Spain

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"A step up on the memorable 2009, this shows just how special the 2010 vintage was. Marrying fruit from Briñas, Villalba and Rodezno, it's a perfectly judged marriage of Tempranillo with 10% Graciano. Savoury wild herb notes segue into a palate that's focused, balanced and graceful with the concentration and backbone to age. 2019-35. 97 points" Tim Atkin "Fresh blueberries and brambleberries take center stage, which is striking for a wine of this age. There are also lots of roasted herbs, such as sage, not to mention floral elements, including lavender and dried violets. Then come cedar, sandalwood and tar. The tannins are incredibly round and soft, without the slightest hint of anything dry. This is among the most elegant of Riojas, where the acidity is wonderfully pronounced and cuts right through any touch of dried fruit. Long and powerful, yet subtle on the finish. Drink now, or hold for a very long time. 98 points" jamessuckling.com Close

"This estate was founded in 1998 by Alvaro Palacios. It has steep hillside vineyards ranging in age from 60 to 100 years planted to 100% Mencia, the indigenous grape of cool-climate Bierzo. " RobertParker.com (JM) Close

‘Lively, clean, medium depth, garnet–red with an incipient pink rim. Intense aromas with outstanding notes of redcurrants, raspberries, wild blackberries and ripe red plums creating a complex bouquet together with the balsamic notes from the barrel: vanilla, cloves, coffee, caramel and brioche. Very tasty in the mouth, evincing the brand’s distinctive classic texture. Fresh, vibrant and well-balanced, with amiable sweet tannins. Its long stay in the bottle rewards us with that great complexity and elegance typical of this style of Rioja wines. To enjoy now, but with a long life ahead.’ Julio Saenz, Winemaker Close

"The 2016 Norte is named after the orientation of the plot of its Tempranillo grapes grow. I visited the vineyard, one of the higher-altitude vineyards in Rioja Alavesa, at around 720 meters above sea level, right next to the mountain. It's a wild and windy place where they suffer the attacks of wild boars and deer, a place where the vines are healthy and the grapes ripen quite a lot but keep very good acidity. It's a powerful wine, as this vintage saw perhaps some 30% new barrels for the élevage that lasted 14 months. It's a ripe and powerful, still marked by the oak, but the palate is not hard; the tannins are quite polished, and there's refreshing acidity that keeps it very balanced. This is a modern red Rioja with stuffing and balance to develop nicely in bottle. It opened up in the glass, developing some floral aromas and further complexity, showing more integrated. This was first bottled in 1999, the second vintage of the winery. 11,500 bottles were filled in September 2018. 96 points." Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate, June 2019 Close

"I was speculating whether 2016 could be a modern version of 2010 even though the climate pattern was quite different, and when tasting the 2016 Finca Valdepoleo with Carlos San Pedro, he told me he wasn't very happy with his 2010s and that he preferred the 2007s. There is great finesse and elegance here, in the winery's modern style with a lively palate and great acidity. This is produced with grapes from a vineyard planted in the 1970s that is almost 15 hectares, and it basically goes to this wine. The vineyard is vinified in seven different plots, and since 2013, when they harvested early and did a softer vinification, it has gained in precision; in a way, this 2016 could be the modern version of that 2013. It has very fine tannins, nicely integrated oak and a tasty, almost salty finish that makes you salivate. A great Valdepoleo. 56,000 bottles produced. 93+ points." Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate, June 2019 "Now here's a Rioja where the wood hasn't been dialed up, and it's all the better for it. It's an idiosyncratic wine with heather, forest floor, blackberries and cumin and cinnamon. Full-bodied and very focused on the center palate, it trades in medium-chewy tannins and a spicy finish. Drink now. 94 points." James Suckling, Jun 2019 Close