Wine Enthusiast 91: 'This wine, a celebration of the Portuguese seafaring discoveries of the 15th century, is ripe with balanced black fruits and a spice aroma. Its smooth texture and richness mean it will age quickly. Drink from 2026.'

Wine Enthusiast 90: 'The wine's licorice aroma leads to a rich wine packed with red berry fruits and structured tannins. It is a full, juicy wine that is still developing. Drink from 2026.'

2021: 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. Aromatic largesse of these premium, scented VV varieties. Boy, that's a good, cool nose-ful in 2024. Suave, sweetly fruity, and a full of flavor as aroma. Can't recall a better vintage of this. Kudos. 92/100. Very popular with attendees. WOTN for several. Orders taken. 'Exceptionally rich and flavorful; Value of the Evening.' 'Super nose and flavors; good value for sure.' 'Crisp green apple; long finish; well done.' 'Balanced palate and acid, texture and richness.'

Est. 1968; 1100 member cooperative, 75% loureiro, 12.5% each trajadura, arinto. Really upbeat nose for the price. These are all premium, aromatic VV varieties. The adega makes several of the VV's we stock, each custom and unique. The nose just keeps surging, penetrating with warmth and aeration. Nice and light and tangy VV with flavors in support of aromas. Surely classic as well as bargain priced. 91/100. Unanimous Value of the Night. For several, WOTN. Desired light fizz noted. 'Lots of rich, glycerined flavor; great mouthfeel; great example.'

Arinto, azal, loureiro, and trajadura. Pear, peach, and flowers. Marks of the superior, aromatic VV varieties. Rangy representation. Equal flavor spread and intensity. We thought last week's VV (Calcada) was a bargain. This one's a player at $2 less. 91/100.

70-30; from the higher, warmer sub region of Amarante. Upon opening, firmer and less fruity than the 2023, though that was probably tasted when a few months older. I like the form and figure. The latent fruit quality of the ingredients lurks. And comes forth with boldness on the palate. Stays somewhat unresolved as a whole. 91+/100. Aeration brought this on big time. WOTN for several attendees. 'Really special.' 'Lovely rich nose and palate.' 'Very Vinho Verde in spades.' 'Crisp and refreshing summertime seafood special.'

From an estate between the Lima and Vez rivers and the varieties loureiro and treixadura; cooperative bottled. The bright aromatic varieties pour through. Cool, limey edge. Which extends to the palate, supported by refreshing spritz. This has been a reliable VV value for years, never more so than over recent vintages. 91/100. Well received by attendees. 'One the better examples we've had.' 'Very fresh, clean and flavorful.' 'Very long and great value.'

Alvarinho, treixadura. First class varieties for the price, and, boy, it really sports their superior fruitiness on the nose. I smell a deal. Flavorful too. Tender fruit sweetness with balancing acidity. Quaffer for sure, especially at this alcohol level. Harmonious through the extended finish. Even a suggestion of spritz. 91/100. Popular with attendees for the same reasons I've given. 'Super fruity; super easy to enjoy.' 'Primary sweet fruited, juicy. Gulpable.'

A clear, bright, properly proportioned VV graced by the superior, fragrant varieties of the zone. Spot on. Both round and juicy. This is just plain ideal VV. Lasting flavor and texture. Shows the way. 92/100.

60% arinto, 30% azal, 10% loureiro. Very lively Vinho Verde spritz. The upscale, pungent varieties are here in all their glory. This really sings!/ Spritz adds dryness to the quality varietals' fruitiness. This really hangs together well for me. So far, seems to be an ideal Vinho Verde vintage. Long, flavorful aftertaste. Totally refreshing too. 92/100. Widely liked by attendees. 'Aromatic yet mineral driven too.' 'Good richness and body; very solid; balanced.'

Est. 1982; two of the best sub zones of Vinho Verde and closest to the river; first family estate to plant a solid vineyard of alvarinho, the area's top grape. Best Cork Award. Shy at first, it grows as it warms to show the best and most aromatic face of Vinho Verde: alvarinho. Exceptional substance in its field too. Elegant flavor set; a class act. Spells top grape and top zone. Not a Vinho Verde aperitif sort, this has main course apps. 91/100. Positive attendee comments: 'Bright, fresh nose.' 'Flowers, mountains, and sea.'

40 year old vines in schist and granite soils; the owners are tile makers, the label an image of their craft. Crispness of a cool vintage. Class and depth of Vinho Verde's best zone and grape variety. Yes, coolness, race, and top quality flavor set. Fills out well as it warms in the mouth. Will continue to be a VC best seller. 92/100. Loved by attendees. WOTN for some. 'Super varietal, flavorful, balanced, delish.' 'Full and rich alvarinho. Fruit and mineral with supporting acidity. Well priced in its genre.'

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

Tinta roriz, tinta barocca, touriga franca, touriga nacional; aged in vats. Fresh and sweet, led by roriz. Abundant too. Again, sweet fruited, Douro warm. There's a light measure of tannin grip in back. Well textured, balanced, priced. Broadbent knows Portugal. 91+/100.

40% touriga nacional, 30% tinta roriz, 20% touriga franca, 10% tinta barroca. From quintas Bomfim and Senhora da Ribeira. Aged 6 months in cooperage. Robust. Logical upper Douro red table wine. Good freshness and acidity o the palate. A worthy successor to the 2020. Balanced, drinkable, will improve. 91+/100.

Est. 1868; 35% each tinta roriz, touriga franca, 20% tinta barroca, 10% touriga nacional. Very dark red violet. Oh, my, that is one deep seated aromatic profile. Lovely amalgam of classic Douro varieties. Whole greater than sum of parts. Spicy, variegated, rich. A little more limited in flavor and feel than the nose suggests. Probably needs more bottle age to branch out, though the tannins are modest enough for current service. A lot of 'Port' characteristics in this dry Douro table wine. 91+/100. Liked all around. Very fruity. Grows on you and would no doubt improve with age.' 'Intensely fruity nose. Blackberry and prune/plum. Very juicy. Decent acidity; nick of tannin.'

Dark red black. Deep, sweet, and reserva well endowed. Rich, round, powerful but not too. Now here's a generous wine for the money. More bouquet to come but no obdurate tannins to preclude current service. Will stock. 91+/100.

60% touriga nacional, 25% tinta roriz, 15% touriga franca; 50-80 year old vines; foot pressed in granite lagares. Substantial yet also elegant. The class of nacional. Old vines depth and breadth of aromatic profile. Yes, elegant all the way. Mary's style superimposed on what are often obdurate tintos from this area. Bravo. This is very well priced indeed. 92/100.

Wine Enthusiast 93: 'Richly structured and dense, the wine is balanced with tannins already integrated with the black fruits. This wine, with acidity and a mineral texture, will age further. Drink from 2026.'

Touriga nacional, touriga franca, tinta roriz, almarela, tinta barroca, tinto cao. Aged 14 months in once and twice filled barrels. Nice to see a new vintage of this. Oh, and it's just bursting with region and varietal expression. Big time spread on the nose. And 2022 mellowness of acid and texture. Logical successor to the 2020, each expressive of its vintage characteristics. Will recommend. 91+/100.

Est. 1716; 6th generation Familia Ferreira; touriga franca, touriga nacional, tinta roriz. Dark red violet. Douro firm. Firmer than many of this vintage. More give on the palate, especially texturally. Flavors emerging too. Well structured for 2022 and not excessively barrel altered. Plenty of room for bottle development, as it is well composed. 91+/100.

From schist soils of Douro Superior; 45% touriga franca, 35% touriga nacional, 20% tinta roriz; whole cluster pressed; aged 8 months in French oak barrels. Dark red violet. Big, powerful, penetrating, so loaded with dry extract that you can smell it. Superior Reserva all the way. Yes, full of chewy extract material, loaded with upper Douro fruit concentration. Balanced, so good now with hearty fare. Surpasses even the great 2022. Again, the image of Barca Velha comes up. 94+/100.

40% touriga nacional, 30% touriga franca, 20% tinta roriz, 10% sousao. Aged a year in seasoned American and French oak barrels. That's a reserva nose. Not so much 'woody' as tempered by aging in barrels. Douro large, powerful. Yes, the power and the barrel complexity fully evident on the palate too. Some drying tannins to resolve yet. Well composed, so will age well. 91+/100.

Est. 1990; 40% alfrocheiro, 30% each touriga nacional, aragonez. Very dense and terroir bound. Great value in a cellar worthy Dao. Yes, this is compact and full of good material, both fruit and mineral constructed core. A steal in age worthy red wine. 91+/100.' 'Spicy, fruit driven nose, juicy palate. Anise and floral tones. Lots of wine for the price. Easy and engaging, but not lacking structure.'

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.

Touriga nacional, jaen, alfrocheiro. Aged eight months in heavily toasted barrels. Holding youthful color. Dao minerality. Solid granite foundation. Nice and dry and neat in cool 2021. Not as overtly fruity as the 2020.Charred wood extras; shades of bourbon. Sweetens up on the palate. Solid Dao structure. Rich fruit up front, mineral foundation in support. Less tannin and more acid than the delicious 2020. Same winemaker's hand, different growing season conditions. Very long, balanced finish. A worthy successor and equally awesome value. 92/100. Liked by many attendees and considered ready to drink.

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

Est. 1990; 40% encruzado, 20% each bical, malvasia fina, cerceal branco. Big stylistic difference. Plentiful, positive earthiness. This spells Dao branco classicism. Gentle acidity for a cool vintage. Subtle fruits emerge from an earthy foundation on the palate. Settles into a proper equilibrium of all flavor and texture elements. Not one of the more age worthy reps, so enjoy its wide dinner time apps through spring/summer 2026. Nice value. 91/100. Nose found shy by attendees; comments otherwise favorable. 'Nice minerality, complexity.' 'Dry, unique flavor.' 'Very food friendly.'

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.

2019: 60% touriga nacional, 40% tinta roriz. Terraced vineyards on granite in the high altitude Seia sub zone. Upon opening, the sample was tasted cold so the nose suppressed. Still, the granitic character of Dao is there. Ample fruit presence in body, texture, and flavor of the class varietals, which are more trans-Portugal than specific to Dao. They give a more yielding interpretation of a Dao at this age. Of course, that's what Mary is looking for. Got to stock this one. 92/100.

Winemaker Lucia Ferreira; at high altitude in the Seia sub zone; 35% encruzado, 32% malvasia fina, 19% bical, 14% gouveio; native yeasts. Just shimmering with granitic minerality. Doesn't need much in the way of fruity aromatics. Good acidity and minerality on the palate too, without being austere. There's fruit padding if not much in the way of fruit flavors. These are not fragrant varietals. What it should be. Sleeper cellar candidate. 91+/100.

Beira Interior lies east of Dao and butts up against the Spanish border. 90% tinta roriz, 10% jaen (mencia). 8 months in barrels, 1/3 French oak, 2/3 American oak. Dark maroon. Aromas not very forthcoming yet. I'm not getting much in the way of either oak or fruit at opening. Well, there's some of both on the palate. And both fruit and oak tannins. Solid build, lots of raw material. Will enjoy more bottle age. Previous vintage tasted at a later stage of maturity. 92+/100. Others' notes jibed with mine. 'Young and tannic but well constructed. All the elements are correct, and there is a sense of balance.'

Dark and lightly ruddy with age. Rich in both original aroma and developing bottle bouquet. Damn good. Yes, both fruit a bottle development on the palate too. Suave, rich, warm, well balanced for current use. 91/100

Syrah and alicante bouschet. Yikes! Heavy Bottle Award (at 12 bucks!). Deep red violet. Oh, this is loaded with fruit concentration. What at first appear to be strange bedfellow varieties perform here a perfect symmetry of freshness and blackness coupled with sweetness and redness. And never ending depth of aroma. Sweet, fruity palate that is more forward than the nose suggests. The alicante takes command here. Tannins melted away. The nose impresses, the palate seduces. A lot of entertainment for the price. 92/100.

From Alenquer. Dark red violet. Cabernet black and solidity. Maritime cabernet style. Sweet black fruits and berries. Not cabernet tannic or obstinate so desirable drinking already. I applaud the effort. And the price. 91/100.

40% syrah, 40% castelao, 20% touriga nacional. Dark red violet. Nose as dark as the color. No surprise with this varietal lineup. Lisboa sweet smelling. Aromas not yet fully revealed at opening. Yes, fruit sweetness marks the palate too. And dark varietals. Again, aromatics not fully emerged. More than a year behind the 2022. Good balance. No tannin issues. Just needs more time to evolve into greater aroma and flavor display. 91+/100. Or simply additional aeration. Indeed, blossomed with aeration to become widely popular with attendees, especially for the price. 'Sweetness, roundness of Lisboa wines. Food wine!' 'Portugal shows through. Big fruit and huge value. Enjoyable.' 'Syrah elements identified. Enough structure to be useful and not boring. Well priced!!'

Touriga franca, alicante bouschet, touriga nacional, tinta roriz, caladoc, castelao, syrah; Gold Medal - 95/100, New York International Wine Competition. Boy, one heavy bottle for a screwcap. The greater coolness that maritime influence and more northern latitude impart. Complex range of aromatics that its wide varietal makeup foster. Really quite sophisticated for the price. More straight forward on the palate; narrower flavor than aroma range. All fits in place well though; well balanced, of satisfying weight and flow, and good aftertaste. 91/100.

Est. 1917; aged 6 months in French oak cooperage. Lovely dark red violet. Black, dense, sweet, loaded. Deep and luscious black fruits. I smell a value. Geez, this is a lot of wine for the mone. Balanced, flavorful. Good mouthfeel. Good dryness despite all the perfectly ripe fruit abundance. Mouthfilling indeed. Full flavor and texture. Sweet fruit, great acid, extract, fine grained tannins. Total value. 92/100.

Tinta roriz, touriga nacional, syrah; with 15th century roots, one of the oldest estates of the Lisbon area. Also roriz led, but a totally different animal. The other two varieties plus the terroir change the game. Plus it has spicy extras that read time in cooperage. I smell a deal. Suave, sweet, gentle, complex, inviting. Flavorful, well balanced, and the most forward of the three 2020 reds. Deal indeed. 92/100. Widely liked for both oak smoke and spice and pure black raspberry fruit noted by all three commentators. 92/100.

Est. 1755; 60% touriga nacional, 30% cab sauv, 10% syrah; aged a year, part in seasoned French oak barrels. Dark red violet as expected from its varietal makeup. Dense nacional, class nacional. Dark plum nacional. Some cabernet black currant and syrah black raspberry. Lovely combo. Generous too. Oh, and the flavors are just and varied and specific. Good acidity, good texture, good body, good length. And, GOOD DEAL! 91/100.

Est, 1755; 50 - 50; from Vale Encantado; elevations from 70 to 450 meters. Black fruit concentrate, power beyond its statement, superb harmony of its two constituents. Penetrating perfume. Lush, smooth, rich, flavorful, balanced, generous. No tannin issues. Gives and gives. And look at the price! 92/100. Enjoyed by all. 'Super fruity; both grapes show up; very long; great fun.' 'Fruit driven, spicy, juicy, fresh, low tannin; pound-able.'

Lightly fruity nose. Kinda my image of a Lisbon white. What grape varieties? Good and versatile. Yeah, just enough fruit, good body, texture, balance. Wide meal time apps indeed. 91/100.

Northeast of Lisbon stretches the Tejo River, vines growing along its central banks. 1/3 each syrah, castelao, touriga nacional. 9 months in French oak barrels. Dark grape varieties, dark color. A purple cast even. The fruit mass plus the barrel seasoning and leavening. Pretty awesome, large scale, and complex nose for a wine at this price. Juicy fruit acid adds balance to the palate. Medium-full bodied. Oak and warm spices play out on the finish. Intellectually as well as sensually stimulating. 92+/100.

Est. 1975; 40% each touriga nacional, syrah, 20% alicante bouschet. Dark red violet. Shows its 80% black fruit content in a compact, concentrated, and powerful display. I smell a deal. Sweet fruit coats the alcohol. Light tannin and good acidity perform a balancing act. Flavorful, mouth filling, lengthy. Deal indeed. 91+/100.

90% arinto, 10% vermentino; aged 3 months in new French oak barrels. These aromatic varieties have aged gracefully. From both barrel and bottle age, there's a dried fruit and nut bouquet added to the original stone fruit expressions. This works for me on the nose. Well, the oak is even more emphatic on the palate. Therefore, a little aggressive at this stage. All the same, I applaud the maker's striving for uniqueness. A cool customer from a warm land. Bravo. 92/100. Left a positive impression on attendees. 'Lots of oak!' 'Long, distinctive.'

Est. 1971 by 60 winegrowers at Reguengos; now grown to 850; trincadeira, aragonez, castelao. Dark red violet. Generous, I mean, really GIVING Alentejo aromatic set of choice area varieties, all well assembled. The first leads with lifted berry aromas and the rest fill in the structure and its foundation. I smell a deal. Yes, yes, there's that combo of brightness and fullness to make the complete package. Great acid too, and melted tannins. Yo. 91/100.

30% each aragonez, trincideira, and syrah, 10% cab sauv; aged four months in French oak barrels; 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 and the barrel aging regimen. Full, complex, and pretty accomplished for 2020 at age four. Original fruit core, developing bottle bouquet aura. Bright fruit flavors and acidity. Rich, even lush, on the palate. Plenty of dry extract for texture. Wears its alcohol well. Not a sultry sort. Kudos to the maker. I can see the rating. Long and even keeled aftertaste. 92/100.

25% each aragonez, syrah, trincadeira, alicante bouschet; part aged in French oak barrels. Dark maroon. All the abundance of these generous varieties rolled into one package. Classic to the region. There are some barrel extras in the background. Both rich and racy on the palate thanks to good acidity for area and vintage. Some fine grained tannin entering the picture on the back palate. While useful now, this should thrive for 2-3 more years. 91+/100. Enjoyed by attendees. 'Really says Portugal.' 'Richly fruited, pleasant, direct.' 'Fine barrel seasoning.'

40% touriga nacional, 30% aragonez, 20% alicante bouschet, 10% trincadeira. TN size, blackness, solidity. The rest fill in the spaces with fruit richness, ripeness. Fresh, as the Mariana cuvee is apt to be. Balanced. Flows nicely. No tannin but bouquet development to come. 91+/100.

Fermented and aged a year in French oak barrels, 1/3 new. Larger, drier from barrel time, and more backward. Serious, complicated, potent stuff. Nobility of touriga nacional shows through, proving that it's up to the barrel regimen. Ambitious and ageworthy, as vintages tasted when older proved out. It's neither dry nor tannic so useful now with hearty fare. Much more aromatic range and depth to come. 92+/100. Attendees were keen on this, comments paralleling mine. 'Super rich, lots of extraction, not much tannin.' 'Ambitious; French oak shows; structured, latent.'

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.

2020: 80% aragonez, 20% alicante bouschet, vines planted in 2002 in the Mourao sub zone; fermented and aged in French oak barrels. Clearly from a higher, cooler zone of the region than is the Sao Miguel. More race and aromatic clarity. Cool customer. Smooth, suave, flowing, flavorful. Good acid. Sense of time in seasoned cooperage. Well coordinated and inviting of current drinking. 91/100. Popular with attendees. 'Mature yet very alive; tastes right; no obvious oak.' 'Cooler than the Sao Miguel; easy to like; good texture, balance, clarity.'

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.

From Val do Salnes; custom cuvee for European Cellars by Martin Codax, the largest cooperative of the region; native yeasts; aged 3 months on lees. Seems stronger than 12% on the nose, and that's ok. Good albarino pungency. White peach, honeysuckle. Full delivery. Likewise on the palate. 2024 medium bodied. Very satisfactory. 91/100.

2022: 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.

2022: 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.

2023: Name refers to fog; at Condado do Tea; 75 year old vines on slate instead of the usual granite. Old vines intensity of aroma. Altogether, one serious, loaded albarino. Oh, now it's starting to come out of its shell more as it warms. Distinct aromatics from the Vinho Verde. Pear, honeysuckle, and a textural relationship to Mosel riesling from slate. Brightens up even more on the palate. At a good stage. 92/100. Came out further with warmth and air. Enjoyed by attendees. 'Honey on the nose, mineral on nose and palate. Stern; grippy, serious.' 'Honeydew flavor; good mouthfeel.'

Val de Salnes. Geez, that's a bright and crisp one. Good citrus and honeysuckle aromas. Nailed it. Yeah, the acid is everything the nose promises and really buoys it up. Flavorful, classic, refreshing. Perfect pitch. 92/100.

That's a clear picture, though it's more about terroir than fruit. Delicious citricity and acidity. Minerality too. Mouthwatering seafood wine. Long in both flavor and texture. Will improve as well. 92+/100.

2021: 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.'

2020: 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. Some sulphur and fermentation airs. Still, I can get to the varietal core and specific terroir. Portends a good future. Flavors nascent still, probably in part because it was just shipped. Some ferment astringency on the finish. A work in progress. And it WILL make progress over the coming weeks. This is a winning series. 91+/100. Aeration brought this out. 'The most flavorful I've tasted; 'big for the genre; sap like intensity.'

At the southern edge of Galicia, on slopes overlooking the Avia River, the Carreiro family vineyards lie in the 'Golden Mile' of the DO, a singular terroir ideal for indigenous grape varieties like treixadura; minuscule yields. Surprisingly heavy bottle. This blossomed with aeration to become a group favorite. 'Sweet fruited; tropical notes, fruit cocktail; penetrating bouquet.' 'Crisp acid, good extract.' Very interesting; unique; nice wine.' 91/100.

High pitched mencia nose with no reduction. This sits right for its age. Rich and round yet maintaining a Green Spain coolness. Perfect balance. So put right to use. 92/100.

Wine Spectator 91 - SMART BUY: 'A well-balanced red, with coulised black cherry and boysenberry fruit alongside light, supple tannins. Shows pretty notes of dried sage and violet, anise, tar and white pepper. Drink now through 2030.'

Vines planted 1900-1940; unfined, unfiltered. Oh, boy, like previous vintages this is all over the place for the usually close and reductive mencia. Combo of old vines and upbringing in quality cooperage. Large, complex, deep, broad, loaded. Special. Wow, just as ample and generous and wide ranging on the palate. A class variety and terroir in the right hands, and Perez is GOOD. Balanced, lengthy, even cellar worthy, though no major tannin obstructions to current drinking. 93+/100. Attendees agreed. Red Wine of the Night. 'Complex nose of blackberry, garrigue, flowers. 2021 acidity and grace. Never sits heavy; no palate fatigue. Lots of interest here. Good value.'

Est. 1974; all godello; vines 20-60 years old on the Right Bank of the Sil; aged 5 months on lees, 20% in seasoned cooperage. One ample godello. No wonder it's not the cheapest godello on the block. Ample yellow orchard fruit. Really swells the nostrils and sinuses with its presence. Lees and barrel time add to both flavor and texture complexity. Old vines concentration. Persistent aftertaste. This walks the godello walk, talks the godello talk. I/ve rarely tasted a better example. 93/100.

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

5th generation; hondarrabi zuri; vines planted 1860-2008; native yeasts; closed fermenters preserve some natural fizz. It has the spritz all right! Tingly and fresh; pointed, pungent, penetrating. High toned, juicy, and admirable mild in alcohol (10.5%). Just the right degree of acidity for balance and refreshment. They ought to bottle this in liters! 24/7 wine, all purpose. 92/100. Popular with attendees. 'Very typical.' 'Fresh and good.'

Est. 1996; hondarribi zuri. Full and fragrant and fruity. Exemplary of the variety. Very juicy, tangy, cleansing, refreshing. Great acid. Ready to serve. Tailor made for fresh fish, the signature cuisine of Basque country. Who cares if it's mid winter in these parts? Do it! Geez, good as it gets. And cheaper than much of the competition these days. 92/100. Attendees agreed. Multiple WOTN votes. 'Best version I've had.' 'Very expressive varietal character, great balance.' 'Rich and flavorful.' 'Great acidity and varietal presence.' 'As good an example as I've ever tasted.'

Est. 1649; revitalized 1980; at Getaria, overlooking the sea; 90% hondarrabi zuri, 10% hondarrabi beltza; vineyards planted 1915 - 2000; indigenous yeasts. Boy, that's about as bright and crisp and expressive as these come. Bravo. Yes, all of the above. Flavorful to the max. Good acid. Good fluidity. Balance. Just right. And how, and now. 92/100. Attendees in complete agreement; consensus WOTN. 'Fantastic body, minerality, acidity. Never had one as good.' 'Spot on. Mineral, saline, acid, frizzante. Wow. Just as it should be. Dry, serious, and seriously fun.'

From the estate of the Farina family on the La Meseta plateau south of Toro. Distinctive tinto de toro form of tempranillo. Rich, ripe black fruit with more lift and levity than in Toros proper. In tune with the series. Yes, great freshness as well as flavor intensity. Little tannin, so I imagine this could be served at cellar temperature, something one would never do with a Toro DO wine. 91/100.

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.

Primarily from vines over 100 years old, including 130 year old pre phylloxera vines; 85% verdejo, 15% viura; at 900 meters, the highest and coolest lieu dit of Rueda; sandy soil. Subtly verdejo aromatic. Not complicated by sauvignon blanc as in many of today's versions. More varietal expression on the palate. This shows potential class, as its background story portends. Even textured. Wish I could taste this after more aeration. The potential for top class is here. Indeed, two hours later this became much more complex and revealing and thus popular with attendees. Good price too. 91+/100.

From the southeast subzone with the poorest soils and highest altitude of the DO; vines planted between 1900 and 1956 on original rootstock in sandy soil resistant to phylloxera; fermented and aged on lees in seasoned French oak puncheons and demi muids. A large charge of classic old vines verdejo expression uncomplicated by the minor but pungent (albeit sympathetic) sauvignon component of many a Rueda these days. Slam dunk old vines verdejo nose. Oh, and the palate is equally thorough. Full bodied, concentrated, classic..no, DEFINITIVE. I've had many a vintage of this and, despite this one's youthful edge, it's still the most impressive yet. Of course, the vines do get older every year. 93+/100. An attendee favorite. 'Great varietal nose and flavor; long, with really nice acid.' 'Lots to like here; crisp acidity, fine length.' 'Peach, pineapple, tropicals, florals.'

From the family's Los Vidales vineyard in La Seca, an ancient and arid, stone strewn river bed said to yield Rueda's top verdejos; bush vines planted nearly 100 years ago. Oh, wow, as large and pungent as its background would suggest. Near essence of verdejo, it's so intense. Equally so in flavor concentration and full texture. Great 2024 acidity to boot. Total flavor and texture; lengthy. On and on. Yikes! 92/100. WOTN candidate. 'Intense bouquet of fruit and stone. And pit fruit-peach. Wow, real concentration and length. Balanced acids. Worth every penny!!'

Owned by La Rioja Alta; 3 vineyards at 2400'; aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 75% new, 25% once used. 2021 fresh and tart smelling. Little sign of new barrels. Well, there's barrel earned roundness and rich extra dimension though. Also both wood and fruit tannins. Plenty of 2021 acid. Long, chewy finish. Perplexing; not at all like the 2020 Crianza. Intriguing cellar potential. 92+/100.

2021: 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. Dark red violet as usual. Dense, compact, loaded. Still, it's neither too oaky or too thick. Solid example. Rich in black fruit flavors. Both fruit and oak tannins, but the fruit gives relief. Chewy mouthful and finish. Bargain cellar candidate. 92+/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. Oh, that's a rich one, the most expressive in the series, I'd bet. Wonderful and pure raspberry tempranillo, with red apple and cranberry overtones. Neat-o!/ Fresh and juicy in the Moro Resalso style. Just so generous and delicious. Flavorful and mouthfilling. Dusting of fine tannin adds texture but not resistance. A fine vintage of this. 92/100. Widely popular with attendees. Several appreciated the fact that the oak aspects were understated. Generally, attendees are not fond of pungent oak aromas and flavors.

Parker 91+: 'The 2023 Montecastrillo was produced with 90% Tempranillo and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from younger vines, fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel and matured in 225-liter barrels for six months. It has contained ripeness, 14.1% alcohol and a pH of 3.71. It's fresh, fruit-driven, fine-boned and juicy, with fine tannins; it's fresher and lighter than in the previous vintage. 104,072 bottles and 2,269 magnums produced, a notable quantity. It was bottled between November 2024 and January 2025. It is affordable, approachable and very good value for money. Drink 2025 - 2028.'

Parker 92/100. My notes: 97% tempranillo, 3% merlot. 14%. More evolved color. This is mellower and more advanced and open in bouquet. Very attractive. But still very tannic, which is the nature of the vintage. Nascent flavor development. A lot of wine for the money also, and needs further cellaring as well. 92+/100.

2022: 28-family bodega at Quintanamanvirgo, population 92; all tinta pais (tempranillo). Well, now we move to a full, young, red violet color, extreme even for RDD tempranillo. The nose affirms the appearance's promise. We've moved up a step in power and intensity. It's not dry and oaky like the RDDs I don't favor. It's full of richness and aromatic abundance. Whoa, what a palate assault! One of the best of the series, and a model of RDD power and concentration. Steakhouse red? No, too much wine here. Wild boar red. Gads. I can only imagine the potential. 93+/100. Attendees consider this Red Wine of the Night.

2021: 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.

2018: 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.

Wine & Spirits 93: 'Juan Carlos Vizcarra farms this fruit for freshness, and, though it grows in Mambrilla, northeast of the 'Golden Mile' for which he named the wine, it shares some of the limestone acidity of the top wines from that stretch of vineyard. Black and blue fruit stands up deliciously to the mineral power of this wine's tannins. While initially there's a lot of oak, a lot of vanillin, there's also a lot of energy and power. It feels light and effortless—one judge described it as 'petrichor, asphalt and graphite.'

Full, neon red violet color. Wow. Both fresh and full. Max tempranillo extraction. Full and flavorful and well textured. Pretty saturated tempranillo take. Balanced. A textbook cosecha. 91/100.

35 year old vines. 18 months in American oak. Mature bouquet. Relatively light body of 2017. Purely positive aromas of American oak barrels. Mature, balanced, and flavorful, if, again, on the light side. Tannin largely resolved. Take it to the table once the evenings turn cooler. 92/100. Attendees generally liked this, their comments paralleling mine. 'Old fashioned style, authentic, very long, and ready now.'

Wine Enthusiast 94: 'This deep-ruby-colored wine has a nose of blackberry and salted almond toffee. Bright at first sip, it has luxurious tannins that support black-cherry, Mission fig, chocolate-covered-caramel, roast fennel-bulb and orange-zest flavors. Pleasing acidity and luxurious tannins stroll arm and arm into a lasting, dark-chocolate-infused finish. $25.'

2017: 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.

Rioja Alavesa bodega; 100% viura, the region's leading white grape variety. Oh, that' s good, strong varietal character suggesting that is comes from vineyards in central Castilla rather than the Rioja area. Confirmed by good flavor intensity. A nice and surprising bitter twist at the finale, which is not alien to this grape variety. 91/100. With aeration, this blossomed further. Attendees loved it. Orders taken. 'Nicely aromatic and really flavorful; quite long; a lovely wine; super bargain.'

All tempranillo from Alta and Alavesa; aged a year in barrels with American oak staves and French oak heads. Medium dark, rusty red. A good combo of fruit and barrel and bottle age, so it fits my image of crianza. And I like the US oak part that talks tradition. Yes, the proper balance of fruit and barrel and bottle bouquet. Well textured, full bodied. At a good stage. Good acid too. Just a dusting of tannin adds texture and not obstinance. 92+/100.

Wine Spectator 91 - SMART BUY: 'Ripe black cherry and black plum fruit flavors are laced with lavish hints of vanilla, tar and cedar in this dark, deep red, animated by mandarin orange peel acidity. The lingering finish, trimmed by fine, taut tannins, offers medicinal herb and mineral details. Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano. Drink now through 2035.'

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. Surprisingly dark red appearance for age in cooperage and bottle. The nose is surprisingly fruity still also. Ah, but there's plenty of barrel support, the bolder American oak out front. Fruity palate too, both fruit and oak tannins beneath. Good acidity, balance. This will make old bones. 93+/100. Leader of the WOTN competition. 'Toasted coconut nose.' (That's American oak talking!) 'Just as it should be and still quite powerful. Proper fruit and American oak, nice acid and enough tannin. Should continue to develop well.' 'Quality oak here and quality fruit underneath. Nice now but structured for the cellar.'

90% tempranillo, 7% garnacha, 3% graciano; aged 16 months in oak barrels. Fruit and barrel aromas of moderate intensity at opening. Grows in richness with aeration. Palate also hesitant to reveal its all. A proper crianza that seems youthfully unfulfilled even at age 4. Maybe it will put on some weight with aeration. 91+/100. Much improved after aeration. Very popular; orders taken. 'Real Rioja character! Will improve but nice now too.' ' Long - the real deal!' 'Tempranillo nose: red fruits and berries. Medium tannins.'

85% tempranillo, 15% graciano; 20 months in French and American oak barrels. Just tasted the 2018, and what should appear? Dark ruby. At opening, closed up. Maybe 'just shipped' influence. Vintage pliant and accessible, texturally. Good fruit/barrel reserva integration. Little tannin; still, I'd be cellaring this to more bouquet potential. 91+/100. Improved with aeration even into the next day and was well received by attendees. 'Great nose.' 'Classic styling.' 'Lovely stuff now and will improve short term.' 'Super value.' 'Even an umami component.'

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.

Parker 94+: 'I loved the nose of the 2014 Viña Bosconia Reserva, a red that sells at an incredible price for the quality, the problem is (like all their wines) finding it.. They had to accelerate the harvest to avoid botrytis caused by the abundant rain during the harvest. This is a blend of 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho and the remaining 5% Graciano and Mazuelo, fermented in old oak vats with their yeasts and matured in neutral American oak barrels for no less than five years. It's elegant and nuanced, developed but young for its age, with a seamless palate and very fine tannins, with energy and light. It has 13.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.3 and 6.7 grams of acidity, notable parameters of freshness. Drink 2025 - 2044.'

Parker 95: 'The 2012 Viña Tondonia Reserva comes from a very dry year, with 25% less rain than the average (at the time), resulting in lower yields of very healthy grapes that delivered wines with nice balance between alcohol and polyphenols, making it very apt for the aging in barrel. It had a slightly longer élevage in barrel, six years. The wine is aromatic with a developed profile, spicy and tertiary (forest floor, a touch of brick dust and iodine), complex and nuanced. The palate is full and round, with polished tannins and a long, dry finish. It has a textbook Tondonia nose and profile. Drink 2025 - 2035. $65.'

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. 2020 solidity. Riscal American oak classicism. In tune. Yes, firm and young despite the time in cooperage. Doesn't pander to modern tastes for new-oak (even 200% new oak!) cosechas. One to lay down. The tannins are fine grained, the balance impeccable. Classic indeed. 92+/100. Attendees have long appreciated Riscal Reservas. No different today. 'Very Rioja, very attractive; can age further.' 'Clearly Rioja.' 'Good, fruit and American oak.'

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. Always a classic balance of original fruit and barrel aging that spells my image of crianza. I guess I should give the Medievo reserva and gran reserva another look, but I've always favored the crianza in its class. Yes, there it is, the perfect harmony of fruit, oak, and barrel/bottle aging. Just sits right to my tastes. And bargain priced too! 91+/100. Thanks to its price/quality ratio, this was attendees' Red WOTN. 'Needs time, but all the elements are here for a very good wine.' 'Built for the future and a super value.' 'Palate richer, fruitier, and more complex than the nose would indicate.' 'Luscious, sweet fruited.' 'Tremendous complexity to compete with Riojas at twice the price.'

Tempranillo, garnacha, graciano, mazuelo; aged two years in 70% American and 30% French oak barrels, followed by a year in bottles. I'm not getting a lot of nose, of either wood or fruit. Air it. Warmth and aeration in the mouth revealed more character. Still, I'd be aging this in bottle for another year at least. 91+/100. Two hours later, air and warmth brought forth more, and at least one attendee was super excited. 'Elegant structure; great acid, tannins; super excellent Rioja.'

Tempranillo and garnacha, vines over 30 years old; also 70/30 American/French oak barrels; aged two years in barrels, three years in bottles. Now this is a little 'gran'der. Definite barrel influence, to the positive. Yes, and the fruit holds its own through the aging regimen. Well balanced; not aggressively tannic. More bouquet to come. Can't complain about the prices. 92+/100. Generally preferred to the Reserva. Though its nose was also considered reticent yet, the palate was judged rounder and more mature.

2019: Parker 92: 'The 2019 El Anden de la Estación is a new red that takes advantage of the Barrio de la Estacion, the train station neighborhood of Haro. It's a Crianza with less extraction, looking for the elegance and finesse of the classical Rioja wines. It's a blend of Tempranillo from their younger vines and Garnacha (that they buy) that matured in French and European barrels for 14 months. It's a quaffable red with lots of Garnacha character (it might represent up to 30% of the blend, by far the highest in Garnacha from the portfolio). It's floral, juicy and expressive, very open and approachable. This is delicious and still quite complex. Drink now - 2026. $24.'

Wine Spectator 92 - #1 TOP 10 VALUES OF 2025: 'This is fresh and minerally up front, opening to reveal a fine mesh of chopped cherry and plum skin flavors, with fragrant hints of ground coffee, smoked paprika and dried marjoram. Sculpted tannins define the long, slightly chewy finish. Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano. Drink now through 2035.'

Aged 6 months in French oak barrels; Wine Enthusiast 91/100. Red black graciano color saturation. Fresh, up front black cherry varietal character. Ideal. Full flavor and texture. Lovely richness, balance, flow. Totally correct composition. Textbook lesson in graciano. Great acid and flavor extension. 91/100. Well liked too. 'Friendly and soft, thick and flavorful.' 'Dark fruit flavors like tempranillo. Will be great with lamb chops.'

2018: 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.

Est. 1991; 95% tempranillo, 5% viura; vineyard planted in 1977; native yeasts. Up front fruity like previous vintages. However, here the high alcohol adds body and background to distance this vintage's efforts from a Beaujolais comparison. Yes, it's quite the powerful mouthful, with old vines concentration. No other Rioja quite like it. Serve with lamb. 91/100. This got good attendee marks too. 'Plummy, ripe nose floral lift on the palate, which is full, ripe, well extracted.'

Est. 1886; 80% tempranillo, 15% graciano, 5% mazuelo; aged 24 months in barrels. Pretty damn dark still for its barrel and bottle age regimen. A lot of fruit delivery, with barrel age augmentations. Well poised. More barrel time shows on the palate. Still, it has plenty sweet and vital fruit and tannins are fine grained, which portend lots more years of improvement in bottle. Actually, the youngest vintage of Otano I've tasted. They're usually 15-20 years old when they get to my glass.94+/100. Attendees were in awe. WOTN for many.

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. Good crianza wood-fruit relationship. There's plenty of Rioja crianza bound up in this one. Yes, the proper proportions of wood and original fruit plus a Rioja Alta structure. Some wood and fruit tannins to shed yet. Works for me. 92+/100.

Parker 92: 'The younger wine here is the 2020 Viña Alberdi, a versatile version of the Haro reds. It was produced with Tempranillo fermented in stainless steel and matured in American oak barrels for two years (it's sold as Reserva in international markets and Crianza in Spain). It has 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.6 and five grams of acidity. It has a classical nose of ripe fruit, American oak and spices, the subtle notes of forest floor, still young. The palate is velvety and very balanced with polished tannins. Approachable but should also age. Drink 2024 - 2029.'

Parker 94: 'No 2018 was produced, so after the 2017 I tasted last year, we jumped to the 2019 Viña Ardanza Reserva, produced with a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. It fermented destemmed in stainless steel and aged in American oak barrels, 36 months for the Tempranillo and 30 months for Garnacha, and was blended before bottling. 2019 is a very good year for them, a small crop of powerful and concentrated wines when they produced all their brands, an exception. This is spicy, structured, balanced and powerful in this warm year, reaching the customary 14.5% alcohol and keeping a pH of 3.54 and 5.5 grams of acidity. It's still very young and undeveloped, with the classical profile, generous in American oak aromas and flavors that should slowly integrate in the wine with years in bottle. For them, 2019 means a change in Ardanza, less spicy (but still quite spicy, with clove, vanilla and tobacco leaves) and with more fresh fruit from the Garnacha. Drink 2025 - 2038.'

All tempranillo; aged 14 months in French and American oak cooperage. A rightful crianza, leaning a little more to the woody than the fruity style; American oak is more forceful and traditional, so I'm a fan. Yeah, on the dry and woody style. Some tannin to shed still. This will definitely improve in bottle, as past vintages have demonstrated. 91+/100.

Suckling 93/100. My notes: Well, there's sure reserva barrel extracts and evolution. The open and ripe 2015 style. A voluminous and classic reserva. Wow, complex. Magnified on the palate. The fruit sweetness of 2015, the oak textural and tannic assets. Big time aging potential. 93+/100.

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.

90% tempranillo, 10% garnacha; aged four months in oak barrels. The black raspberry that is tempranillo. This is bright and brisk despite the high alcohol, which is actually cooling rather than warming. Wow, neat nose..and look at the price!/ Yes, no heat showing on the palate either. Black fruit tempranillo basis with some sweet garnacha tenderness thrown in. Balanced. Reasonably lengthy. Deal. 91/100. Widely liked. 'Good nose; round, balanced, and very drinkable.'

Est. 1548; from the estate's Finca Carbonera vineyard; viura, verdejo, sauvignon blanc. Laid back; not as fruity as the 2023 the group liked. I can't sort out the varieties on the nose. Broader flavor spectrum of clearer varietal statements on the palate. Now I catch elements of all three grapes, in sympathy with one another. This should gain intensity and generosity over the coming weeks. 91+/100. Or sooner. Improved with warmth and air; popular with attendees. 'Fresh and good.' 'Very long flavor.'

Est. 1908; at Samaniego; 85% viura, 15% malvasia; 30-80 year old vines at 1800', highest vineyards of the property. The more aromatic malvasia is less in the foreground than it was in the well liked 2023 vintage, and that's OK with me. Good viura scene here. The two seem better proportioned this vintage. Yes, viura's suave texture and generosity even in a cool year. Adroitly coats the vintage acidity. Well balanced and texturally ideal for a wide range of table apps. 92/100. Very popular with attendees; WOTN candidate. 'Fresh and flavorful; quite complex.'

2021: 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.

James Suckling 91/100. All syrah.

2020: 40-60 year old bush vines at 2300'; aged 8 months in seasoned French oak barrels. Sweet and powerful classic. Burns my eyes from the Taster glass but not my nostrils. Picture of CdB generosity. Yes, full, round, rich, flavorful. Shows barrel influence in both flavor and smoothness contexts. Lasting, balanced finish. No heat. 91/100. Widely liked; orders taken. 'Chewy fruit; dark fruit flavors; fairly complex; very nice!' 'Surprisingly fresh; big, fruity raspberry palate.'

2019: 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.

2021: Sweet and sassy. One of the best vintages of this. Cool 2021 supplies the sassy part. The palate echoes its varietal, regional, and vintage properties. Not as alcoholic as some vintages. Virtually a quaffer in 21. 91/100.

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.'

Dark maroon. Youthful, fruity, Rich and abundant. Indeed it is. And quite powerful. Lots of extract and flavor. Fine tannin for food and mid term aging. Deal. 91/100.

Est. 1760; 80-100 year old vines. Clearly powerful, but little burn. It extends fullness, weight, grenache lushness. Old, old vines produce selling for twelve bucks-! I smell a deal. Just as lush on the palate, where the alcohol is more cooling than burning. Man, fairly loaded! Little tannin. So many dinner time apps. 92/100.

8 months in lightly toasted French oak. Dark red violet. Youthful appearance. Rich and compact nose, typical of grenache from here. Sweet tasting and classic in all respects. Acid and tannin give light foils. I don't notice the oak; doesn't matter. Tasty tad. 91/100.

In Carinena, Aragon; vines planted 1983; native yeasts. Ruddy dark red. That's a total contrast. There's a high altitude freshness to it, even at age four. Cooling, almost reductive, which is unusual at this age. Yes, cool and smooth and flavorful. Light, fine grained tannins. Well balanced for further improvement in the cellar, but there's little reason not to take it to the table. A good example of the diversity of grenache wines, always the sign of a great grape variety. Some fun. 91+/100. Attendees were equally intrigued. Touch of brett noted, not to a fault. 'Very interesting. Quite delish. Good fruit and also a charcuterie aspect.' 'Very savory, meaty, complex; substance and structure. Unique!'

In Calatayud, Aragon, birthplace of garnacha; iron rich red and black slate soils at 3000+'; old clones; vines planted 1965 ? 1990. Dark red violet. Plenty of presence on the nose but not much aroma forthcoming. Sweet fruit coats the high alcohol. Works. A grenache of place. Well textured. Well balanced. Lingering. Good price. 91/100. Positive comments from attendees. 'Black cherry in dark chocolate and spirit. Palate goes black raspberry and cherry cordial. Baked black soil.'

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.

Est. 1940; from the Murillo and Santa Cara vineyards next to Bardenas Reales, Europe's largest desert. Native yeasts. Rich in strawberry and raspberry high altitude grenache character. Good flow; come hither. Equals the 2021. Great acid of course. Flavorful, balanced, inviting indeed. Liter bottle is the right choice. Deal! 92/100. $12 and change a bottle equivalent in liter.

Single vineyard in Ribera Baja de Navarra at the foot of Mount Moncayo; all tempranillo; native yeasts; winemaker Maria Cruz GarciA. A meeker, cool vintage tinto compared to previous years. Maybe it's still in formation. Earlier years were tasted when older. Shows good form but quiet aromatics. More flavor than aroma. A proper Navarra take on tempranillo, cooler and darker fruited than Rioja. Well balanced. Age near to mid term for more in the way of aromatics. 91+/100.

2019: 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. 1872; garnacha, cab sauv; Wine Enthusiast 92/100. Strange bedfellows. The garnacha to the fore (don't know the percentages). Cabernet lurks and doesn't make much of a statement on the nose. Moderate acidity, some astringency. More cabernet flavor than aroma shows up. A good drink for the price. 90+/100. This got big time attendee approval, especially as a value. 'Tannin and sweetness play against each other.' 'Has some interest, and even some complexity. Olive. Value.' 'Fruity grenache flavors. Great and juicy burger wine!' 'Ripe fruit, whiff of sandalwood. Sweet fruit and tannins play against each other. Not complex but easy to drink. A little astringent on the finish so better with food.'

2020: 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.

2020: 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.

2017: 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.

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.

2018: 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.

2021: 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.

2019: 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').

2018: 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.

2020: 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.

2020: 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.'

Parker 93-95: 'The 2022 Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes has grapes from 53 vineyards in seven villages, and in 2022, it was 60% Garnacha, 39% Cariñena and 1% white grapes, higher in Cariñena than in recent years in this extremely warm and dry year. It fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak vats with part of full clusters, had a 41-day maceration and should spend some 12 months in French barriques and larger barrels. It's fully ripe at 14.5% alcohol while keeping a pH of 3.55 and 5.05 grams of acidity (measured in tartaric acid per liter of wine), parameters of very good freshness. This is always a little earthier and with a beautiful touch of rusticity showing the character of Priorat. It's ripe without excess; all the 2022s show surprisingly fresh for such a warm and dry year. Drink 2025 - 2032.'

Est. 1978. From vineyards cultivated since before 1700 on llicorella soil in the Porrea area. 60% carignan, 40% grenache. Aged a year in oak barrels, 80% Allier, 20% American. Unfined, unfiltered. Awesome. Priorat grandeur. Ideal varietal set; not screwed up by Gucci cab sauv and syrah. Serious carignan black fruit, grenache power. Wow. Satisfying mouthful of flavor and texture. Bulk, dry extract, power, fine grained tannins. Well balanced, so plenty of bouquet development potential ahead. Must stock. 95+/100.

Parker 93: 'The 2023 Clos Lojen is even more of a bargain than in previous years, as the price is the same and the quality is even higher!! It started being produced with 40-year-old vines, but those are by now 60 years old (I saw some of them, and they were REALLY impressive!); so, there's more depth and complexity; the vines are wiser (they've been tended nicely..) and manage to keep the freshness and approachability. They started harvesting the last week of August, and the result was 12.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.65 and 5.4 grams of acidity. The full clusters fermented in 4,500-liter oak vats and matured in foudres of different sizes—4,500, 10,000 and 15,000 liters—and lasted six months. The wine is fruit-driven, juicy, complex and spicy, balanced and tasty, textured and with a chalky feeling. This is way beyond what the price might suggest. Drink now-2030.'

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.

From the Sierra de Gredos 60 miles west of Madrid; old clone garnacha. Medium dark red. Deep, haunting black fruits. The old clones really take one back to garnachas of yore. I love it. Garnacha sweetness and red fruit flavors. Good acidity. A modicum of tannin. Real concentration here. 91+/100.

2021: 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.

As before, a good value verdejo of true varietal character, though more southern and less intense than good Ruedas. Good acid and structure in 2024. Ample enough body, texture, and flavor to call it a deal. 91/100.

70% garnacha tintorera, 30% monastrell; on calcareous soil between 700 and 1000 meters' elevation. Dark red black. Rich, powerful, penetrating. All about generosity. Largesse of the first variety given darkness and depth by the second. A lot of body and aromatic profile here for the bucks. Rich squared. So wears its power well. This is really packed. Loaded with flavor and texture interest. Gives and gives. Total bargain. Not a luncheon tinto. 92/100. Attendees' positive comments parallel mine. 'Baked plum nose; surprisingly fresh palate; lifted by acidity.' Tons of concentration.' Sweet fruit, ash, and smoke nose. 'Acid, tannin, power all high. BBQ wine.'

2020: 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.

2019: Wine Spectator 92: 'An aromatic underpinning of tarry smoke and medicinal herbs serves as a savory counterpoint to ripe flavors of creme de cassis, blackberry preserves, licorice and espresso crema in this rich red. A frame of sculpted tannins and lightly tangy citrus peel acidity are well-knit to the expressive flavor range, resulting in a powerful, harmonious version. Monastrell. Drink now through 2029.'

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.