4478 products
Vietti Barolo Monvigliero Organic 2020 750ml
Expert Reviews
James Suckling 99 Points | One of the palest and most perfumed Barolos from Vietti with a transparent, ruby-orange hue. This is a super nuanced, elegant, expressive and ethereal Monvigliero that grows on me, with enchanting notes of grilled grapefruit, thyme, frozen raspberries and mineral. A subtle splash of white pepper and mezcal-like smokiness. Really refined and transparent, with some citrus and mineral tensions that are closely knit with the fine, crumbled tannins. So much finesse and detail here, and its complexity will continue to unwind. Really composed, soulful and mind-blowing! An otherworldly, idiosyncratic Barolo that actually reminded me of the finest Gredo garnacha. A big wow that deserves attention. Vegan. Best with a Burgundy glass. Can drink now or from 2027.
Robert Parker 95 Points | A relatively new departure for Vietti, the 2020 Barolo Monvigliero is soft and delicate with pretty floral aromas, dried iris, powdered spice and a hint of tar or road pavement. The inaugural vintage was 2018. Made with 60% whole-cluster fruit during fermentation, the wine has a moment of tartness, punchy highlights, sweet grenadine and cranberry jelly. It ages in large oak casks for 24 months.
Vietti Barolo RAVERA Organic 2019 750ml
Expert Reviews
Decanter 92 Points | The oldest part of this vineyard was planted in 1935 but the average age is 34 years. It's located at 400 metres – Ravera is one of the highest MGAs within the communes of Barolo and Novello, which it straddles. This 2019 is intensely perfumed, with dried fruits soaked in blood orange, strawberry jam and a suggestion of grace. The attack confirms this lightly extracted style, with ripe tannins, still sticky at the moment, and long, refreshing acidity leading to a good finish.
Vinous 100 points | The 2019 Barolo Ravera is the most intensely mineral and saline of the Barolos. Crushed rocks, white pepper, flowers, orange zest, red berry fruit and bright acids all run through this finely sculpted, chiseled Barolo. Readers who enjoy Barolos of energy and tension will adore the Ravera. I have always had a soft spot for this Barolo. The 2019 is another magnificent dimension of Vietti's dark horse, a wine that over the last 10-12 years has routinely challenged for the crown here, and often won!
Vietti Barolo Ravera Organic 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
Intense garnet red color. Very classic and traditional with a robust structure and intense tannins. Bouquet takes a little time to show itself with slight hints of yeast. It opens slowly in the glass touch of spice and menthol. In the final, the powerful structure and concentration soften the tannins potential. Pairs well with game, red meats, and cheeses.
Expert Reviews
Wine Advocate 95 Points | The Vietti 2020 Barolo Ravera offers dark fruit cherry and blackcurrant enhanced by soft spice. You also get a sun-kissed note of eggplant tomato leaf and ferrous earth. Ravera displays strong lines with good acidity and firm tannic backbone. It closes dry and ages in large oak botte only. This is one of the most eyeballed MGAs sites. Ravera with its open mountain skyline and cool temperatures is seen as one of the best sites in the appellation especially as the climate changes. This vintage produced exactly 10026 bottles.
Vinous 94 Points | Picked on October 9 and 10 the 2020 Barolo Ravera has plenty of Ravera classicism and tension but also feels a bit light in the mid-palate. Ravera is never a huge wine in body but the depth is often there even if expressed in an understated and more linear manner. The 2020 lacks that depth. Red-toned fruit blood orange mint spice and white pepper lend brilliance throughout.
Vietti Barolo Rocche di Castiglione Organic 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
Ruby-red color. The nose is complex and elegant. Notes of dry flowers, hay and rose petal, accompanied by a hint of chamomile. It is fresh, balanced, silky, enveloping and full-bodied on the palate. The tannins are prominent yet well-integrated. The finish is long and persistent. We recommend decanting a few hours before serving.
Expert Reviews
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points | A medium red hue, the 2020 Barolo Rocche Di Castiglione offers more complexity and is more nuanced in the glass, with notes of dried raspberries, tangerine, roses, dried herbs, and cedar. Medium-bodied, it is crunchy with an elegant feel but has balanced structure and retains a somewhat more chiseled feel that’s true to the vintage. It has a lot to enjoy now and also has a wide drinking window. Drink 2025-2050.
The Wine Advocate 96 Points | The Vietti 2020 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a very delineated wine with sharp ferrous notes, cherry cola, redcurrant and chalky mineral. It is extremely precise in terms of its aromas. The effect is direct and layered, showing different sides and increasing complexity as it opens in the glass. Dried floral notes, purple flower and iris also appear delicately. The chalky tannins feel abrupt at this young stage, but this wine is built to last nonetheless. Only 3,512 bottles were created.
Vinous 96 Points | The 2020 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a magical wine from a magical site. It marries finesse and volume to a degree that is not found in most of the other wines in this range. Castiglione Falletto is the center of the Barolo production zone, literally and figuratively, the place where many different soil types meet. As a result, the wines often possess mind-blowing balance, which is very much the case here.
Vietti Barolo VILLERO Riserva 2013 750ml
Vietti Derthona Timorasso Colli Tortonesi 2022 750ml
Expert Review
Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | This classic Timorasso showcases a distinctive herbal edge, with layers of aromas and flavors. The nose offers crisp green apple and lemon pith, hinting at the wine's vibrant character. On the palate, the green-apple notes become more pronounced, with a tart quality that adds to the freshness. The lemon pith brings a bitter, zesty dimension, complementing the wine's herbal undertones, which evoke sensations of freshly crushed thyme and sage. These flavors intertwine seamlessly, creating a complex and textured experience that highlights the unique attributes of the Timorasso grape. Drink now–2035. (2022).
Vietti Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
Fruity with hints of mint, spices and raspberry. Round, elegant tannins add to a long, refined finish. Robust, intense, powerful in youth; complex, elegant with ageing. Pair with stews, game dishes, roasted red meats and mature cheeses.
Expert Rating
James Suckling 92 Points | This is a fresh and fruit-forward nebbiolo with notes of raspberries and cherries, orange peel and chocolate. Some dried flowers, too. Medium- to full-bodied, firm and racy with ripe but taut, compact tannins that run the whole length of the wine. Well-crafted. Long and even. Vegan. Drink or hold. - James Suckling 92
Vieux Chateau Certan Pomerol 2015 750ml 100 pts Jeff Leve, 99 pts Falstaff
Expert Reviews
Wine Spectator 97 Points | Expressive and alluring aromas of warm plum reduction and boysenberry puree lead off here, followed by fleshy, seamlessly layered notes of blackberry, black currant, melted black licorice and smoldering tobacco. Shows a lovely tug of dark earth through the finish without sacrificing a sense of polish or giving ground to the waves of fruit. Displays terrific latent energy through the finish. Best from 2023 through 2040.Wine Enthusiast 97 points This is a beautifully fragrant wine that has power along with an elegant acidity. It has wonderful juiciness that cuts through any of the tannins to give great freshness, a silky texture and fruitiness at the end. Perfumed and stylish, this is a very fine wine. Barrel Sample: 97-99 (2015).
Wine Advocate 98 Points | Blended of 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Vieux Chateau Certan opens with profound notes of blueberry compote, dried mulberries, black forest cake, licorice, violets and garrigue with wafts of black truffles, sandalwood and rose hips. Medium to full-bodied, very earthy/savory and beautifully layered with very plush yet present tannins, it offers lovely freshness and a very long minerally finish. So very Pomerol!
Decanter 97 Points | This is a really complete wine with aromatic complexity, ripe fruit, beautifully suave texture and freshness and persistence on the finish. The tannins are abundant but fine, allowing the wine to build majestically on the palate. Harmonious as well. ‘It’s like 2010 with more Cabernet Franc (19%),’ says Alexandre Thienpont.
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points | I was able to taste both the 2015 and 2016 grand vins, and these are heavenly, magical wines that could not be any better. Starting with the 2015 Vieux Château Certan, it shows the opulent, flamboyant style of the vintage to a T and reveals a saturated purple/ruby color, a monster bouquet of blackberries, tobacco, kirsch, dried spices, and loamy earth, full-bodied richness, sweet tannins, and a finish that won’t quit. A thrill a minute, wine doesn’t get any better, and I only wish every reader could taste this beauty. Drink it any time over the coming 30 years or more.
James Suckling 100 points | The blackberries, blueberries, oyster shell and violets are so mesmerizing. Full-bodied, focused and deep. It takes you to another space and plane. Dried flowers and dark fruit. The tannins are perfectly crafted. Keeps going as you taste it. Drink in 2023 but why wait?
Vigneti Del Sole Pinot Grigio delle Venezie 2023 1.5L MAGNUM
Vigneti del Sole Pinot Grigio is a white wine gem from the Veneto region of northeast Italy. We have not found a better Pinot Grigio for the money than Vigneti del Sole! This wine is a pale yellow-green in color. It is a lighter-style Pinot Grigio with plenty of fruit and acidity for a well-balanced wine.
This popular Italian white has crisp acidity and a nose of lemons, green apples and almonds. With no oak, the wine shows the best of the Pinot Grigio varietal flavors.
The wine is well balanced with a fresh, clean finish. Enjoy Vigneti del Sole Pinot Grigio with filet of sole, crab salad, grilled chicken, pasta and mild cheeses.
Vigneti Del Sole Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie 2023 750ml
A lighter-style Pinot Grigio with plenty of fruit and acidity for a well-balanced wine. This popular Italian white has crisp acidity and a nose of lemons, green apples and almonds. With no oak, the wine shows the best of the Pinot Grigio varietal flavors. Well-balanced with a fresh, clean finish. Winemaker Description.
Vignoble Beaumirail Vacqueyras 2022 750ml
Expert Review
Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | A magnificent red color with deep purple accents. From the 1st nose, it reveals its finesse and elegance. Notes of blackberries, blackcurrant and black cherries ripped under the sun of Vaucluse. Seductive, rich attack with delicate and integrated tannins. Its aromatic finale starts with spicy notes of nutmeg and clove, then develops a subtle perfume of violets and liquorice. (2019).
Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2021 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021
Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 92 Points | The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Villa Antinori is laced with black cherry, plum, new leather, licorice and spice. Ample and expansive in feel, the 2021 is wonderfully generous, not to mention incredibly delicious. Fruit sources are from some of the most coveted sites in the appellation. Drinking 2024 to 2031.
Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate writes 92 Points | This wine sees its fruit sourced from multiple villages: San Casciano, Gaiole, Castellina and Greve. The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Villa Antinori is not married to a specific subzone of the appellation because it seeks to embrace a house style rather than a vineyard identity. Aged in tonneaux with some barrique, the wine is rich and lasting but not large. In fact, it remains elegant on the palate with fine tannins and good fruit tension with cherry and blue flowers. Drinking 2024 - 2030.
Bruce Sanderson of the Wine Spectator writes 92 Points | This is packed tightly with cherry, pomegranate, plum, earth and Mediterranean scrub flavors. Lively and fresh midpalate, while the dense, chewy tannins flex their muscles on the finish. Give this time. Best from 2026 through 2043.
James Button of Decanter writes 91 Points | A historic label first produced in the 1923 vintage, today's Riserva aims to combine the past with the present. Vinified in stainless steel and aged in large oak barrels and some barriques, this has a plush, ripe aroma of dark hedgerow berries and menthol. A bed of supple, ripe tannins and coffee-marked wood support the breadth and depth of this wine's offering: spicy and fleshy dark fruits with a gentle wash of freshening acidity and some breezy menthol on the finish. 500,000 bottles produced. Drinking 2024 to 2032.
Villa de Varda Grappa di Pinot Grigio 375ml
Villa di Capezzana Ghiaie della Furba Toscana 2017 750ml
Winemaker Description
This wine is intense ruby red in colour with youthful highlights. On the nose, there are notes of almonds, violets and oranges which are intertwined with aromas of coffee and vanilla. It is a full-bodied wine with well-balanced acidity.
The rounded tannins from the Sangiovese are lifted by the cassis concentration of the Cabernet on the long, concentrated finish.
Expert Reviews
James Suckling 93 Points | Blueberries and blackcurrants with bark and licorice. Full body and round, chewy tannins. This is very fresh and bright with some sage and stone character. From organically grown grapes. Needs time to soften. Drink after 2023.
Vinous 92 Points | The 2017 Ghiaie della Furba opens to a bouquet of minty herbs, camphor and smoke before deepening further to display dusty red currant and spice box. This is velvety and fleshy in feel, with stimulating acidity that enlivens its spicy black fruit and building mineral tones. It tapers off with persistence, power and grippy tannin, the perfect mix for a long evolution. The Ghiaie della Furba is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah and 20% Merlot that refines in barrique, half new and half second pass. It's important to note that production was down by 40% in 2017 due to trost.
Villa Maria Pinot Noir Private Bin Marlborough 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
The ruby color in the glass suggests juicy summer red fruits on the palate, intermingled with flavors of freshly roasted coffee beans and dark cocoa. Silky soft tannins and a hint of dried herbs linger on the finish.
Pinot Noir is incredibly versatile and will go well with roast chicken, duck confit, smoked salmon or simply with mature cheddar cheese.
Expert Rating
James Suckling 90 Points | A bright and succulent pinot noir with aromas of cranberries, raspberries, sliced mushrooms, pink peppercorns and spice. Medium-bodied with creamy tannins and a tasty, crisp finish. Sustainable.
Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc Private Bin Marlborough 2023 750ml
Critic Notes
James Suckling writes: Lots of passion fruit, guava and grapefruit on the nose. Bright, tropical and balanced, with medium body and a juicy, fruity finish. Sustainable. Drink now. Screw cap. - James Suckling 90
Tamlyn Currin writes: For a wine that is presumably made in vast quantities and in the most technical way possibly, this is surprisingly good. Full of bodacious tropical fruit. Mangoes and oranges with a little bit of grapefruit and sweet fennel. The balance of fruit and acidity is great, and it certainly tastes and feels more full-bodied than 12.5%. It's generous, friendly and appealing. I really can't fault it! - Jancis Robinson 16
MaryAnn Worobiec writes: A vibrant version, showing a mix of pineapple, mango and passion fruit flavors that is direct and mouthwatering, with touches of ginger and green tea on the finish. Drink now. - Wine Spectator
Erin Larkin writes: The 2023 Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc is a behemoth in the export market, and it delivers a pretty archetypal “Marlborough Sauvy” experience—crunchy, herbal, green, tropical and juicy. All good things in this context. 12.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Roger Jones, Freddy Bulmer, Cat Lomax write: Delicate mineral notes with a mixture of passionfruit and meadow grass aromas. Citrus fruit, butterscotch, stone fruit, white peaches and nectarine. - Decanter
Winemaker Notes
This is the Sauvignon Blanc that put Villa Maria on the world map. A blend of both Marlborough’s Wairau and Awatere Valleys our winemakers take great care to ensure this wine showcases exceptional balance and consistency every vintage. The room-filling aromatics and strikingly crisp character of our Private Bin Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc are why it is so popular and such a memorable experience.
A perfect aperitif wine, serve chilled on warm summer days. Fresh herbal flavors match well with most salads, whereas the riper tropical flavors match well with any fish recipes.
Villa Sparina Gavi di Gavi 2022 375ml HALF BOTTLE
James Suckling | A tangy and fresh Gavi full of sliced apples, lemon zest and stones. Medium-bodied and textured on the palate with fresh, vibrant acidity and a pure, pithy finish. Drink now. (2022).
Bright yellow color, delicate bouquet of dried pineapple and peach. Full and rich in flavor, yet mineral and refreshing. Fine aromatic flavor to the end. Winemaker Description.
Villaggio Pinot Grigio 2023 1.5L MAGNUM
Producer Description
Straw yellow with greenish reflections. Fresh and rich fruity aromas of apple and pear with a hint of citrus fruit that fade into the floral bouquet.
Vina Callejuela La Casilla Amontillado 500ml
Winemaker Description
Amontillado of the most pristine kind. Traditional notes of almonds and walnut skin but with a citrus blast and floral lantana-like elegance that perfumes the salty toasted notes of dark cocoa and coffee beans. Incredibly dry, this elegant wine has endless layers and should be consumed over the course of weeks.
Expert Review
Robert Parker | The 2022 bottling of the NV Amontillado La Casilla doesn't have a clear bottling date, but it has a lot number on the back label. It has a golden-brown color and a complex nose. It comes from the Manzanilla Pasada Blanquito and has a profile of an old wine, with notes of rusty nail and low tide, and also a Sanlúcar profile, sharp and saline with rustic finesse. It's pungent, long and salty. This is rare to keep the old age of the wine. Best After 2029
Vina Cobos Felino Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza 2022 750ml
Winemaker Description
Pure varietal expressions serve as a vibrant introduction to Mendoza, sourced from rigorously selected vineyards throughout the region's top quality growing areas - Lujan de Cuyo and Valle de Uco - imparting distinct fruit profiles to the wines.
Expert Ratings
James Suckling 94 Points | Aromas of flowers, stems and currants. Medium-bodied with a soft, velvety texture and a long, beautiful finish. Fantastic value. Pure and focused. Drink now or hold.
Wine Spectator Aaron Romano writes: Plush in style, showing a vanilla cast to the cherry and plum core, with mineral and mace details that fold in around firming tannins. Drink now.
Vina Cobos Felino Chardonnay 2022 750ml
ames Suckling | Aromas of apples, pie crust and mango. Some elements of cream. Hints of pineapple. Full body. Fresh and lightly velvety. 100% Uco Valley fruit.
Points JWine Enthusiast | Paul Hobbs, founding partner at this winery, selected vineyards from Luján de Cuyo and Uco Valley to make this lively and satisfying Chardonnay. Notes of grapefruit, Key lime and dill find balance in the fresh palate.
PointsVinous | The 2022 Chardonnay Felino from the Uco Valley is yellow with subtle golden flecks. The nose offers inviting stewed green apple and hazelnut aromas complemented by delicate oaky notes. Creamy and moderately warm with plenty of alcohol, it has a broad, plush texture leading into a lingering fruity finish.
PointsPale yellow in color. On the nose it presents aromas of pear, green apple and grapefruit. It's very well balanced with good palate and crisp acidity. Winemaker Description.
Vina Cobos Felino Malbec Mendoza 2022 750ml
Winemaker Notes
Bright and deep red color with purple tones. Aromas of black fruit reminiscent of fresh plum mixed with blueberries and a hint of flowers. On the palate the wine is balanced, medium-bodied with a good fresh acidity.
Critics notes
Joaquin Hidalgo writes: The 2022 Malbec Felino is 55% from the Uco Valley and 45% from Lujan de Cuyo. Only 7% of the wine was aged for up to six months in barrels. The 2022 has a rich, purple hue. The nose features dark and red fruit, including blackberry, plum and floral and jammy notes. The palate is creamy and expansive, with a juicy, fresh character and plenty of flavors before the lasting, plush, fruity finish. - Vinous 91
James Suckling writes:he bright berry and lead pencil aromas and flavors come through with an iron shaving undertone. Boysenberry. Juicy finish. Fantastic value for the quality. Drink or hold. - James Suckling 93
Aaron Romano writes: A rich and almost hedonistic style, this opens with roasted coffee notes and is brimming with ripe berry fruit, ending with fine tannins and herb details. Drink now. - Wine Spectator
Vina San Pedro 0-61 Red Blend Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenere Syrah 2022 750ml
Winemaker Description
Discover this smooth and velvety wine. Expressive fruity aromas coming from raspberry and cherry can be found as well as smooth notes of caramel, toffee and vanilla.
Vina Zorzal Garnacha Navarra 2023 750ml
Winemaker Description
100% Garnacha from different plots in the Fitero village. Spontaneous fermentation in tank.
Expert Reviews
92 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate | Luis Gutierrez writes: The regular red 2022 Garnacha was produced with grapes from the whole region—Corella, Cintruénigo, Fitero and now also Lerga—from their earliest harvest ever under very warm weather, and it fermented with 20% full clusters and was bottled early and unoaked. It has contained ripeness, 13.41% alcohol, berry fruit, hints of licorice and a touch of honey and beeswax. It is primary and has a medium body and a juicy mouthfeel with good grip and tension, more serious than the nose points at, with some chalkiness and without any heaviness or heat. Purity. This is fresher than anticipated after the torrid 2022 summer.
90 James Suckling | Zen Shuai writes: A light, bright rendition of graciano showing more strawberries and potpourri than peppery spices. Cheerful and crunchy, with a medium body and fresh, fine-grained tannins. Quite approachable now.
Vinas del Cenit Field Blend Las Contiesas 2022 750ml
Producer Description
A field blend with Dona Blanco as the dominant varietal, but also Verdejo, Godello, Palomino, and Albillo. The vineyard averages about 90 years old, including some that are pre-phylioxera, from Villanueva de Campeán and Cabañas de Sayago, within the scope of the D.O. Tierra del Vino
Previously owned by various owners who each planted field blends according to their own expressions, the vineyards are now owned by the winery and blended together
Driven by white flowers, citrus and mineral tones, it's rounded on the palate without a strong oak influence on the aromas.
Ageing is exclusively carried out in French oak barrels from different cooperages.
Vinas Serranas Renvivas Vinedo Excepcional Vino de la Tierra de Castila Y Leon 2018 750ml
Vinas Viejas de Pegaso Cebreros Barrancos de Pizarra 2021 750ml
Producer Description
The Pizarra vineyards are found on red metamorphic slate soils, which are unique to the village of Cebreros, folded into the mostly granitic mountain range. This slate soil makes Cebreros unlike any other village within the Sierra de Gredos region. Pizarra soil is located above 950 meters, up to 1200 meters, mainly with an eastern orientation.
The wines from here have a signature expression: they are always fresh, complex, direct, and profound. Pizarra is a limited production wine produced from over 60-year-old, bush-trained garnacha vines, yielding 15hl/ha from the vineyards of Arrebatacapas, La Redonda, La Curva, Fuente Fabian, and Presidente. The farming at Pegaso is organic, and the wines are made with low intervention and minimal sulfur at bottling.
Vinas Viejas de Pegaso Cebreros Granito 2021
Producer Description
Cebreros is both the name of the village and the appellation of origin in the southeast of the province of Ávila, within the greater Sierra de Gredos region, the mountainous area located on the continental divide of Spain. The region is unspoiled, wild, rustic, full of energy and light, and as authentic as it gets. It is a transitional zone where northern Spain gives way to southern Spain. The wines from the Sierra de Gredos mountains to the west of Madrid (aka Vinos de Madrid) have finally begun to claim their rightful place alongside other top wine regions focused on producing world-class garnacha. For many insiders, the region is now leading the conversation about this Mediterranean garnacha grape, now understood to be indigenous to Spain.
Whole clusters are picked by hand in small boxes, with a strict selection made in the vineyard. The clusters are de-stemmed, crushed, and fermented spontaneously with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks and large neutral French oak foudres. The wine is then aged for 18 months in new and used 600L French oak barrels sourced from different forests.
Vinas Viejas de Pegaso Zeta Garnacha Cebreros Sierra de Gredos 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
Aromatic and elegant expression of an otherwise deep and dark flavored grape. Delicious aromas of flowers, red berries and black cherries, shadowed by notes of orange peel, spices and earth. Supple on the palate with silky tannins and a refreshingly mineral finish.
It has a bright ruby color with the grip of the fine tannins and an herbal touch that provides freshness.
Vinedos de Pagano La Nieta Rioja 2019 750ml
Winemaker Description
The Eguren family strove to produce a world class wine from the miniscule Finca La Nieta, a vineyard with shallower, poorer soils, and a superior microclimate than the neighboring El Puntido vineyard. The product is Viñedos de Páganos’ flagship wine, La Nieta. The Eguren family wanted to use this vineyard to display the subtlety and elegance that Tempranillo can represent, and they have achieved this with La Nieta.
Expert Reviews
Wine Advocate 97 Points | The perfumed and floral 2019 La Nieta, which comes from one of the four vineyards around the winery in the helmet of Páganos (Laguardia), is structured and powerful, from a warmer (and sunnier) year, with 14.2% alcohol and a pH of 3.6 and 5.9 grams of acidity. It also shows freshness and elegance, and with time in the glass, one could foresee the finesse that should come out as the wine absorbs the 16 months in new oak barrels with time in bottle, as this was bottled one year before I tasted it. It improved with time in the glass, and it should do the same with years in bottle. This is usually my favorite from the Eguren portfolio, but this time Marcos Eguren's Sierra Cantabria 2019 El Bosque stole the show. 5,000 bottles were filled in July 2021.
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | Jumping up in price, the single vineyard 2019 La Nieta comes from 100% Tempranillo aged 18 months in new French oak barriques. Both black and blue fruits as well as cedary oak, violets, graphite, and chalky minerality all emerge from this beauty, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a tight, concentrated, promising mouthfeel, nicely integrated tannins, and a great finish. A serious, balanced, incredibly impressive Rioja, it deserves 3-4 years of bottle age and will have two decades or more of overall longevity. Best After 2025James Suckling 93 points Opens up to a fragrant nose of brambleberries, crushed raspberries, lavender, pine cone and star anise. Medium-to full-bodied with fine, powdery tannins. Textured and mineral. Some peppercorn and walnut on the finish.
Vinedos del Contino Contino Rioja Blanco 2020 750ml
Critic Notes
Luis Gutierrez writes: The white 2020 Blanco is a little closed, young, clean and tender with subtle oak. They produced a little bit more in 2020, and the wine has less oak and less buttery sensations, a change that started with the 2017 vintage, which seems to have found its style harvesting earlier to retain freshness; it has 13.04% alcohol and a low pH 3.23 and matured in larger oak containers, 500-liter oak barrels and some concrete for 12 months. It's floral and expressive, a blend of Viura with 20% Garnacha Blanca that they still consider work in progress but moving in the direction they want to go. 16,200 bottles and 100 magnums were filled in March 2022. Drinking 2022 to 2028. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 93
James Suckling writes: A delicious, creamy white with aromas of apricots, baked peaches, hazelnuts, white chocolate and nougat. It’s medium-to full-bodied with a ripe and creamy palate. Lovely buttery pastry and nougat character, with a fresh finish. Drink now - James Suckling 93
Pedro Ballesteros MW, Sarah Jane Evans MW, Pierre Monsour write: Round and warm on the nose, with fine notes of smoke. A mouth-filling wine that's fresh and expressive. Drinking 2024 to 2027. - Decanter 90
Winemaker Notes
Contino Blanco 2020 shows a very intense nose, marked by its aging in barrel. It is fresh and fruity wine, a true reflection of the identity of our vineyard. San Gregorio offers a Garnacha Blanca with great complexity and volume. The soils are clayey-calcareous, with medium stoniness, key for good drainage.
Blend: 80% Viura, 20% Garnacha Blanca
Vinedos del Jorco El Jorco Cebreros Garnacha 2021 750ml
Expert Rating
Luis Gutiérrez writes: The 2021 El Jorco achieved higher alcohol than the 2019 and 2020 I tasted next to it, reaching 15%. They did a slightly shorter maceration, down to 42 days, and a shorter élevage of 14 months in 500-liter barrels. They consider 2021 a slightly warmer year than 2020, but still the wine comes through as a little more elegant; it's pale and aromatic, perfumed, fine-boned, nicely textured, very tasty, clean, precise and focused but with clout and tannins that might benefit from a little more time in bottle. Curiously enough, there's less alcohol and the sensation of ripeness here than in the bottling from the pink granite part of the vineyard that is sold under the name Vino de Familia. This is my favorite wine of theirs from what I tasted today. 3,000 bottles produced. Drinking 2024 - 2029. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 94