Wine Enthusiast 91 - BEST BUY: 'This rich, black-fruited wine has solid tannins that are balanced by a dense texture. A blend of fruit from different regions of Portugal and with five different grapes, the wine is still a little young. As its texture softens, this will be a smooth wine. $14.'

My favorite of the three S&S reds: the original Red Blend, the new Spice Road Intense Red, and this Silk Route Smooth Red. The new White Blend is pretty tasty too. This is the least sweet of the reds, has the best acidity, and the most aroma and flavor range. It's indeed smooth, but not sweet. The finish is lasting. 91/100.

60% arinto, 40% loureiro; 30 year old vines on schist and granite at 1150'. Lots of pep here. Plenty of aromatic insistence and penetration. Really quite full for its modest alcohol. The flavors are just as attention grabbing, and the textural spiel matches their range and presence. Long and balanced and delicious. Not an al fresco VV. Take into late fall and winter. 92/100. Attendees were enthusiastic about this one. Orders taken.

Est. 18th century; sub region of Basto in the Tamega river valley; azal, arinto, loureiro. Sulphury upon opening, even though not under screwcap. I don't know azal. Suggestions of the other two known aromatic varieties push through the veil. And offer pleasingly apple and stone fruit flavors as well as aromas. Well balanced. Rightful, legit. 91+.100. Aired well. 'Rich and distinctive.' Widely liked by attendees, who got to nose and taste it two hours later.

Fresh, zippy, nostril stimulating. Fulfilled. Very zesty fruit acidity. Does what Vinho Verde ought to do. 91/100.

2022: Truly the top class varieties of the region. I see more pure alvarinhos or such in the lead, likely because of the esteem and connection with albarinos across the border. Loureiro is rarer and, here, its lemon blossom character is up front. 2022 softness after crisp 2021. Maybe loureiro features less acidity as well. Anyway, it's an upscale successor to the non varietal designate 2021. Lots of personality. 92/100. List price: $17.

Est. 1917; from the estate's oldest vines. Light SO2 gauze masking latent old vines varietal intensity. They get through after aeration. The top, most aromatic varieties evident. Richness and ripeness of old vines fruit. Both pear and peach suggestions. Ready by high summer. That's when I tasted the 2020. Two hours later, no SO2 reported. Enjoyed by the group. 91+/100. Tasted 7/6/22.

2019: From an estate between the Lima and Vez rivers and the varieties loureiro and treixadura. A nice freshness and roundness both. Displays the superior, more aromatic grape varieties in the makeup. Those overall impressions are amplified on the palate, rich in stone and even tropical fruits. One of the best vintages of this. Or maybe because I'm tasting it after six more months in bottle than usual. 91/100. Vinho Verdes, like Beaujolais Nouveaux, are often better around the time they're going out of season than at release.

2021: 60% arinto, 30% azal, 10% loureiro. Delicious amalgam of the superior, more aromatic area varietals. Perfect pitch. Flavor range spreads throughout the mouth. Ideal sweet/acid balance. Juicy finish. What's out of season about this, given the right food apps? 92/100.

40 year old vines in schist and granite soils; the owners are tile makers, the label an image of their craft. The class and character of alvarinho (albarino) fully expressed. Entirely realized in this elite sub sector of Vinho Verde. Bravo; one of the best vintages. Lots of soft stone fruits. Flavors amplified and specific. Oh, this is all it should be. Relative softness of 2022 versus 2021. That gives it even more alluring taste properties. Yes. 92/100. Following aeration, 'Aromas of green melon pour out of the glass'.

Touriga franca, tinta barroca, tinta roriz. Dark and fruity. Not syrupy sweet though. Douro ripe, black. Good acid. Fine tannin. Balanced. 91/100.

Dark maroon. Encouraging. Sweet, red-black fruit aroma. Large presence. Inviting, with further encouragement. Plum and elderberry ruby port like flavors without the sweetness and power. Well balanced, well textured, flavorful. I'll be stocking. 92/100.

40% touriga nacional, 30% tinta roriz, 30% touriga franca. Very dark color. Oh, this intense, pure, purple nacional fruit emphasis. And grandeur. Always a winner. Again, the purple fruit plumminess and serious structure and complexity. Plays well above its price level. 92+/100.

'Vinha do Ujo was planted before 1930 on pre-phylloxera horizontal terraces and the land is supported by small schist walls. With more than 25 grape varieties, diversity is ensured and is only achievable in vines as old as these. They are spread over small north-facing terraces with an altitude that varies between 180 and 210 meters. These vines are curated year after year by the experienced hands of those who have lived in the Douro for generations. To ensure the prevalence of the variety's characteristics and the full control of the process, at Quinta da Boavista we use manual harvesting and manual grape sorting processes, followed by a gentle berry de-stalk and crush. Grape fermentation takes place in new 500 liter French wooden barrels. After a period of maceration, the resulting wine continues its ageing for 16 months in 225 liter barrels also of French oak. Wines are not filtered or cold-stabilized and that is why they can produce a sediment with age.' Mother of All Heavy Bottles Award. 2016 somber and backward still. The makings are here, deep down inside. The oak is certainly well absorbed now, soaked up by the old vines material. Speaks of its power and old vines concentration. Lots of dry extract. A true field blend, no varietal standing out. While the tannin is well managed and fine grained, I would put this in the cellar awhile for bouquet development. 2016 is a keeper vintage for Euro reds, few of which have shown me their peacock's tail yet 95+/100. List price: $160.

Wine Enthusiast 90: 'Produced mainly from a vineyard with 30-year-old vines, this wood-aged wine follows in the fine tradition of the estate with elegance showing as well as intense black fruits and acidity. It is a wine for aging, with its fruitiness still right to the fore. Drink from 2023.' 40% touriga nacional, 30% each tinta roriz, touriga franca.

Wine Enthusiast 91; Parker 90: 'The 2020 Meandro do Vale Meao is a blend of 50% Touriga Nacional, 35% Touriga Franca, 10% Tinta Roriz and dollops of Tinta Barroca and Alicante Bouschet for the rest, all aged in used French oak for 14 months. It comes in at 14.2% alcohol. This was in bottle about a month when seen. In the tough vintage, this doesn't seem to miss a beat. It's fresh, understated, elegant and full of great fruit. It has ripe tannins for support and some ability to age too. Most of all, it's another nice bargain in this consistent brand. Drink now-2032. $24.'

Wow, that's a full blown, powerful Douro tinto. No sluggo though. There's clarity and precision and freshness and lift to it. And plenty of purple and black fruit and spice. Suave textured, full bodied, flavorful. Suggests plenty of touriga nacional. Fine tannin. Lasting. For now or later. I'm impressed. 92+/100.

40% alfrocheiro, 30% each touriga nacional, aragonez. Fresh, deep, classic to terroir and varietal combo. Granit basis. Yes! Deep and complex. Oh yes, the range and texture too. Sweet fruit, mineral feel, all. Great value. 92/100.

35% each touriga nacional, tinta roriz, 30% alfrocheiro. Jolly color. The right combo of fresh, cool, dark fruit and Dao terroir. That granite based minerality. Oh, yeah, we have a Dao classic on our hands. At a bargain price. Acid, mineral, dryness, mealworthiness. 91/100.

Dark red violet. Yes, compact, cool, clear. Smell the granite. Sweet fruit gives it more present appeal than a stodgy, old fashioned. Dao. Medium bodied, flavorful. Mineral, dry extract, and a modicum of fine grained tannin. Good acid. Lasting flavor and texture. Deal! 92/100.

80% jaen, 10% tinta roriz, 5% alfrocheiro, 5% others; granite and clay soils. Red-black color. It's Dao solid, yet there's some sense of yield, of fruit forgiveness at the core. A proper Dao, that's for sure. And well priced. More fruit give on the palate. Dry and structured. Quite tannic, though not aggressively so. Another well priced cellarworthy wine. 91+/100.

Full, well structured, also granite based for its stoniness. Liquid granite indeed. The mouthfeel is mineral driven. Good value. 91/100.

40% encruzado, 30% each cerceal branco, malvasia fina. Nearly water white. Wonderfully stony minerality to it. Dao granite liquified. Suggests the same in a slightly more flowing manner. Well balanced. Spot on value. 91/100.

Bright, minerally, granite based white Dao. I had a different one from the same vintage a couple of days ago, and it spoke the same language. White Dao sustains. Tangy, lemony flavor and good acidity. Well balanced wine at this stage begging for food. 91/100.

In the high altitude Seia subzone; 35% encruzado, 32% malvasia fina, 19% bical, 14% gouveio; native yeasts. Wow, stony. Smell the granite. Classic, timeless. Seems like it will never grow old. Even with the malvasia component, this is much more about terroir than about fruit. It does have a fruity soft spot though. Not at all an austere palate. Well balanced and surely meal worthy. Mary scores on style once again. 91/100. Continued to impress for its stony aroma and flavor. Even earned some fruit aromatics with aeration.

80% roriz, 20% jaen (mencia). 8 months in barrels, 1/3 French oak, 2/3 American oak. Full, fabulous oak display and long-in-barrel breadth and complexity. Yes, the barrel extracts and barrel sojourn both talk the reserva talk. Delicious balance of original fruit and barrel influences. Little tannin to hone away, so put it right to use this winter. 92/100.

Wine Enthusiast 90 - BEST BUY: 'Boasting a balanced combination of oak and ripe fruit, this wine is rich and full of juicy spiced-fruit flavors. Flavors of black currant and a hint of toastiness are fully integrated into this ready-to-drink wine. $15.'

40% each syrah, castelao, 20% touriga nacional. Rich color, rich noses. Delivers popularity. Has form too. Yes, frame, texture, filling. Not sweet. Complete value. 91/100.

Dark ruby. Power, presence, fruit, filling. Yes, a big mouthful of fruit, texture, material. Well balanced too. In tune with the series. 91/100.

Tinta roriz, touriga nacional, syrah; with 15th century roots, one of the oldest estates of the Lisbon area; in the western foothills of the majestic Montejunto mountain range. Violet cast of the varietals. Complex of component scents, augmented by measures of barrel influence uncommon at this price. Impressive. Purple fruited indeed. Good power and presence. And texture as well as flavor spread. Long, flavorful, balanced, and welcome finale. 92/100. Liked (and considered a great value) by all. 'Complex; lots of fun in a fairly big wine.' 'Elegant palate featuring hard candy and juicy strawberry.'

60% touriga nacional, 30% cab sauv, 10% syrah. Delivers. Full, aromatic fruit, spice, spread, all. The heavy hitter varieties show. It's not international though. Innately Euro. Sweet and racy both. Flavorful. All give and spice and range and amplitude. Mild tannin. 91/100, at least.

Wine Enthusiast 91 - BEST BUY: 'This is a stylish blend of Syrah, Castelao and Touriga Nacional. Its black fruits join spice from wood aging and some firm tannins to yield a balanced wine that will age well. Drink this fine wine from 2021.'

Est. 1975; 40% each touriga nacional, syrah, 20% alicante bouschet; Gold Medal - 2022 America Awards. Dark red violet. Wow, that's purple-black fruit personified. You put these three dark-peeled varieties together and the aroma goes through the roof. Soars and sails. To the moon!/ A lot of black fruit concentration on the palate alike. Nice sweet fruit that coats any nascent tannin. Well balanced. This will be popular. Deal. 92/100.

Wine Enthusiast 93 - TOP 100: 'This impressive wine layers tannins and dark fruits in a rich structure. The wine is powerful and concentrated; bold while still elegant. Drink this fine wine from 2024. $25.'

30% each aragonez, trincideira, and syrah, 10% cab sauv; Wine Enthusiast 92/100. Properly modern, warm and robust tinta of Portugal's southeast interior. This has some extra depth and range compared to the regional standard. Thanks to a compelling and compatible assembly of grape varieties. Bright fruit flavors and acidity. Wears its alcohol well. Not a sultry sort. Kudos to the maker. I can see the rating. Long and even keeled aftertaste. 92/100.

40% aragonez, 35% trincadeira, 20% touriga nacional, 5% syrah. Rich and dark, with 2021 cool overtones. Very cool 2021 customer. Racy food wine. Well balanced. 91/100.

Est. 2004; 50% aragonez (tempranillo), 30% touriga nacional, 20% alicante bouschet; planted 1979-1989 in rocky schist at 1000-1300 feet elevation; native yeasts; half aged 10 months in 2nd and 3rd year French oak barrels. Exceptionally spicy, racy nose. This accents the best attributes of Alentejo. Nothing held back; all give. Amazing degree of depth of flavor too. A decidedly three dimensional wine, determined to please. What more could I want in a $15 tinto? 92/100.

2019: 40% touriga nacional, 30% aragonez, 20% alicante bouschet, 10% trincadeira. Very cool, bright, and purple fruited for the zone. That's touriga nacional and likely high altitude vineyards. Yes, brisk, dark, spicy, racy. Full flavor and texture. Eminently versatile at the table. 91+/100.

Fermented and aged a year in French oak barrels, 1/3 new. Hearty red black color. Slightly firmer than the 2019. Tasted at a younger stage. Black fruited to the core. Grand, statuesque touriga nacional classic at a good price. Yeah, that's more backward than the recently tasted 2019. All the makings are present. Fine grained but chewy tannins. Another winner in the series. 92+/100.

Touriga nacional, trincadeira, aragonez. Oh, boy, big time fruit spread, sweet and spicy and giving. Yes, sweet fruited and full, easy and generous. Its power is under control too. 92/100.

80% aragonez, 20% alicante bouschet. At opening, not much nose. After warming in the mouth, much more flavor, power (13.5%), body than the nose initially suggested. VERY satisfying body, taste, balance. 91/100.

Vines average 30 years. Unfined, unfiltered. The purple depths, nobility, and grandeur of touriga nacional in full display. What sets it apart. Again, Tyrian purple majesty. Well balanced; the tannins are melted. Serve now with hearty fare or cellar confidently. 93+/100.

Est. late 19th century; negramole; from Portugal's riviera; new to market region. Sweet and warm and southern. Smooth. Unique. Good fruit, acidity, and very light touch of tannin. Balanced and lasting. 91/100. Now in my 60th year in the wine trade, this is the first time I've tasted an Algarve wine.

In the Salnes Valley, 1.8 miles from the Atlantic; vines from 35 to 50 years old. named for the groves of rush canes emblematic of Galicia. Some spritz. This has added varietal intensity since last tasted. Ideal lemon blossom and honeysuckle now. More abundant in flavor profile, and fully accurate. Good, tangy acid for the vintage. Well, it's beginning to convince me. Tasty tad. 91/100.

Subregion on the Mino, 30 miles from the Atlantic. The greater softness of 2022 noted versus the super crisp 2021. It's flattering. Pungent honeysuckle and orange blossom varietal aromas. Juicy palate reads it's not so soft after all. Harmonious flavors and texture. Just lays so right on the palate. 91/100. Appreciated by the group for both its accuracy and pungency.

Name refers to fog; at Condado do Tea; 75 year old vines on slate instead of the usual granite. Albarino tropical fruit, stone fruit, and flowers well up with aeration. Flavors confirm aromas. Plus citrus notes and fresh acidity. 91+/100.

Nice and pointed, penetrating fresh lemon scent. Milder acidity than the 2021 of course, but perfectly adequate for refreshment. Spot on and well priced. 91/100.

35 year old vines in granitic soil; Val do Salnes, the oldest and coldest sub-region of Rias Baixas; native yeasts; lees aging. A cool customer, with a lemon creme aroma. Lovely, limpid varietal clarity. Yes, add pear, white peach, lightly floral things. This is very stylish, graceful. Lingering too. Great acidity, juicy finish. 92+/100.

Wine Enthusiast 92 - BEST BUY: 'Medium yellow in the glass, this wine has a nose of lemon curd, green pear and white chocolate. It is full in the mouth, offering flavors of Valencia orange, nectarine and mango with touches of cocoa butter and honeysuckle. There is a nice note of orange zest on the finish. $20.'

2019: Wine & Spirits 93: 'This estate, founded in 2000, is located in O Rosal, two miles north of the Mino River and six miles inland from the Atlantic. Its 227 acres of hillside vines include a range of white varieties, with Pontellón based solely on albarino. The south-facing vines create an ample wine, its depths of floral cream and brisk white fruit ready to connect with an oyster pan roast, or Dungeness crab seared with ginger and scallions. Give it time in a decanter and the wine amplifies its brisk, racy flavors, glowing with delicious energy. $27.'

Wine & Spirits 91: 'The hay rack and the sea wrack meet in the scent of this wine, pale, austere and salty. The saffron and lemon flavors are light and crackling with acidity, the perfect match for baked salt cod. $20.'

From vines grown in the granite soils of Condado de Tea, fermented in stainless steel without added yeasts. Good apple, citrus, honeysuckle set. Cool vintage briskness, brightness. Yet some varietal padding revealed too. Same flavor as aroma set, with a more intense expression of the honeysuckle as it warms in the mouth. Good statement of DO, sub zone, 91/100.

Brisk, juicy, and fragrant. Paragon example of the varietal, intensely and vividly presented in this great vintage for Euro whites. Flavorful. Great acid. Oh, and it has the tender touch of the grape too. Length and savor. Love it. 92/100.

From a quarter each carrasquín, mencía, verdejo tinto, and albarín tinto. Mmm, warm, sweet, and spicy. Lavish for zone and vintage. Abundant fruit and spice. Just delicious. 93/100. List price: $29.

2011: Crisp, compact and neat as usual. Bright, purple fruit. No young mencia reduction. Barrel aging sees to that. Good vintage of this. A bit firm yet. I like the form. No rough edges. Good potential. 91+/100.

Very young and confined, but not mencia reductive. The makings are here to live up to this proud series. Sweet berry fruit flavor and full, fine grained tannins. In style. A shame to serve now though. 92+/100.

Fresh, and in the style intended. Takes me back to the first vintage of this I'd tasted. Off the charts. Perhaps the best vintage yet. No mencia reduction. Just bright, bright, forward, black and deep fruit unencumbered by either barrel or hermetic influences. Plummy, suave, fruity. 2020 sweet fruit. Great acid. Really racy for ripe 2020. Fruit emphasis realized. Balanced and meal-worthy. Could serve at a cool temperature because fruity and not tannic. 92/100.

12 months in oak. Dark, deep, concentrated. No mencia reduction issues. Nicely delineated 2012 style. Good oak seasoning in sympathy with the fruit. Barrel age comes into play, giving it breadth and depth. Everything about the palate confirms the nasal impressions. Well stated, well balanced. Texturally very pleasing and harmonious as well. Exemplary. 93/100.

Wine Spectator 91: 'Offering a minerally underpinning and overtones of bramble, herbs and spice, this medium-bodied red is fresh and focused, with juicy black raspberry and black cherry fruit, olive and iron flavors. Bright and well-balanced, with light, chalky tannins on the finish. Drink now through 2027.'

Intensely fruity and almost powerful for vintage and zone. Very aromatic, fresh, spicy, acidic, ideal. Mencia dark but not a trace of mencia reduction. Joven sweetly fruity. Not frivolous though. This is serious Perez fare, well balanced, finely tannic. Race, acid, joven style for food. A winner; always is. 92/100.

Est. 1752 by the Perez family; vineyard at 1800'; vines average 50 years; aged a year in seasoned Burgundy oak barrels. Perez is a master mencia maker. Pretty much relieved of mencia reduction properties thanks to barrel and bottle aging. Old vines concentration. Barrel age complexities and a certain degree of suavity,/ Tannins to shed on the palate still. Good, high mencia acidity. Tannins are still chewy. Well balanced for further cellaring. 92+/100. 'Well made and ready; true to variety and region; well done. List price: $27.

Parker 93-94: 'They had not bottled the 2020 Ultreia Saint Jacques yet and were still waiting for the labels (and they label the day after they bottle), so I caught an unbottled sample that was very tender and fruit-driven, primary and quite open. He used more stems and full clusters in 2020, and since 2018, they have removed the percentage of white grapes that used to be included in the wine. It's a little more Mediterranean, with aromatic herbs and a more powerful palate. Drink 2023-2026. $30.'

Good, deep red violet color. A cool, purple fruited mencia, nice and polished. Not reduced. Good, tart mencia acid, fine tannin. Flavorful. Balanced. Long, tart finish. Good example. 92+/100.

2020: Est. 1986; first to bottle a 100% godello. Cold sample, so not gushing godello yet. It's there though. Stone fruit and honeysuckle. Again, too cold to be very expressive. I like its style and poise. These folks know godello; I have confidence in that. Balanced and well textured, with good acidity. Over the next couple of hours, this really blossomed and became a group favorite. 92+/100.

Fresh, crisp, right. Slate-y. Again. Mineral salts. Right. Yes. 92/100.

70% hondarrabi zuri, 10% gros manseng, 10% petit manseng, 10% petit corbu; vineyard planted in 1986. Plenty of fruit pours through. It's crisp, bright, and seckel pear like. Very good palate. Fresh and flavorful. Very popular with the group. 91/100.

Vinous 91: 'Pale, green-tinged straw. Bright and sharply focused on the nose, displaying fresh citrus and orchard fruit flavors complemented by a chalky mineral topnote. Chewy, lithe and focused on the palate, offering vibrant lemon zest and green apple flavors and a spicy ginger nuance. A floral note emerges with air and carries through a long, taut finish that echoes the mineral note. Drink now-2023. $23.'

Est. 1649; revitalized 1980; at Getaria, overlooking the sea; 90% hondarrabi zuri, 10% hondarrabi beltza; vineyards planted 1915 - 2000; indigenous yeasts. Full, wildly scented, and very brisk. Tells the tale. The old vines really add to its body and aromatic profile. Wow, rich and flavorful too. We've had some nice ones lately. This one may take the cake. The acidity does a rightful balancing act. Long, tasty finish. 92/100. Attendees agreed that this is one of the best txakolis tasted in 2023.

10.5%; est. 1348 as an apple grower and sidra maker; all hondarribi zuri; estate bottled; new to market. Soft and abundant aromas of pears and melons. One of the most forthcoming of these I've nosed. Weeks later, Retaining--even gaining--a crisp edge. Ah, and there's that good, juicy, even biting acidity that the nose seemed to gloss over earlier. Oh, boy, And flavorful too. And well balanced. All at one of the lowest prices seen in this category. Juicy, cleansing aftertaste. Very popular with the group. 92/100.

From the estate of the Farina family on the La Meseta plateau south of Toro. Robust, warm, and seemingly more powerful than the stated alcohol content. A Toro knockoff neighbor at a bargain price. Take me to your Liter. The fruit is Toro sweet, 2022 forward and flavorful. Good acid and, again, more strength than is suggested, which helps to balance it out. What wine lover couldn't afford this treat at under $10 a standard bottle? 92/100.

Sweet and succulent as always. Yeah, cremes. Cedar too. Good texture, all. 92+/100.

2017: Vinous 91: 'Bright purple. Intense cherry, blueberry and floral pastille scents on the spice-accented nose and in the mouth. Round and fleshy in style, with a spine of juicy acidity providing lift and structure to sweet black and blue fruit and mocha flavors. Closes with gentle grip and very good persistence, the velvety tannins framing the wine's sweet fruit. Drink now-2-2025. $17.'

Suckling 91/100. My notes: Sweet, warm climate cabernet nose. Ripe blackberry jam. Mencia contributes a purple fruited cooling edge. Sweet and easy again. Good acid of mencia and the region. Clinging finish. 91/100.

A variety distinct from albarino. Bursting with crisp, penetrating, unique pear and blossom aromas. Joyous. Just as intense in flavor as aroma. The acid is keen, which isn't true of many 2019 Iberian whites. Hits the mark in all respects. Long finish. 92/100.

2014: Parker 90/100. My notes: 15%. Deep cassis. No roti. Just good, wholesome fruit. Yes, 14 cools it down some. Full, fine tannin. Wood. Touch roti. 91/100.

First DO of Castilla y Leon; all verdejo. A good, traditional verdejo. Relates a bit to sauvignon blanc (and is sometimes combined with it). Yet it has more of a stone fruit and flowers leaning than sauvignon. This one shows the way in cool 2021. More of the core verdejo characteristics on the palate, while again the sauvignon suggestions. Good acid in 2021 of course. Delightful dinner wine. 91/100.

Nose full and genuine. Fresh and cool. As is the palate. Good stone fruit flavor. Good acidity. Well balanced. 91/100.

Old vines color concentration and aromatic intensity. Citrusy briskness of a 2021 sauvignon blanc, with verdejo's subtly exotic, floral overtones. Exemplary varietal character. Old vines flavor generosity. Bright acidity of 2021 confirmed. Great textural balance of acid and glycerol. Spot on. Seafood white. 91/100.

By the folks at Rioja bodega CVNE; 200 acres of vines 20 and 25 years old; aged 6 months in new and once used American and French oak barrels. Warm and robust RDD take on its tempranillo clone, tinta pais. The barrel augmentation is positive. Wears its power well too. So it skirts the negative RDD aspects of too much strength and oak. Yes, the degrees of alcohol, ripeness, and wood I appreciate in RDD. No excesses. Shows the skilled hands of a CVNE Rioja winemaker. Lasting finish. Well priced. 92+/100.

Wine Enthusiast 93: 'Dark garnet in the glass, this wine offers aromas of cherry cola, vanilla and Mediterranean herbs. The first flavors to hit the palate are pomegranate and Valencia orange, joined by notes of chocolate-covered caramel, fennel pollen and lavender. The interplay of plush tannins and striking acidity remains on the post-palate long after the last sip.'

90% tempranillo, 10% merlot. At 900 meters. RDD dry and firm. Very expressive of tempranillo. Real RDD. Good acid, dryness, firmness. Real indeed. And a really good deal! 91/100.

Full red violet color for a reserva; but, then, that's RDD!/ Oh, that's a sweet, ripe, smoky 2015.No excessive oak, no early resistance on the nose. Sweet fruited palate too. Large, strong, finely tannic, yet not abrasive, as some young RDDs can be. I like this source. 93+/100.

All tempranillo; vines 80+ years old; aged 14 months in French oak barrels. I'm used to tasting vintages 10 and more years old of this cuvee. This 4 year old is RDD hearty and RDD oaky, and RDD in need of more bottle age. It's full of all sorts of RDD black fruit and oak goodness. Just not ready for prime time unless served in a steakhouse to steakhouse clientele. As Yogi might say: 'All its future is ahead of it.' 91++/100.

At Pesquera del Duero; vineyard planted 1932; aged in French and American oak barrels. Red violet. Both fresh and full. Excellent vintage of this. Sweet black fruit. Fills the palate and lingers. Great sweet fruit, acid, fine tannin. Complete. 92+/100. Perhaps the sleeper of the evening. Appreciated for its complexity, balance, forward nature, and freedom from RDD oak excess tendencies.

Parker 91: 'Tasted along with the 2021 vintage, the 2020 Montecastrillo is a wine from a cooler year, and it has less alcohol (13.8%) and a much fresher profile. This is more vibrant, lighter and fine-boned, with fine tannins and a velvety mouthfeel, polished by the time in bottle. It is very pleasant and easy to drink. It's evolving very slowly; it should continue evolving nicely in bottle for a few more years. Honest, tasty and very good value. Drink now-2026.'

28-family bodega at Quintanamanvirgo, population 92; all tinta pais (tempranillo). Long and real cork. Bright and concentrated varietal character. Power under control. Not as dry and/or oaky a nose as some RDDs. Well, the palate is drier and more tannic than the nose suggests. Like many an RDD, needs more bottle age, especially this vintage. 91+/100.

Whole cluster fermentation. Dark red violet. That's a bright, fresh, zesty, and penetrating take on tinta del pais that defines joven. Full flavored, black peppery, great acid in 2021, fine grained tannin in the background for texture. Lasting finish. Well priced. 91/100.

Aged 2 years in barrels, 80% French, 20% American; 60% new, 40% once filled. A more violet and youthful appearance than the crianza. Ah, here's the Grand Seigneur! Nobler, deeper, more complex than the others thanks to fruit selection and upbringing. Top drawer. Nice and sweet 2018 fruit to assuage the fruit and oak tannins. Full of material. Complex in flavors and textures. A standout. And value! 93+/100.

Est. 1991; sandy soil; 95% tempranillo, 5% viura; bush vines; whole bunch fermentation. Bright red violet color. The freshness of whole bunch, the raspberry of tempranillo, the levity of sandy Alavesa. All adds up. Fruity up front, with a fine tannin edge in the back. Ready for the table with food to cut the tannin. Curious aging possibilities. 91/100.

2015: All tempranillo. The power is clear in my Taster glass. Warmth and suavity of the vintage, Rioja Baja, and reserva barrel aging. The traditional American oak barrels contributed a dill note. It's complex, enticing, and harmonious overall. Yes, smooth, well integrated, and very accommodating at this stage. Best vintage of this since 2009, in my opinion. 92/100.

35 year old vines. 18 months in American oak. Now we're getting somewhere. This has distinct barrel aged attributes and the traditional integrity of AMERICAN oak barrels in Rioja. Bravo. Yeah, more abundant oak and fruit characters than the crianza shows. In harmony. Good price too. Long, balanced finish. 93+/100.

85% tempranillo 10% graciano, 5% mazuelo; aged 3 years in American oak barrels, 2 in bottles. Shows more barrel time than the replaced Valdepenas GR. Greater sophistication thanks to enhanced origin and upbringing. Rich fruit up to the barrel extracts and barrel aging suavity. Great acid. Balanced and ready to apply. No fears for cellaring several more years. Worth the premium over the long entrenched Valdepenas series. 92+/100.

Wine & Spirits 92: 'This is the kind of brisk, savory red that sets Rioja apart. Michael Kowalski of Miraval Berkshires in Lenox, Mass., described the savory mix of fruit as tart red cherry, celery leaf and pomegranate. You might also find a sweet earthy note of fruity black mushrooms, all of it coming together in a tense, floral red with more generosity than anyone has a right to expect at the price.'

Wine & Spirits 92: 'The 2015 vintage took this wine toward luscious ripeness and graham-cracker scents of oak, solidly built in what appears to be a modern style. A day later, the wine's elegance takes the lead, the impression still juicy and clean, less bluntly oaked, while the structure is more refined. A wine to cellar for the long term.'

2014: A little darker, closer, and tarter than the 13. Still, another winner in the series. The oak needs a little more bottle age to settle in. Some attractive barrel and bottle bouquet beginning to form. Should be in fine fettle by mid winter. 91+/100.

2016: James Suckling 93/100. My notes: Sweet fruit for 16. Yes, and a nice range of flavors from both tempranillo and garnacha. Cold sample, so tannic. Good material. 92+/100.

All tempranillo. A year in French oak barrels. Does have good crianza fruit-oak ratio. Tempranillo black raspberry integrity. French oak has a mellower barrel impact than the traditional American. No dill; more vanilla. Spicy oak meets a proper crianza degree of fruit retention. Yes, good crianza fruit-oak balance. Good acid. Pretty full at 14.1%. Moderate tannins.Neither old time nor modern. Well balanced, well priced. 91/100.

Vinous 90: 'Inky ruby. Blackberry, cherry pit, pungent flowers and a hint of olive on the fragrant nose. Gently chewy and fleshy in the mouth, offering bitter cherry and cassis flavors that take a spicy turn through the midpalate. Smooth tannins come in late to add shape to the long, smoke? and spice-tinged finish. Drink now-2026.'

Wine Spectator 91: 'Harmonious and juicy, laced with delicate cherry and plum fruit flavors. Bright but also round, showing elements of spice and cedar that creep in as this plays out on the succulent finish. Tempranillo and Mazuelo. Drink now through 2030. $20.'

From its Lanciano vineyard, within an oxbow bend of the Ebro; 70 year old vines; tempranillo, graciano, mazuelo, garnacha; aged 2 years in American and French oak barrels, 3 years in bottles. Dark ruby with browning rim. Quite powerful, young, and oaky at present. Dryish despite the ripeness of the vintage. Oak woodiness, vanillin, and tannin. Dry tannin at end. Needs cellaring. 91+/100. This became more revealing after a couple hours' aeration and was generally popular with the group.

From its Lanciano vineyard, within an oxbow bend of the Ebro; 70 year old vines; tempranillo, graciano, mazuelo, garnacha; aged 2 years in American and French oak barrels, 3 years in bottles. Dark, ruddy red cast. Upon opening, pretty tight on the nose. That's 2012 across Europe. Yes, tight and tannic. This is a bear. Take it away, tasting panel. The nose blossomed over the next couple of hours, but, of course, the tannin remained stubborn. 91++/100.

Tempranillo, with garnacha, graciano. Dark purple. Aged in concrete. Fresh and full. Bright 17 fruit qualities, with extra stamina. The sweet, black fruitiness of a new wave cosecha Rioja. Fine fruit depth and quality, and a discreet measure of new oakiness. Yes, lots of fresh fruit and plenty of overall substance. The fruit and the oak are more-ish and modern. Newer barrels, less time in them. Fine fruit tannin. Class wine. Made right. 92+/100.

90% tempranillo, 7% garnacha, 3% graciano; aged 18 months in oak barrels. Doesn't speak very loudly of 18 months in small cooperage. Mild fruit statement pretty much devoid of barrel influences. Good flavor, sweet-acid balance, fine grained tannin. The palate is totally together but, like the nose, undeveloped still. We've tasted previous vintages of this at greater age. That's all this one needs. 91+/100.

90% tempranillo, 7% garnacha, 3% graciano; aged 18 months in oak barrels. Lopez Riojas tend toward dark colors despite barrel sojourn. Tempranillo leads the charge, raspberry scented and well framed. A rightful degree of crianza oak seasoning and barrel mellowing. A very attractive take on crianza that well exceeds barrel time minimum. Even more to give on the palate: the sweet, original fruit and the barrel vanillin and suavity. Tannins are unobtrusive. Well balanced. Ready to serve. Neither modern nor old time. 92/100.

85% tempranillo, 15% graciano; 20 months in French & American oak barrels. Like the crianza tasted a week or so back, this is not jumping out of the glass upon opening. Aeration supported the crianza and will likely do the same here. The fruit is sweet for a reserva, oak and fruit tannins building in the back to give a drying aftertaste. Seems like the components are here, just not offering a lot of current enjoyment. 91+/100. Respected by attendees but deemed in need of more aeration and bottle age.

85% tempranillo, 15% graciano; aged 20 months in French and American oak barrels. That's got quite a lot of tradition to its style in spite of the French oak. Attractive tempranillo raspberry character persists. 2016 linear stuff. I like its poise. Quite a lot of oak as well as fruit tannins. Chewy even. Solidly built for mid term bottle aging. 91+/100.

Old vines viura; aged 3 months in French oak barrels. The white is new to the market. Not much nose at opening. Some sense of cooperage influence. Doesn't milk viura for all its worth, but, then, there aren't many aromatics inherent to this grape. If there's much of a viura character, the palate conveys it. And, again, some sense of barrel sojourn. Really, considerably more flavor than aroma interest, so it rallies, starts to grow on me. Admirably well balanced and meal worthy. Will likely wax more forthcoming with aeration. 91+/100. It did, winning fans for both its fruit and oak complexes. And, its price.

Wine Spectator 93: 'Richly savory on the nose, this fresh, sinewy red features a minerally underpinning of petrol, earth, iron and salt to the flavors of juicy dried cherry and cranberry, red licorice and mandarin orange peel. Opens nicely in the glass and on the palate, with the persistent finish showing aromatic herbs and spices, plus more mineral notes. Tempranillo, Garnacho, Graciano and Mazuelo. Drink now through 2031. $60.'

Wine Spectator 93: 'Sweet oak, vanilla, cherry and bitter almond flavors converge in this muscular, balanced red. The oak still needs time to integrate, with ample fruit to offset it. The finish is long and compact. Tempranillo and Graciano. Best from 2024 through 2033. $29.'

Tempranillo, garnacha, and graciano, some over 50 years old; in Rioja del Reyno; aged 3 years in second and third year French and American oak barrels. By the conglomerate corks, these have clearly been recorked. No issues removing them. Remarkably fresh and fruity in this keeper vintage. Reserva aging nicely imbued; the lighter touch of French oak. Youthful tannin still. Great acidity. Round flavors and textures. Tannins melted. No rush to consume. The group agreed. 93+/100.

At El Ciego in Alavesa; 96% tempranillo, 4% graciano; aged 2 years in American oak barrels. Oh, this is classic Riscal. No braggart, just quiet confidence uttered. Alavesa sandy elegance. Perfect wood-fruit marriage. Fresh and forward 2019 style. Great acid. Totally coordinated presentation. Very fine grained tannins in back. Thanks to its harmony, this is going to improve many years in bottle. 93+/100. Well appreciated by attendees for its classicism. One notes: 'Maybe the best Riscal I've tasted'.

Est. 1895; tempranillo, graciano, mazuelo; aged 42 months in American oak barrels, 32 months in bottles. Best Cork Award; clearly recently recorked. 2011 and Lacuestra warm and robust. Fully earned barrel and bottle bouquet at this stage. Oak and fruit fully integrated. Some tannin of each persists. This takes the reserva concept to its traditional extent, surpassing modern norms for gran reserva status. Drink or hold. 93+/100. Widely liked, even by attendees usually not in favor of wines this old.

Decanter 90/100. My notes: 1 year in barrels. A good marriage of original fruit and barrel sojourn, amalgamated by bottle age, which also, at age 6, impacts positive bouquet development. Warm and suavity now. Tannins fully rsolved. Good acidity. Ready to enjoy. 91/100.

All tempranillo; aged 18 months in French oak casks and 18+ months in bottle. Dark color of 2014 retained. And that dark, obstinate disposition. Yeah, tried and true to form, you'll have to wait it out. Meanwhile, the reserva fruit-barrel relationship is spot on, adding encouragement to laying this down awhile longer. Mellower on the palate. Well proportioned, flavorful. Tannins not aggressive. After aeration, maybe it could be applied at the table this winter. 92+/100. Very popular with attendees. Orders taken.

Vinous 91: 'Vivid ruby. Aromas of ripe red and blue fruits, pipe tobacco and cedary oak develop a smoky element as the wine stretches out. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering lively cherry and boysenberry flavors and subtle licorice and spice nuances. Finishes on a chewy note, delivering sneaky tannins, a lingering suggestion of dark chocolate and strong persistence. Drink now-2027.'

83% tempranillo, 9% graciano, 6% mazuelo, 2% garnacha; aged 20 months in American oak barrels; Parker 93/100. My notes: I haven't had a need to taste this for awhile thanks to perennial high ratings. Need aside, here we go. Always a favorite for its varietal assemblage and steadfast American oak tradition. That's Rioja of yore. Yes, mouthfilling, mouthcoating. Full flavor and texture. Properly tight laced in youth and sporting plenty of fine grained tannin. Keeper. 94+/100.

Tempranillo, garnacha, graciano, mazuelo; aged a year in barrels, 70% American, 30% French, and a year in bottle before release. Fully in tune with the series. It's classic Rioja Crianza thanks to including other players besides Gucci tempranillo and thanks to the predominance of the more pungent American oak barrels. The style is traditional, the fruit-barrel tete a tete just what I'm looking for in crianza. Yes, fruit sweetness retained, barrel extracts and expansion of the flavor-texture complexes. And the price-! Wow, why pay more? 92/100.

Parker 93: 'As is the norm here, it fermented in oak vats and matured in barrels, in this case for 24 months, crafted by their own coopers. The wine is fined with egg whites and kept in bottle for a further 12 months before it's released. I had the wine in the glass for a very long time, and it didn't stop improving; it started a little lactic and creamy, and then it got more and more serious. This is the only red they produced this vintage, so all the best grapes that normally go to other wines were used here; those selected grapes helped to keep the volume of this cuvee, and at the same time, it seems to have boosted the quality of this wine, which feels every bit as good as the 2016. It has a serious palate with fine, chalky tannins and very good balance. This is a textbook Muga red and a triumph over the conditions of the year, elegant and balanced, approachable now and with potential to age. Drink now-2027. $32.'

All tempranillo; vines 40-90 years old; aged in French oak barrels. Full red violet color. A nice tempranillo freshness to this, along with vintage fruit surge. Nice peppery spiciness. It's cool and vigorous, with raspberry raciness and black pepper edge. Good acid. Fine tannin. I guess the barrels are well seasoned. This is neither oaky or barrel mellowed. Well, maybe there's a little barrel influence to the aftertaste. Done right. 91/100.

90% tempranillo, 5% each garnacha, mazuelo; aged a year plus in mainly American oak barrels; Decanter 92/100. The greater bouquet formation thanks to an extra year's aging and in likely newer--and certainly frank--American barrels. Suave, expressive, complex. Suave again, very suave. Fine craftsmanship. The harmony of oak and fruit is crianza ideal. Dusting of wood and fruit tannins in back doesn't preclude current table service. 92/100. Judged Red of the Night by attendees. Mix of old and new styles. Prominent allspice.

NY Times 20 under $20 Summer Values. My notes: All tempranillo. Entirely fresh and upbeat, elegant take of sandy Alavesa tempranillo. Cool and penetrating. Nothing else like it. Yeah, that's got the spunk and the fruit sweetness. Wholly racy acid. Fine tannin. Salivating mealtime wine. 92+/100.

Est. 1973; all tempranillo; vines 25+ years old; aged 15 months in French and American oak barrels followed by 5 months in tank and at least 8 months in bottle. Youthfully purple colored for a crianza. Ah, but that proper degree of crianza barrel and barrel aged aspects to harmonize with the original fruit. Crianza, my way. Yes, there's that balance of fruit and oak I love in crianza. Fruit and oak tannin as well as flavor. Haven't had a crianza that so fits my image of perfection in a long time. Wow. 92+/100.

2016: Vinous 92: 'Bright violet. Mineral-tinged red and blue fruit preserve and floral scents are complemented by hints of vanilla, tobacco and licorice. Sappy, expansive black raspberry and blueberry flavors smoothly blend weight and energy and pick up an allspice nuance on the back half. Closes long and appealingly sweet, with round, even tannins and an echo of sappy blue fruit. Drink 2023-2032. $22.'

Vinous 92: 'Bright violet. Mineral-tinged red and blue fruit preserve and floral scents are complemented by hints of vanilla, tobacco and licorice. Sappy, expansive black raspberry and blueberry flavors smoothly blend weight and energy and pick up an allspice nuance on the back half. Closes long and appealingly sweet, with round, even tannins and an echo of sappy blue fruit. Drink 2023-2032. $22.'

Parker 92: 'Their young and fresh red 2018 Vina Alberdi matured in oak barrel for two years—in new barrels for the first year and in used barrels for the second year. During the élevage, they racked the wine manually from barrel to barrel four times. 2018 was a year of lower alcohol and more freshness in the wines, and they thought the wines were not designed for the long haul; so, they didn't produce any other wine, and so the only wine from 2018 IS VINA ALBERDI! Which means that all the Tempranillo grapes that were destined for 890, 904 and all the other wines went to this wine. They didn't use the Garnacha (which was sold in bulk). So, this is a super? Vina Alberdi, which shows more Crianza style in this cooler vintage but with very good depth and complexity, perhaps a more modern and fresher style. The wine has a seamless palate and a juicy texture, with more color than other vintages, more intensity, more fruit.. It has grapes from very good vineyards and poor soils that were never destined for this wine. Highly recommendable and very versatile. It has potential to age.'

Parker 94: 'I tasted two vintages of their sleek and polished blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha, the oldest of which is the 2015 Viva Ardanza Reserva. It's a blend of 78% Tempranillo and 22% Garnacha (because they found that they needed a little more volume in the wine) from a powerful, warm and ripe year, very interesting to compare with the 2016. They consider 2015 a very good vintage; they compare it with 2001, a year when they produced all the wines. There are three wines from 2015, and there is something in common in all thee wines. The grapes were picked in mid-October and put through optical sorting to ferment followed by malolactic until the end of the year. The wine matured in used American oak barrels—the Tempranillo for 36 months with six manual rackings and the Garnacha for 30 months with five rackings. I find it to be more tertiary, with hints of leather and cured meat and a little wild, very spicy. It has a powerful palate with plenty of tannin, and it even feels that it needs some more polishing of perhaps powerful food.. The final blend was bottled in September 2019. No 2013 or 2014 were produced. Drink now-2030. $42.'

Vinous 90: 'Limpid ruby. Cherry, red currant and hints of vanilla and licorice on the fragrant nose. Sappy red fruit and floral pastille flavors show good energy and a touch of spiciness on the back half. Smooth tannins frame a long, gently sweet finish that strongly echoes the red fruit note. Drink now-2028.'

Wine & Spirits 91: 'Surprisingly bright for a seven-year-old Rioja, this wine's tart cherry flavors fill out the chocolate-rich tannins with tangy acidity. It's simple, sweetly ripe and velvety, ready to contribute its freshness to mole beef cheeks. $28.'

Vinous 93: 'Saturated ruby. Vibrant, spice? and mineral-accented aromas of fresh red and dark fruits and spicecake are complemented by a suave floral topnote. Juicy and pliant in the mouth, offering appealingly sweet raspberry, cherry cola, spicecake and rose pastille flavors that deepen through the back half. In a lively style, showing fine clarity and rounded tannins framing a very long, focused finish. Drink now-2031. $32.'

All tempranillo, mainly from Alavesa; aged a year in French and American oak barrels, some new; aged at least a year in bottles before release. While pretty oaky, the French oak tempers the American oak aggressiveness. And time in bottle thereafter well absorbs it. The sort of fruit-oak balance I appreciate in a crianza. Tannin calls for more cellaring. Neither traditional nor modern. Torres' own take. 91+/100.

2015: Really dark, full color. Wow, rich, ripe 2015 tempranillo black, sweet raspberry fruit on steroids. The depth of the aroma is remarkable. Wow, great ACID too! Total balance, delivery. Pulls it all together for food. DEAL! 92/100.

The usual old vines richness plus the lift and accent of cool 2021. Very rich indeed, yet fresh and flavorful thanks to the vintage. Really, one of the most satisfying years for this. 91/100.

Suckling 92; Spectator 91. My notes: 55% garnacha, 39% syrah, 6% mazuelo. Borsao ripe. Not your basic old vines CdB garnacha. The others add spice, vigor, and aromatic range. Kudos. The acid is bright. No stickiness, and alcohol under control. So really nicely fashioned. 92/100.

35-60 year old vines; yields of under 2 tons per acre; aged 5 months in new Bordeaux barrels. Dark colored, as usual. Borja old vines garnacha all the way. The usual richness and old vines intensity nicely framed in the 2020 vernacular. Sweet and concentrated. Deeply fruity. One of the best of always satisfying recent vintages. As sweet as ever, with extract and tannin to balance. Particularly flavorful this vintage. Yeah, big, powerful, concentrated, flavorful, chewy textured, lasting. Melted tannins. Defines Tres Picos. 93/100.

Vineyards at 2000'. Estate bottled. Oh, deep, sweet, SPICY garnacha. Yes, thorough and penetrating. Indeed, sweet and spicy, even 'woody'. Power under control. Wow, its own thing. I applaud that. 91/100, at least.

50 year old garnacha bush vines. Aged 5 months in seasoned barrels, both French and American. Warm and inviting. Full blown rep. Great acidity. Cuts the lushness nicely. 91/100.

Rich and forceful grenache of the DO. Correct. Forward fruitiness to it as usual, and, as intended. Good acid. A little tannin to resolve. 90+/100.

2016: Parker 90: 'I also tasted two vintages from the mid range produced with Garnacha grapes from vines averaging 60 years of age and matured in French oak barrels for some 10 months, the freshest of which was the 2016 Atteca, perhaps from a lighter vintage than the more concentrated 2017. The wine is now polished and feels a point, with a combination of ripe fruit and sweet spices that would make it approachable to a wide segment of consumers. It's nicely crafted and highly drinkable. Drink now-2022.'

Vineyards at over 3000 feet elevation. 15.8%. Ripeness countered by power. Deep, black take on garnacha. Again, sweetness versus power, so balanced. Great acid chimes in too. Helluva lot of wine for the money. 91/100.

2017: Vinous 91: 'Lurid ruby. Aromas of ripe black and blue fruits, potpourri and candied licorice are complemented by smoky mineral and oak spice nuances that emerge with air. Juicy, expansive black raspberry and cherry-vanilla flavors put on weight with aeration while retaining a surprisingly graceful touch. Supple tannins lend grip to a long, spice-laced finish that echoes the floral note. Raised for 18 months in 500? and 600-liter French oak casks. Drink now-2025.'

Cabernet dark red black. Clear, cool, high altitude take. Logical Navarra cabernet. Dark cabernet blackberry fruit. Yes, clear and cool. Fine tannin. Good acid. Well balanced. Useful now. 91/100.

85% grenache, 15% cab sauv. The warmth of grenache even in a cool zone and vintage. Great 2021 acidity. Good grip and backbone of the cabernet component. More-ish, thanks to the cuvee's makeup. Also good drinking now. 91+/100.

Average age of vines: 50 years. Native yeasts. The lift of Navarra's high altitude take on tempranillo, plus Taylor's pure fruit style. Ideal zone for her. And the palate disposition is just as moderate and fetching. Perfect fit. 91/100.

2019: Vinous 91: 'Limpid ruby-red. Bright and lively on the incisive nose, which displays fresh red berry and floral qualities and a spicy topnote. Sharply focused and lithe on the palate, offering tangy red currant and bitter cherry flavors and a touch of succulent herbs. Finishes long and nervy, with resonating red fruit and herbal notes and subtle tannic grip. Drink now-2027. $13.'

Wine Enthusiast 90: 'Bright ruby to the eye, this wine has a nose of cherry, white chocolate and violet talc. It is soft in the mouth, starting off bright and then getting spicy, with flavors of raspberry, pomegranate, licorice and aniseed. It has velvety tannins and a note of honeysuckle on the pleasing finish.'

Est. 1768; highest estate and vineyard in Penedes at 1400 ft; parellada, macabeo, chardonnay, malvasia de sitges; aged on fine lees. Good, stony regional character. More prominent fruit flavor than aroma, leading some attendees to note semblances to riesling. Acid rallies in back to form a well balanced presentation. Macabeo green fruit comes out at the end. Very popular with the group. 92/100.

2021: Half sauvignon blanc, plus muscats frontignan and alexandria, and gewurztraminer; vines 35-50 years old. Even more vital, complicated, textured, and forthcoming than it was at a trade show a month back. You sure get the full aromatic range of a complex set of aromatic varieties working together to create a whole greater than the sum of the parts. Amazing!/ Palate confirms the singular entertainment value of this wine. And adds more textural range and spiel. Yes, unique. I applaud that. Enjoyed by the group. 93/100.

2016: Ull de llebre (tempranillo), syrah, garnatxa. Rich and broad. Exciting, rangy, fruity. All this is magnified on the palate. The sweetness of grenache, the darkness of syrah, the elegance of tempranillo. Wow. Best vintage of this I've tasted. 92/100.

Ull de llebre (eye of the rabbit) = tempranillo; 85% tempranillo, 5% each garnatxa, carinene, syrah;. 6 months in French oak; DO is northwest of Barcelona. Bursting with 2018 fruit forward goodness. A racy oak strain throughout. Juicy red fruits mark the tempranillos from this DO and maker. Very flattering vintage of this. 92/100.

50% mazuelo (carignan), 25% each syrah, garnacha. Deep, sweet black cherry carignan. Rich and full presence. Yes, sweet, generous fruit appeal, with tannin and other textural play. Has weight and takes up space. 91/100. List price: $15.

Vinous 91/100. My notes: 40% mazuelo, 40% syrah, 20% garnacha. Richness and power, 19 fruit and lift. Wears its power well Fully compacted. Strength, material, and grip. Mouthfilling. Wow, Mr. Big! 91+/100.

40% garnacha, 40% cab sauv, 20% carignan. Unique. Pitchy. Large and surging. 17 moderation. Love the carignan grip and cherry contribution. Balance of power and flow in tune with this wine in this vintage. I prefer it to the 2016. 92/100.

Aged in both French and Amereican oak cooperage. Fresh and high altitude Montsant grenache. Grenache fruit sweetness and good acidity. Melted tannins. Remarkable value. 92/100.

Family estate; garnacha, samso, & syrah; 30-50 yrs old; on slate and granite; half aged in French foudres and barriques. Seems to be pretty well along in bouquet development in early maturing 2017. An accommodating style of Montsant. Well, the palate has a large measure of freshness and vitality I wasn't expecting to find. And a measure of tannin too. One unique, serious, and adventuresome Montsant. Totally mealworthy. Popular with the group. 91+/100.

Vinous 91: 'Bright ruby-red. Aromas of primary red fruits, oak spice, violet and smoky minerals. Sharply focused raspberry, cherry cola and floral pastille flavors are underscored by a smoky mineral quality and building spiciness. Silky tannins give shape to a long, incisive finish that clings impressively and leaves red fruit liqueur and mocha notes behind. Drink now-2028. $18.'

40% garnatxa, 40% syrah, 20% carinyena in llicorella schist at Grattalops; unoaked. Dark red violet. Good and pungent Med varietal melange, well coordinated. Love the Priorat power and stature too. While unoaked, it has a certain toasty warmth to it. Pretty 2019 open and engaging. Flavorful and filling. Light backlash of tannin. Good mid term aging candidate. 91+/100.

Half garnacha, half carignan, grown in llicorella soils by the Gine family, long-time farmers in Gratallops. Dark red black. Oh, that's a big, broad beamed Priorat nose. The alcohol is noticeable, and positive. This really attacks the nostrils and shakes one's nose for attention. Sweet in the mouth. Strength assuaged by same. Building, lasting flavor set. Tannins are either coated or melted. Warmth of alcohol on the finish. All Priorat, all the time. 94+/100.

Single vineyard on llicorella slate at 800'; 70% garnacha, 30% mazuelo; aged 6 months in foudres. One of the darkest-toned grenaches I've nosed. Still, it's not compact. It has grenache sweetness, power, breadth. Oh, a juicy, red fruited grenache flavor, plenty sweet too in 2018. Black raspberry segues to red raspberry. Fine tannin draws out the finish. Everything here is up to snuff. 92+/100.

51% garnacha, 31% carignan, 12% syrah,. 6% cab sauv. Aged 7 months in French oak barrels. Inky red violet. The usual freshness and buoyancy of this cuvee, accentuated by youth and vintage nature. As good as Serras tinto gets. Forward fruit and flowers meet a heady taste of power, acidity, and fine tannin. There's no imperative to age this though. Just bring on the food. 92+/100.

Vinous 93: 'Brilliant violet. Aromas of ripe, smoke-tinged dark berries and cherry, along with pungent mineral and floral nuances. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering bitter cherry and blackberry flavors that show very good energy and back-end lift. A spicy note comes up on the clinging finish, which features dusty tannins and resonating dark fruit and mineral qualities. Drink 2022-2030.'

Carignan, grenache, syrah, cab sauv; unfiltered. Loved the 20 a few weeks back; put it on a sale; then the 21 ships. Well, I have no issues with this. It's full fledged Priorat that's also showing 2021 cool fruit. Yeah, both rich and racy. The black fruits lead the way. More manageable tannin than in the 2020. Lengthy finish. Shows the way. 93/100.

Dark for grenache. Barrel toast elements. Also an aspect of reduction, which adds depth. An ample and beautiful display of the integrity of grenache, the fruit redder and sweeter on the palate than the nose. Reduction creeps in again at the finale. A round of applause for grenache of this making. 94+/100.

2016: Wine & Spirits 92/100. My notes: 60% grenache, 40% carignan. Bright and black and big Priorat. Sweet and accomplished. Yes, sweet, bold, flashy, and rich, with fine acid and fine tannin and texture. Complete. 92+/100.

Easternmost and coolest of Priorat's nine villages; grenache, carignan, cab sauv; 20-30 year old vines; llicorella (black slate) soil; aged a year in seasoned French and Hungarian barrels and foudres. A very black and firm Priorat. More about size and structure than aroma at this stage. Hides its alcohol well all the same. Wow, that's a mouthful of material, power, tannin. Impressive, but surely not ready for prime time. 92++/100. Following aeration, it revealed more fruit and oak aromatics for the panel. Appreciated for its typicity and generosity ('a LOT of everything').

Pleasing oak influence here. Deep, flashy, powerful, expressive. Closer than the nose suggests. Large, well built, well textured. Less aromatic and forthcoming on the palate. Good cellar candidate. 92+/100.

15%; most prominent of the nine Priorat villages; llicorella (slate) soil; grenache, carignan, syrah; vines 20-65 years old; native yeasts; part aged 9 months in French oak barrels. Full, magenta hued color. Deep, powerful, husky. One stout Priorat. Carignan and syrah paint its dark side. Plenty of sweet, ripe fruit material to bear the alcohol. It's actually cool in the back of the mouth. Well polished tannins. No need to postpone service. The group was pleasantly surprised by its balance and current appeal. 93/100.

2017: Vinous 91: 'Dark ruby. Highly perfumed cherry and dark berry and floral scents, along with hints of vanilla, cracked pepper and smoky minerals. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering black currant, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors that show good clarity and become sweeter as the wine opens up. Finishes on a repeating floral note, displaying strong tenacity, building tannins and a lingering oak spice note. Drink 2022-2029.'

Parker 92: 'The regional blend 2020 Camins del Priorat, produced with grapes from 101 plots from eight villages in Priorat, is a blend of 55% Garnacha, 15% Syrah, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 8% Carinena, higher in Garnacha and lower in Carinena, like in the majority of 2019s. That gives the wines freshness and elegance, vivacity and fluidity. It fermented with the indigenous yeasts in a combination of stainless steel, oak and concrete vats and matured in barrel and oak vats for four months. This is more Priorat than any of the vintages of Camins; in reality, nobody is planting French varieties anymore and many are regrafting their vines, so in the future, the tendency could be toward more Garnacha and Carinena in this wine. This is a very drinkable version of Camins, less dense than the 2019, from a year that was cooler with just an herbal hint. The mouthfeel is velvety with great freshness and very fine tannins. This has to be the finest Camins to date, different from previous years; it should be a commercial success. 226,000 bottles were produced. 2020 was their earliest harvest ever. Drink now-2025.'

Parker 93: 'I've always had a special interest in this Garnacha and Carinena blend from Alvaro Palacios, and the current vintage is now the 2017 Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes. It's produced with grapes from 80 different vineyards in eight villages and therefore is a regional wine. 2017 was a warm and ripe year that produced powerful wines. This 2017 is 55% Garnacha with 44% Carinena and a 1% pinch of white grapes that fermented in concrete and oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in barrique and oak vat for 11 months. This is the earthiest of the bottlings, and it has some rustic touches from the Carinena, which gives it its personality. 2017 was their earliest harvest ever (the first time they ever started harvesting in August!). They used a little more new oak, yet the wine is not oaky or excessively ripe. There is no room for sweetness here, and the wine is clean, reflecting very healthy grapes and very elegant tannins, quite transparent, not dry, but rather juicy. Great Terrasses, a triumph over the conditions of the vintage.'

2018: Vinous 90: 'Deep, glistening crimson. Lively red and blue fruit, floral and spice qualities on the perfumed nose. In a fleshy, fruit-forward style, showing very good clarity and seamless texture to juicy boysenberry and black raspberry flavors. Supple, discreet tannins lend shape to a long, blue-fruit-driven finish that leaves a spicy hint of white pepper behind. Drink now-2026.'

70% tempranillo, 30% cab sauv. 14%. Nice Terra Alta altitude freshness. Mellow bouquet. Still a fine tannin edge. Wholly on the up side. More bouquet complexity to come. 91+/100.

Whoa! Big surge of black fruit. Dense, deep, abundant, sprawling. More constraint on the palate. Still, heavy laden. Good acid. Good flavor. And plenty of fine tannin. For hearty fare, or the cellar. 91+/100.

Back label: 75% garnacha, 15% carinena 10% syrah; garnatxa = garnacha = grenache; samso = carinena = carignan; vineyard at 1300' on limestone and marl; native yeasts. Southern France makeup; high altitude lift. Oh, cool, racy, penetrating aromas. The alcohols give a certain smoothness. Tannins well melted. Flavorful and lasting. Gathering a measure of maturity. Lasting, challenging finish. 91+/100.

Textbook example of Terra Alta grenache. Garnacha sweet, TA discreet. High altitude grenache for sure. Very savory grenache character with sweet finish. Talks the talk. 92/100.

Parker 92/100. My notes: Est 2005; calcareous soil; 55 year old vines; whole bunch fermented at low temperature; aged 8 months in seasoned French oak barrels; unfined, unfiltered. This guy's the master at bobal, and it shows. A real cork even. He coaxes more out of humble bobal than I've ever smelled before. The fruit is sweet, deep, and variegated. Melange of spices as well as fruit on the palate. Richness, race, and light tannin counter. Kudos. Popular with the group. 92/100.

45 year old moravia agria vines in clay-limestone. Native yeasts. Unique varietal character. Slightly perfumed overtones. Old vines intensity. Yes, very old vines intense in terms of texture as well as flavor. That Taylor regional/varietal clarity. I'm game. 92/100.

2015: At San Martin de Valdeiglesias. Ripe and sweet and spicy as usual. Singed and edgy. Cinnamon-clove finale. 91/100.

14.5%; 75% garnacha, 10% pinuela, 15% rufete. Vines 60-90 years old, at 2500-3000 feet on granitic soil Yields under two tons per acre. Higher altitude still; lighter color. Complex and intriguing aromatic set of mixed varieties and spice box. Far cry from many syrupy Spanish tintos at this alcohol level. Original. Yes, high altitude levity and flow. Attempts to show a little heat at the end, yet never quite succeeds. One of a kind. 92+/100.

Castilian for 'small sea' is named for the vineyard area in the Almansa region close to the town of Albacete, located at the southeastern tip of Castilla-La Mancha. A blend of 70% Garnacha Tintorera and 30% Moravia Agria. The Garnacha Tintorera (aka Alicante Bouschet, a red-juiced grape) is from a 3ha parcel vineyard on clay/calcareous soils. The Moravia Agria (a high-acid blending grape) is from a single vineyard on sandy clay-calcareous soils in neighboring Manchuela, which is pruned to get larger grapes, since there is only around 50ha of Moravia Agria left in Spain. All grapes are hand-harvested and vinified separately by parcel. The Garnacha Tintorera is foot-trodden in vat with 30-50% stems included and 6-10 days skin maceration, then fermented and raised on fine lees in concrete for 8 months. The Moravia Agria is completely destemmed and sees 7 days maceration before being pressed and raised on fine lees in 228L used French barriques for 8 months, all without battonage. The wine is then blended and bottled unfined, unfiltered and with very little SO2 addition.

30 year old vines at 2000' elevation. Fresh, vigorous, crisp noseful of warm climate tempranillo generosity. Sweet, spicy. More complex and rangy than usual. Cool year helps temper the power and ripeness. This is black fruited and very racy on the nose. Yes. Again, cool year scores. the fine acidity of 2021 makes it mouthwatering and mealworthy. Get it. Great flavor spectrum feel, lasting finish. Yeah, full bodied, full flavored, mouth coating, lasting. Helluva lot of wine for the money. 91/100.

Vinous 92: 'Saturated violet. Powerful aromas of dark berry liqueur, potpourri and vanilla, plus woodsmoke and mineral overtones. Juicy and seamless on the palate, offering intense blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter with air. Finishes with sharp clarity and very good length, leaving lavender, mocha and cola notes behind. Drink 2022-2028.'

Suckling 91: 'There is great aroma of ripe fruits of the forest, strawberries and raspberries. With a light vanilla toast and hints of licorice and spice. On the palate it is full bodied and fruity with well rounded tannins, great acidity and light vanilla notes with a touch of smokiness. A well balanced wine with a persistent finish,'

Spain's most widely planted red grape variety excels in low-yield vineyards of Utiel-Requena. The bouquet is mellow and well formed. Ideal balance of fruit ripeness, barrel aged roundness, good power, and melted tannins. Yes, ready to enjoy with hearty fare. 90/100.

Parker 90+: 'The 2020 Laya is balanced, harmonious and serious, and the vintage seems to have absorbed the oak quite nicely. This is always produced with 70% Garnacha Tintorera and 30% Monastrell. It fermented in stainless steel vats with neutral yeasts, with malolactic in barrel, where the wine matured for four months. Drink now-2026.'

Parker 91: 'Also a blend of Garnacha Tintorera with usually some 15% Monastrell, the 2015 La Atalaya del Camino was cropped from a wetter year than the average. From dry-farmed, head-pruned old vines, the grapes were fermented with neutral yeasts in stainless steel and aged in French barriques for one year. It was a gentle year for Garnacha Tintorera, and the reality is that they used a lot less Monastrell than the average. It has a Rhone-ish profile, with aromas of sun-dried tomatoes and black olives, an oily touch and plenty of aromatic herbs. This is ripe, as they need ripe fruit to avoid the harsh tannins that the grape can deliver if the fruit is not very ripe. This is juicy, concentrated and powerful and will surely be able to develop for a long time in bottle. I was quite surprised by this wine. Drink now-2024.'

50-50; aged 4 months in French and American oak barrels; Gold Medal - Berlin 2017. Black label and black wine. And black hearted. This is showing me nothing on the nose, surprising for region, vintage, and age. But not for grape varieties and screwcap. Almansa sweet, gentle, come hither. Well balanced. More flavor than aroma. Finest of tannins. Aerate/decant for aromatics, then take it to the table. 91/100. After aeration, this appealed to many attendees for the price and drinkability.

Oh, this is rich, sweet, deep, plummy, and lasting. Fully in tune on the palate. Good acid and freshness. Lasting. Delivers. Deal! 92/100.

Vinous 90: 'Deep, brilliant ruby. Ripe dark fruits, licorice and a hint of black cardamom on the smoky nose. Broad and fleshy in style, offering spice-accented blackberry, bitter cherry and espresso flavors that turn sweeter through the back half. Finishes spicy and broad, with an earthy suggestion of tobacco and subtle tannic grip. Drink now-2023.'

Vinous 90: 'Glistening violet. Spice-accented cherry and black raspberry on the nose, along with subtle licorice and spice notes. Appealingly sweet and juicy, offering well-concentrated dark fruit flavors that firm up and turn more tangy on the back half. Finishes lively and focused, with fine-grained tannins framing persistent licorice and cherry notes. Drink now-2028.'

2018: Purple mourvedre fruit. Fresh and right. 2018 fruit quality. Sweet and also structured. Purple fruit and flower mourvedre aftertaste. Damn good value. 91/100.

Vinous 91/100. My notes: All monastrell. 14.5%. Very fresh and fruity. Mourvedre dark. Ideal. Pastille fruit precision. Not sweet though. The alcohol is cooling and so is the mourvedre. Nice. 91/100.

Both sweet and sassy look at warm climate monastrell. Always a fruit forward, friendly face of the varietal. Yeah, juicy fruit and fruit acidity. Flavorful and abundant and lasting. What's not to like-! 91/100.

Wine Spectator 91: This bold red is intense and expressive. Cassis and blueberry flavors mingle with cola, cocoa and licorice notes. Chewy tannins and balsamic acidity amplify the impact. Heady, ripe and in the modern style. Monastrell. Drink now through 2024.' 'Made from vines planted in 1935 and 1970; fermented in open-top stainless steel tanks and aged in new and used French and American oak barrels.

Est. 1729; single vineyard (pago); aged in once filled French oak foudres. Heavy Bottle Award. The warmth of the region and earned suavity of aging in cooperage. Quite the complex aromatic range. Rich and full bodied. Very suave palate indeed. No heat, little tannin. Singularly inviting mealtime accompaniment. 92/100.

2019: Prensal, giro, chardonnay; 20 year old vines, indigenous yeasts; 4 months on lees. A mellow melange; it works. Vinosity, citricity, minerality. Really quite full bodied. Again, the citrus aspects. Crisp acidity, balanced set of varietal influences. Nothing askew, or loud mouthed. So ideal and rangy at the table. Saline finish. 91+/100.

70% mantonegro, with callet, monastrell, merlot, syrah; vines planted in the 1950s; winemaker, Tomeu Llabres. Unique, complicating, and intriguing local grapes attributes to the fore, thankfully. Nostril filling and satisfying. Mouthfilling and complex in flavor profile. Entirely well balanced, with melted tannins. A special taste adventure well worth the price of admission. I suspect this would be a good lamb mate. 93/100. Very popular with attendees for its intense and complex flavor range. Many descriptors offered.

Fresh, high altitude, and still sweet fruited. These Canaries are tweets..er, I mean treats. Depth, spiciness, singularity. Flavorful, wonderfully burnished in texture. Persistent in taste. Delivers. Got to have it. 92/100.

Parker 94+/100: 'The red 2022 Benje is floral, expressive, clean and elegant, reflecting a very good year in the region, with notes of rose petals and talcum powder, a fine texture and very elegant tannins. This has to be the most elegant Benje to date.'

Parker 93+/100. My notes: Really quite reductive in youth, as were previous vintages. Is this due to the thick wax capsule? Gives it a 'sour' sort of aroma that's not necessarily off putting. Welcome tartness. Rounder, richer, less reductive flavors than aromas. Fills out and draws out on the finish. Its own thing, really. 93+/100.