2018 Celler de Capçanes Montsant Mas Donís Old Vines, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

An Eric Solomon selection sporting a new label.  This is always an excellent value that is a blend of 50% Garnacha, 30% Merlot, and 20% Syrah.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, spice, roasted herbs and slight black pepper.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is easy drinking and very tasty.  Lots of black cherry fruit with some black raspberries and cherries.  Clean.  Works great on its own and enough acidity to work well with pasta or burgers.  Drink over the next five years.  

2008 Canto Petirrojo Toro El Curato Old Vines, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B

This is made from 100% Tinto de Toro (Tempranillo) grapes in the Toro D.O. in Spain.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cassis, some anise and slight spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, strong acidity.  Cassis and black cherry fruit.  Nice finish.  This is drinking a bit past prime it seems but still nice.  It works better with food,  A nice wine for Taco Tuesday.  Drink up.  

2015 Enate Somontano Syrah-Shiraz, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

This is a very nice Syrah from northeast Spain (the D.O. of Somontano).  It is a unique take that is well worth exploring especially for the price.  Deep garnet in color with a ruby rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, some black raspberries, with slight dried floral notes and a hint of char/graphite.  Medium bodied.  15%abv.  On the palate, the black cherries dominate with underlying minerality.  Very tasty.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  If pressed, this has some similarities to a St.

2019 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$42.00USD

The first bottle we opened of this was corked, but the second was sound.  It is a blend of 70% Monastrell (Mourvedre), and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.  15.5% abv.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has blueberries, cassis, some black cherries, toast and baking spices.  Full bodied.  Thick and tannic at the moment.  Loads of fresh black cherries and black raspberries on the palate, with underlying spice and char.  Long finish.  This is delicious now, but needs plenty of time to develop.  Cellar for five to ten years and drink for twenty after that.  Right now it will be a diffic

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

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