2017 Clos Mogador 'Manyetes' Vi de Vila Gratallops, Spain, Priorat, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$77.00USD

This is 100% Carignan from Priorat on the east coast of Spain.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, spice, anise and slight char.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is a big wine.  Medium tannins.  Loads of cherry fruit with underlying char and anise.  Good balance.  Long finish.  This is delicious.  It should get better with a few more years of ageing, but either way, it should drink well for the next twelve to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this needs big food such as roasted lamb.  

2014 Daniel Gomez Jimenez-Landi Méntrida Cantos del Diablo, Spain, Madrid, Sierra del Gredos

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

From one of the more interesting vineyard areas anywhere, just to the west of Madrid and at around 3,000 feet in altitude with sandy soils  over granite, come some of the more interesting Garnacha (Grenache) wines to be found.  This one is amazing.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  Great nose with cherries, cranberries, but also black raspberries and blueberries with baking spices, slight floral note (rose hips?) and slight earthiness/fresh mushrooms.  Full bodied.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, black cherries with some black raspberries with underlyi

2018 Bodegas Vinsacro Rioja Blanco, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$13.00USD

This is a white wine from Rioja in Spain.  It is a blend of 60% Chardonnay, and 40% Viura.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has citrus, spice, with a slight balsamic note.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is refreshing but also has some complexity.  Good acidity.  The citrus carries thru with the underlying dry earth.  Moderate finish.  This drinks well on its own, but works better with food.  Gaxzpacho would be a nice pairing.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

2011 Dominio Pingus Ribera del Duero Flor de Pingus, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$135.00USD

This is the second wine of Pingus, but that doesn't seem fair to call it a "second" wine.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with plums, cherries, black cherries but also some black licorice and spice.  Full bodied.  This had been decanting for a few hours and was still young and tannic.  On the palate, notes of black cherries, cherries and spice.  Very ripe but no noticeable heat or alcohol.  Medium tannins.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now but should still improve over the next ten years.  Drink over the next twenty.  A nice match for hearty beef or por

2020 Bodega Cuatro Rayas Green & Social, Spain, Rueda, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

This is 100% Verdejo from Spain.  A delightful white that is made from organic grapes using socially conscious production methods.  Light golden in color with greenish hues, clear and bright.  The nose is very nice with a bit of lemon lime, tangerine, and honey dew.  Light bodied and refreshing.  On the palate, tangerine/oranges with some underlying spice.  Crisp and clean, this drinks easy.  Nice on its own, this will work with lighter foods such as fruit salads or chicken salad.  Drink over the next year or two to enjoy its freshness.  

2017 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

This is a very modern, big take on Spanish wine.  A blend of 70% Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is also delicious.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, plums, cassis, smoke and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, the red fruits come thru with a base of charred wood.  Long finish.  This is still young and likely to continue to improve for another five to ten years.  It should drink for twelve to fifteen more after that.  Right now it will over power most foods and drinks better on its own.  With some bottle age it will work well with

2016 Bodegas Arrocal Ribera del Duero Selección, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B

This is an inexpensive 100% Tempranillo grape from Spain.  It is a modern take on this wine.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries and candied cherries with a slight herbal note.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, cherries.  Simple and one dimensional but enjoyable.  Moderate finish.  Drink over the next year or two.  Better with food, pizza is a nice choice.  

2015 Bodegas Muga Rioja Selección Especial, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

This is an excellent value in a mostly traditional Spanish wine from Rioja.  It is a blend of 70% Tempranillo and and 30% a combination of balance Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano.  Deep ruby in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, blueberries, slight tobacco, cloves and slight dill.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has an "old world" feel to it, but with plenty of ripe fruit too.  The blueberries and black cherries come thru over a bed of dusty dry leaves with a slight bit of savory spices.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own but really worked well with

NV Emilio Hidalgo Fino Especial "La Panesa", Spain, Jerez, Wine Review

Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

Boy, did I enjoy this wine.  It is very unique although I am told this style of wine used to be more prevalent.  It is an aged Fino style Sherry that was aged for 15 years from a Solera started in 1961.  Just gorgeous but it is different.  It is a deep golden color with just a hint of amber.  Clear and bright.  The nose is big with a lot of alcohol and some volatile acidity (the later blows off slightly with air).  Also an almond/ nuttiness and salinity to the nose.  Full bodied.  Complex, contemplative and deep.  Bone dry on the palate.  The nutty salinity come thru along with a petrol not

2014 Ferrer Bobet Seleccio Especial Vinyes Velles, Spain, Priorat , Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is 100% Carignane from one hundred year old vines.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose shows black cherries, graphite while having a clean earthiness.  On the palate, lots of black raspberry fruit with some black cherries.  Nice texture.  Drinks well right now and should continue to do so for ten to fifteen more years.  It may still improve a bit as it matures.  This drinks very well on its own and will work with grilled or roasted meats and fowl.  

Pages