked meat inflecting the layers of toasty dark berry fruit. It is very harmonious and perhaps at this juncture, edgier and grittier than the millennial Unico. It is less opulent and more structured than the 2000, but is a more cerebral wine. Drink 2020-2040+.Inc. VAT£594.40 -
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£1,781.58 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2004 Único magnum was a revelation. It's very fine, elegant and balanced, starting to show more tertiary notes and the Vega Sicilia perfume. It's medium to full-bodied with a fine thread and very good balance. You can drink this now, but it should go on for decades. This contains as much as 13% Cabernet Sauvignon. 2,227 magnums produced. Artwork by Luis Feito.Inc. VAT£378.80 -
(3x75cl) 2005Vinous (97)
(fermented in large oak tanks and aged for six years in new French and American oak barriques) Saturated ruby. Explosively perfumed aromas of fresh ripe red fruits, floral oils, pipe tobacco and incense take on sexy vanilla and woodsmoke nuances as the wine opens up. Densely packed yet shockingly lithe on the palate, offering intense cherry liqueur, red currant and spicecake flavors given spine by a core of juicy acidity. Shows superb energy and clarity, finishing sweet, smoky and extremely long; velvety tannins add gentle grip.Inc. VAT£1,114.38 -
James Suckling (100)
Incredibly floral and beautiful with dark berry, spice, cedar and mint. Chinese plums. Asian spices. Bark. Tea. Full body, dense and so soft and complex. The finish goes on for minutes. Endless and fine. January 2017 release. This reminds me of the gorgeous 1991 or 1964. Drink forever. A wine that you want to spend time with.Inc. VAT£1,247.16
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(1x70cl) 1985
Crafted by the renowned Torres winery, the Reserva del Mamut Brandy 1985 is a prestigious spirit that exudes sophistication. Renowned for exceptional finesse, this vintage brandy is a result of meticulous distillation from the Parellada grape variety grown exclusively in Spain's Penedès region. Possessing an exquisite dark mahogany hue, it arrests the senses with bold aromas of dried fruits, nuts, and a hint of vanilla. The palate is engrossed by harmonious, complex, and velvety notes, loved globally for their extraordinary balance.
The Torres family, with notable persistence in producing quality wine and spirits since 1870, matured the Reserva del Mamut Brandy in American oak barrels, allowing it to hone its distinctive character over three long decades. Every sip of the Torres, Reserva del Mamut Brandy 1985, reveals the masterful craftsmanship and legacy of this revered family.
A measure of Torres, Reserva del Mamut Brandy 1985 in your snifter is more than a drink; it's a journey well-travelled across sensory delight and heritage.
In Bond£1,087.00 -
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£305.00 -
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£255.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (98)
Great sites make great wines in the right hands. Las Piedras, an isolated, 80-year-old, limestone-based vineyard at 925 metres in cooler climate Banos de Valdearados, supplies the fruit for this world-class Tinto Fino from one of Ribera del Duero's most exciting producers. Intensely perfumed, with thyme and fennel scents, filigree tannins, crunchy plum and black cherry flavours and refined 25% new oak. Simply delicious from Marta Ramas and Miguel Fisac.In Bond£295.00 -
(6x75cl) 2020In Bond£194.85
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Decanter (98)
Ripe dark fruits, notes of cherry, dried fig and boysenberry along with sage, black liquorice, potpourri, light rose petal and violet floral notes. Very fine tannins on the palate with a powdery aspect to the wine overall, lengthy acidity leading to a crisp finish. Very open note, but still developing. Certified as 'velles vinyes'.In Bond£1,350.00 -
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£119.00 -
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£492.00 -
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£575.00 -
(6x75cl) 2019
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£347.00 -
(1x150cl) 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£164.00 -
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£382.00 -
(1x150cl) 2021
Jeb Dunnuck (96)
A blend of plots from across the region of varying altitudes and viticulture, some estate and some not, from Soria to Valbueno de Duero, the 2021 Alion is a full-bodied 100% Tempranillo of great finesse from an outstanding vintage noted for its balance and silkiness. Juicy red plum coats a palate of gorgeous length and breadth. Aged in both French and American oak for 12 months, with another 18 months in bottle, it shows the excellence of the year and the producer’s winemaking approach. Drinking well now, it will continue to develop over the next 15-20 years.In Bond£140.00 -
(1x300cl) 2021
Jeb Dunnuck (96)
A blend of plots from across the region of varying altitudes and viticulture, some estate and some not, from Soria to Valbueno de Duero, the 2021 Alion is a full-bodied 100% Tempranillo of great finesse from an outstanding vintage noted for its balance and silkiness. Juicy red plum coats a palate of gorgeous length and breadth. Aged in both French and American oak for 12 months, with another 18 months in bottle, it shows the excellence of the year and the producer’s winemaking approach. Drinking well now, it will continue to develop over the next 15-20 years.In Bond£382.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (97)
Little by little, this no-expense-spared winery is approaching the peak of Rioja and now deserves to be considered among the region’s leading producers. Fine, perfumed, elegant and well balanced, with notes of blackberry and orange zest, complemented by sweet, aromatic oak and finishing with freshness and balletic poise.In Bond£361.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
2019 was a more concentrated and powerful year, warmer and drier, but it was saved by the 80 liters of rain in the first half of September. They tried to select the higher-altitude vineyards to have more freshness, and they reduced the number of new barriques used (55%) and increased the use of foudre (45%) for the élevage of the 2019 Macán. It fermented in stainless steel with 10% of their own yeasts. It has a moderate 14% alcohol, mellow acidity and good freshness and balance. 2019 was a dry and warm year when they did a soft vinification to avoid harsh tannins. The wine is very powerful and dense, with a big structure, and it has plenty of tannins. The oak is still noticeable in the aromatics. Give it some more time in bottle and enjoy with powerful food. 87,377 bottles, 2,583 magnums and some larger formats were produced. It was bottled in August 2021.In Bond£277.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
Their second wine in the Bordeaux sense is the 2018 Macán Clásico, which in the cooler and late year (they picked between October 2nd and 14th) fermented in stainless steel and matured in 50% new French oak barrels, 10% American oak barrel and 40% used ones for 12 months. The wine has moderate ripeness and alcohol (14%) in a fresher, subtler and more elegant year with good freshness (a pH of 3.75) and balance. It's young and creamy, a baby that will improve as it burns down that fat. Separating the press wine by quality and aging it separately seems to have increased the precision. It has to be one of the finest vintages for this wine; it is round and nicely textured. It could be an improved version of the 2016. 151,411 bottles, 1,053 magnums and some larger formats were filled during August 2020.In Bond£225.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The 2020 Macán Clásico was cropped from a more generous crop. The grapes were put in a cold chamber for one night and then underwent a cold soak of three to four days, after which they inoculated the yeasts—in 2020, 25% of it was their native yeast. It fermented in stainless steel, and the élevage was 45% in new French and 5% new American oak barrels, 28% in second use barrel and 22% in stainless steel for one year. The bottled wine has 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.78 and 4.5 grams of acidity (tartaric). This is one of the most elegant vintages of this bottling so far. It has showy aromatics with notes of smoky bacon, a bit meaty, and the thing that surprised me the most was the velvety texture. 202,697 bottles, 1,998 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in August 2022.In Bond£217.00 -
(1x150cl) 2021
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
From the sister property of Vega Sicilia in Rioja, a partnership between the Alvarez and Rothschild families, the 2021 Macan Clasico has unrelenting freshness and is gorgeously aromatic. The vintage conditions were perfect and the wines able to achieve exceptional quality. Here, the Tempranillo is joined by 3% Garnacha, which provides additional brightness to juicy layers of red berry, cigar, and dried herb, with a foundation of supple tannins. Medium-bodied, the oak is well-integrated, interweaving the lilting spice and toast notes from a combination of French and American barrels that aged the wine for 14-16 months. With a long, silky, and finessed finish, it’s drinking perfectly now. Continue to enjoy over the next 10-15 years.In Bond£1,007.50 -
(6x75cl) 2021
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
From the sister property of Vega Sicilia in Rioja, a partnership between the Alvarez and Rothschild families, the 2021 Macan Clasico has unrelenting freshness and is gorgeously aromatic. The vintage conditions were perfect and the wines able to achieve exceptional quality. Here, the Tempranillo is joined by 3% Garnacha, which provides additional brightness to juicy layers of red berry, cigar, and dried herb, with a foundation of supple tannins. Medium-bodied, the oak is well-integrated, interweaving the lilting spice and toast notes from a combination of French and American barrels that aged the wine for 14-16 months. With a long, silky, and finessed finish, it’s drinking perfectly now. Continue to enjoy over the next 10-15 years.In Bond£1,007.50 -
(1x150cl) 2004
Vinous (93)
Saturated ruby. Intensely perfumed, expansive aromas of dark berries, kirsch, oak spices and mocha, with a suave mineral undercurrent. Rich, focused dark berry and cherry flavors are framed by strong but harmonious tannins and complicated by notes of dark chocolate, candied violet and vanilla bean. Lush and sweet on the impressively sappy, long finish. Although I'm confident that this will age well, it's mighty delicious now.In Bond£319.00 -
(1x75cl) 2013
Wine Advocate (93)
The challenge in Toro is to achieve the elegance usually linked with the name of Vega Sicilia, and with the 2013 Pintia, it's achieved by fine-tuning the harvest date to maintain the freshness of aromas and acidity of the wine. The grapes were picked between September 26th and October 10th and fermented after a cold soak. Malolactic occurred in 70% French barrels, 25% American oak and the remaining 5% in Hungarian barriques. It's a more elegant year for Pintia, as cooler vintages usually help counterbalance the natural power of Toro. It's also a lighter year with good freshness, and this showed a fine thread on the palate and was nicely textured, elegant within the rusticity of the zone. It was bottled in April 2015. 149,449 bottles, 5,558 magnums and some larger formats were produced.In Bond£77.00 -
(1x75cl) 2016
Vinous (95)
Saturated ruby. Expansive cherry, black raspberry, potpourri and exotic spice aromas are complemented by subtle licorice and woodsmoke flourishes. Vibrant and sharply focused in the mouth, with a spine of juicy acidity adding focus to palate-staining black and blue fruit liqueur, violet pastille, mocha and spicecake flavors. The floral quality resonates emphatically on the clinging finish, which features lingering cherry and smoky mineral notes. There's noteworthy elegance here, a trait that's not exactly common for Toro.In Bond£98.00 -
(6x75cl) 2020
Vinous (94)
The 2020 Pintia is Tempranillo from Toro. It opens with fine plum, delicate spice, cherry, barrel notes and a hint of orange peel. A touch of jam adds to the warmth. Rich and intense, the palate is broad and textured with firm tannins. For a Toro, the mouthfeel is unusually smooth, with a core of red fruit. Nicely balanced.In Bond£264.00 -
(2x75cl) 1991
Wine Advocate (95)
The current release of Vega Sicilia’s flagship offering, the 1991 Unico Reserva, will have to satisfy lovers of this great Spanish red until the 1994 is released in 2005. The 1991 is a gorgeous, deep ruby/purple-colored, remarkably youthful effort offering sweet vanilla notes intertwined with black currants, cherry liqueur, flowers, spice box, and tobacco leaves. Full-bodied and intense, with sweet tannin, outstanding density as well as purity, and a layered mouthfeel, this unevolved 1991 needs another 3-4 years of cellaring; it should last for 20-25 years. It’s a wine of great elegance as opposed to power.In Bond£1,077.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
Having skipped over releasing a 2001 due to frost damage, the 2002 Unico is a result of a severe selection as attested by the label which shows that just 42,932 bottles were produced instead of 108,536 in 2000. It has an incredibly intense nose, much more linear and focused than the more flamboyant 2000, with scents of dark cherry, creme de cassis and a touch of honey and melted dark chocolate. The palate is medium-bodied with a slight grainy texture on the entry, a hint of cooked meat inflecting the layers of toasty dark berry fruit. It is very harmonious and perhaps at this juncture, edgier and grittier than the millennial Unico. It is less opulent and more structured than the 2000, but is a more cerebral wine. Drink 2020-2040+.In Bond£492.00 -
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£1,475.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2004 Único magnum was a revelation. It's very fine, elegant and balanced, starting to show more tertiary notes and the Vega Sicilia perfume. It's medium to full-bodied with a fine thread and very good balance. You can drink this now, but it should go on for decades. This contains as much as 13% Cabernet Sauvignon. 2,227 magnums produced. Artwork by Luis Feito.In Bond£313.00 -
(3x75cl) 2005
Vinous (97)
(fermented in large oak tanks and aged for six years in new French and American oak barriques) Saturated ruby. Explosively perfumed aromas of fresh ripe red fruits, floral oils, pipe tobacco and incense take on sexy vanilla and woodsmoke nuances as the wine opens up. Densely packed yet shockingly lithe on the palate, offering intense cherry liqueur, red currant and spicecake flavors given spine by a core of juicy acidity. Shows superb energy and clarity, finishing sweet, smoky and extremely long; velvety tannins add gentle grip.In Bond£919.00 -
James Suckling (100)
Incredibly floral and beautiful with dark berry, spice, cedar and mint. Chinese plums. Asian spices. Bark. Tea. Full body, dense and so soft and complex. The finish goes on for minutes. Endless and fine. January 2017 release. This reminds me of the gorgeous 1991 or 1964. Drink forever. A wine that you want to spend time with.In Bond£1,030.00
While Rioja is still the region that springs to mind for most consumers when thinking about Spain, wines from other regions are slowly yet assertively making themselves known. There are the dark, arresting wines of Priorat, the crisp, apply whites made from the Godello grape, the often almost Burgundian Ruedas, the ‘cult’ wines like Vega Sicilia… not just rustic, oxidative wines any longer, but rather intriguing and individual vinous experiences.
