Spanish Wine

Winemaker Description 

With an equal presence of Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes, our Campeador Reserva highlights the very best of both, creating a range of rich nuances that is bound to please.

Winemaker Description 

Revealing the character of high-altitude, ancient vines spanning from 35 to 100 years old, this red Rioja is both powerful and structured, yet approachable, offering notes of wild bramble, herbs, and spice that culminate in a prolonged and intense finish.

Producer Description 

Akutain’s Rioja Reserva — a blend of Tempranillo with a touch of Garnacha and Viura — is fermented in a combination of stainless steel and fiberglass tanks, then aged for 35 months in predominantly neutral American oak with a small amount of French barrels. Mid-Ruby in color, this Reserva possesses a beautiful bouquet of ripe berry fruit mixed with notes of dried herbs, tobacco and rose petals.

The full-bodied palate displays concentrated flavors of black cherry, cooked-down strawberries and earth balanced by velvety, textured tannins. The finish exhibits enduring depth and complexity. The perfect companion to grilled, roasted or braised meats and game.

Winemaker Description

Old bush vines grown in the Alto Najerilla region, next to the Cardenas River, specifically within the triangle formed by the towns of Cordovín, Badarán and Cárdenas, at an altitude between 600 and 710 meters above sea level. 60%.

Winemaker Description

Purple with ruby highlights, this wine shows up-front aromas of raspberries and black cherries with undertones of leather and spice. On the palate, it is expansive and rich.

Pair with lamb and apricot tajines, prime rib, tomato stews, or green lentil-based dishes.

Expert Ratings

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points  | This deep-hued wine has a bouquet of brambly fruits of the wood, coffee bean and dried sage. It opens with notes of mint and clove accompanied by sturdy tannins and ripe summer cherry, Mission fig, cocoa powder and dried thyme flavors. The lengthy finish is marked with menthol and pomegranate. (2015). 

Robert Parker 92 Points |  There is some more development in the 2015 Finca Valpiedra Reserva, which also feels a little riper, showing the dry, warm and ripe character of the year but keeping a low pH of 3.47 and 6.2 grams of acidity. This is medium-bodied, although some will call them thin—and certainly, they are not full-bodied and round wines, they are sharper. This is a blend of 92% Tempranillo and 4% each Graciano and Maturana Tinta that matured in French oak barrels for 22 months. These wines are feeling a little more traditional than in the past.

James Suckling 92 Points | This shows notes of incense and smoke on the nose, together with spiced plums, blackberries, dark chocolate, licorice and a hint of tar. Medium-to full-bodied with firm tannins and bright acidity. Ripe, yet juicy and succulent, with a rich finish. Drink or hold.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 92 Points | A deliciously dark-fruited tempranillo that has aromas and flavors of grilled herbs, charcoal and black plums. Hints of soy, too. It’s full-bodied with ripe, mellow tannins.

Winemaker Description

Intense purple color. Aromas of tobacco, licorice and blackcurrants. Full-bodied with hints of toast and mature fruit. Long balanced finish.

Expert Reviews

92 Points Decanter | Complex, refined style, nutty and fruity, expressive, subtle. Balanced, deep, gently bitter, long. Textbook fino! One sip and you never want to leave.

91 Points Wine & Spirits | Most of my notes—and the notes from Chris Struck, my fellow taster—are about food rather than the wine itself. Or maybe the wine tastes like game, like partridge meat, nutmeats, sautéed onions deglazed with lime juice. Complicated, fascinating, reductive and delicious, this is a wine to pour with any of the above.

Winemaker Description 

Pale straw color with greenish reflections, bright and clean. This is a Jerez style Fino: fresh, mineral and pungent on the nose with almonds and bakery notes. Dry and crisp on the palate, yet rich and with a full finish.

Aged under a veil of yeast, called “flor”, in Bodega Las Cruces in Jerez de la Frontera. The inland climate in the town of Jerez de la Frontera provides a more rounded and fuller style of wine.

A perfect dry aperitif, ideal with fresh seafood, smoked salmon and fish. Amazing when paired with Ibérico ham. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description 

Matusalem is a 30 year old blend of Oloroso and PX. It shows an intense mahogany color with profound aromas of dried fruits, raisins, spices and mature oak. On the palate it is smooth, sweet, long and velvety. This wine has an interesting bittersweet finish due to the sweetness of the PX and the bitter tannins from the oak. Ideal with mature cheeses and blue cheese such as Stilton. Also perfect as a dessert wine with apple pie. Serve chilled. 

Expert Reviews 

96 Points Decanter | Perfumed with inviting layers of coffee, almond savoury herb and spice, then to a luxurious palate of caraway, orange zest, molasses and bitter chocolate.

94 Points Wine Enthusiast | Forget about Sherry styles, Matusalem operates in its own zone with its own rules. An intense, smoky nose shows charred barrel notes and prune aromas. A rich but snappy palate is not the least bit sticky, while deep flavors of chocolate, coffee, vanilla and molasses finish with grace.

90 Points Wine Spectator | Walnut, halva, raisin and buckwheat honey notes are layered, backed by hints of bitter almond and toasted pecan. Shows good energy for a cream style, with the bitter edge imparting length and cut.

Winemaker Description 

Deep garnet red in color. On the nose it is serious and elegant. The evolution in the glass translates into an increase in intensity and aromatic complexity where fruit continues to be the backbone of the wine. On the palate it has a well-structured body with ripe, silky tannins. Easy to drink with a persistent aftertaste. 

Winemaker Description

Partida Pedrer macerates in the winery with part of the whole berry and part of crushed grapes for 8-10 days. There it begins a spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts that ends and ends up aging in cement jars. Finally the wine is bottled without any type of additive.
 
Partida del Pedrer is quite a challenge. A natural red wine that shows the purity of expression, without additives of any kind. Pure Priorat.

Winemaker Description

This Clos Mogador 2021 is all delicacy on the nose. The fruit is fresh, the aromatic Mediterranean herbs refined. The palate, on the other hand, is deep, with a satiny texture and a measured grip. A rarity that thrills from the start, just a prelude to the magnitude it will reach.

Expert Review

97 Points James Suckling | A beautiful, fresh red with lots of vibrancy. Mineral, flint, freshly crushed blueberries and red berries. Juicy, polished tannins with a little more crunch to the fruit this year. Has a nice firmness compared with the sweeter tannins in 2020. Really fluid, bright and vivid. Long. Drink or hold. (2021). 

Expert Review - Vintage 2015

Mike DeSimone of the Wine Enthusiast writes 95 Points | Dark ruby in color, this wine has a nose of black cherry, cedar chest and violet candy. A pleasant floral note is a constant companion to blackberry, anisette, clove and dark-chocolate flavors that are enclosed in a shell of muscular tannins. A soft note of pomegranate permeates the grippy finish. Drink through 2035. 

Winemaker Description 

A 1er Cru RBD from Yolanda and Carolina García Viadero whose mission is to place the Tinto Fino varietal among the world’s best.  Bursts of blackberry and cassis, relaxed opulence and richness.

Winemaker Description 

Deep and attractive red color with a purple rim. Mountain wine with a powerful terroir expression. Intense red fruit, black currants, lavender, thyme, rosemary and scrubland notes. In the palate shows long, very fresh, wide and savory, with a gentle structure and attractive texture. 

Winemaker Description 

Aroa is a small winery in the Deierri Valley, in Navarra, which has recently been part of the Vintae group. They are specialists in producing organic wines of the highest quality. 

Proof of this is its Aroa Jauna, a Crianza red that perfectly blends four different grape varieties to achieve an extraordinary palate. One of the best wines that have fallen into our hands for its value for money.

Winery Tasting Note: View: Deep, purple and blood tones, very clean, of great intensity and brightness. Nose: clean and crisp of ripe fruit, pear compote and sweet apple and quince. Advancing cocoa, dry leaves and bark, guessing some hides in the background. suggestive. Mouth: Tasty, agile, with well integrated tannins. 

The evolution is favourable, due to the perfect harmony between alcohol and acidity. The finish is well resolved, with a full sensation of freshness and meatiness. Modern, elegant and tempting wine.

Winemaker Description

This is a wine from southern Priorat, which marks with a lively, warm and fragrant vein the serious, deep and enigmatic character of old vineyards. Blackberry aromas with balsamic notes typical of the brushwood. The palate is remarkably mature and fresh at the same time. 

Expert Review 

James Suckling 90 Points | This is the prototypical fino sherry with all the salty and yeasty character you expect. Also dried-apple, pear and lemon-zest character. Generous, but very dry and salty on the palate with a refreshing touch of austerity. Where are the olives? Drink now, if possible from a freshly opened bottle.

Winemaker Description 

Pale yellow with golden glints. Slightly cloudy as it contains flor in suspension, reflecting it’s having been bottled ‘En Rama’. Complex aromas of almonds, lemon and floral notes combined with sea spray and minerals. 

The palate is concentrated and sightly creamy with a salty tang and impressive depth of flavour boasting toasted almonds, apple skins and bready undertones. The finish is rounded and alluring, clearly harking back to its origins in the albariza soil yet also reflecting the Significance of its biological ageing. This wine is the purest definition of the vines and the winery. 

Our Notes

Oscar, 67 Wine Buyer, writes:  In 2015, I was one of only three invitees from the United States selected to participate in the prestigious Gonzalez Byass Tio Pepe Sherry Master program. This incredible experience allowed me to earn certification as a Sherry Master through their renowned education program. To this day, it remains one of the highlights of my professional wine career.

I was captivated by the vineyards, the historic Sherry bodegas, and the wealth of knowledge I gained under the guidance of the legendary Antonio Flores, Master Blender at Bodegas Gonzalez Byass.

Fast forward to 2025, and I am thrilled to invite all wine aficionados to explore our newly revamped Sherry selection at the shop. We have curated an extensive collection of over 100 selections ranging from delightfully crisp, saline-driven Finos and Manzanillas to complex and rare Amontillados, Olorosos, and Palo Cortados. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming Sherry tastings and other exciting events celebrating the magic of El Marco de Jerez.

Today, I'm especially delighted to feature one of my favorite Finos, typically available only in the spring: Ti­o Pepe Fino en Rama Saca 2023. Bottled in the spring of 2023, this en rama Fino undergoes minimal filtration and remains unfined, preserving its raw, expressive character. Hand-selected by Antonio Flores, this release showcases a vintage label from the Gonzalez Byass archives, making it a collector's item.

The wine itself is bursting with aromas and flavors of green olives, citrus, saline notes, and delicate yeasty nuances. Bone dry and intensely flavorful, it pairs beautifully with cured meats, cheeses, and grilled skewers of shrimp and calamari.

Producer Description 

The Antique release of Fernando de Castilla Fino is heavier than the Classic. Rich and complex with notes of citrus fruit and a classic salty tang.

The company specializes in natural, unblended and unfined products as supreme examples of the ancient winemaking traditions of the Jerez region. The vineyards (farmed without pesticides or herbicides) and winery are all located in Jerez, all sherries are estate bottled. 

Winemaker Description 

The Antique Amontillado comes from a very old Fino (8 yrs old) which is refortified from 15.5% to 18.0% ABV and introduced into a solera of Amontillado where it spends a further 12 years.

Light ambar color. Exceptionally aromatic, completely dry and long aftertaste. 

Expert Reviews

92 Points Robert Parker | The NV Antique Amontillado is amber-colored and has a subtle nose of tobacco, some iodine, pollen, beeswax and hazelnuts. The medium- to full-bodied palate shows lots of concentration and acidity, with a very intense finish. 4,000 bottles are produced yearly.

91 Points Wine Spectator | A dry, nervy style, offering balsam wood, clove, dried orange peel and Brazil nut notes that weave together through the lacy finish. Shows range, but stays delicate in feel overall.

Winemaker Description 

The wine is showing light legs, an intense and powerful nose which reminds us of the veil of the flor, chalk, dried fruits as well as citric, salty and mineral notes.

On the palate, the wine is fresh, salty and tasty. The finish is persistent and balanced, reminding us of salt, hazelnuts, yeast and green olives, with a dry and slightly bitter aftertaste.

The Macharnudo and Carrascal pagos express the best of our soils in this intense, salty and flavour some Fino.The Solera, with over 6 years of biological ageing, is made up of a total of 139 casks, from which number 79, 95 and 96 were selected, all found on the second floor of the Gran Bodega Tio Pepe.

Memo Summary Notes

That's a very specific and excellent sherry! The Tio Pepe Una Palma Fino Saca 2021 is part of a special, limited-edition collection of Fino and Amontillado sherries from González Byass in Jerez.

Here is a summary of the details for this particular release:

🌟 Key Characteristics
* Type: Fino Sherry
* Producer: González Byass (Tío Pepe)
* Origin: D.O. Jerez-Xérès-Sherry, Spain
* Grape: 100% Palomino Fino
* Ageing: Approximately 6 years under a dense layer of flor (a veil of yeast) through the traditional Solera system.
* Saca (Bottling Release): 2021 (Bottled in October 2021)
* Style: "Una Palma" (One Palm) indicates it's the youngest and freshest in the "Las Palmas" series, but still an older and more intense Fino than the standard Tio Pepe. It is typically bottled "en rama" (unfiltered or lightly filtered) to retain maximum flavor and character.
* Bottle Size: 500ml (50cl)

* The Saca 2021 is celebrated for its concentration, intensity, and purity of the flor character:
    * Appearance: Pale yellow to bright golden color.
    * Nose: Intense and powerful, dominated by yeasty notes from the flor (like fresh  bread or brioche), combined with aromas of almonds/nuts, chalk/talc, seaweed/brine, and sometimes a hint of bruised or green apple.
    * Palate: Bone-dry, full-bodied, fresh, and intensely salty (saline) and savory. It offers flavors of green olives, hazelnuts, and a persistent, slightly bitter, yet balanced finish.
    * Overall: It is an intense, concentrated, and very dry sherry that beautifully captures the essence of prolonged biological aging.
* 🍽️ Pairing
This Fino is an ideal aperitif and pairs wonderfully with:
    * Traditional Spanish Tapas: Almonds, olives, Jamón Ibérico.
    * Seafood: Anchovies, sushi, sashimi, smoked fish.
    * Complex Dishes: Artichokes, asparagus, and Asian cuisine, which can be difficult to pair with other wines.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The young, creamy and juicy 2019 Petra is pure Garnacha that fermented in concrete with indigenous yeasts and matured in well-seasoned, neutral oak barrels for 15 months, including malolactic. There is a lactic touch and some notes of cereals here that interferes a bit with the purity of Garnacha. It's medium-bodied and has moderate ripeness at 13.5% alcohol, revealing good freshness and acidity and a pH of 3.6.

The Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Deep garnet in color, this single-varietal Garnacha has a nose of black cherry, caramel and nutmeg. Bright fruit and soft baking spice flavors wrapped in silky tannins enliven the palate and drift into a cranberry and orange-zest finish.

Vinous 92 Points | The 2019 Petra de Valpiedra is 100% Garnacha sourced from a single vineyard next to the Ebro River, in the Cenicero area of Rioja Alta. Aged for 1nine months in American and French oak barrels, it displays a garnet hue and presents aromas reminiscent of liqueur, with hints of herbs and ash overlaying a fruit layer. On the palate, it is dry and edgy, with tannins that are fairly searing, leaving a lingering impression of balsamic notes.

James Suckling 92 Points | Aromas of baked raspberries and strawberries with spicy and earthy touches. Medium- to full-bodied with powdery tannins and a soft texture. Firm finish. Drink or hold.

Memo Summary Notes

The Finca Valpiedra Rioja Garnacha Petra de Valpiedra 2019 is a highly praised, single-varietal Garnacha (Grenache) from the Rioja Alta sub-region. It is part of a premium, limited-edition line from the respected Finca Valpiedra winery.

The 2019 vintage is noted for combining the power of Garnacha with great freshness and elegance, making it an excellent example of modern, high-quality Rioja.

The wine's silky texture and savory complexity make it versatile:

• Meat: Grilled lamb, roast duck, or white meats such as turkey and pheasant.

• Spanish Classics: Aged Manchego cheese.

• Other: Fish stews (like tuna marmitako), rice dishes, and mushroom risotto.

The Finca Valpiedra Rioja Garnacha Petra de Valpiedra 2019 is an outstanding example of premium, single-vineyard Garnacha from Rioja, praised for its elegance, freshness, and complexity.

Winemaker Description 

With a straw yellow colour, Yzaguirre Blanco Clasico Vermouth has an intense aroma with herby and spicy notes. Mild balsamic touches give it a pleasant and very unique structure. Fresh and smooth in the mouth and very well balanced, it has notes of vanilla and cinnamon.

Excellent as an everyday aperitif. Serve with 2 anchovy-stuffed olives, 2 or 3 ice cubes and a twist of orange. Serve very chilled.

Memo Summary Notes

The Yzaguirre Blanco Clásico Vermouth is a well-regarded example of the Spanish style of white vermouth, produced by Bodegas Yzaguirre, a house with a long history in the Catalan region (between Reus and Tarragona) dating back to 1884.

Yzaguirre's vermouths are made using traditional, artisanal methods and a blend of over 80 aromatic herbs and spices that are macerated (soaked) in a white wine base.

Cocktails: It works excellently as the Bianco/Blanc component in various cocktails, often where a sweet, less bitter white vermouth is desired:

• White Negroni (often with Gin, and a bitter like Suze or Luxardo Bitter Bianco).

• Martini variations (as a sweeter alternative to Dry Vermouth).

• V&S (Vermouth and Soda): Simple, refreshing, and popular in Spain.

  
  

   

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

The Wine Advocate 91 Points | The white 2022 Quíbia was produced with 60% Premsal and 40% Giró Ros and sold as a generic wine without appellation because of the use of the Giró Ros grape. It matured with lees in stainless steel before being bottled. It has 12.9% alcohol and good freshness. Unfortunately, it feels quite reductive and is difficult to read on the nose, but the palate feels vibrant and fresher. Give it a little bit of time.

Memo Notes

The 2022 is celebrated for blending aromatic fruit with a refreshing, savory quality:

Color: Enticing straw-lemon with greenish highlights.

Aromas: A delightful mix of ripe white peach, pear, jasmine, and the striking note of sea brine or crushed seashells. You may also find subtle hints of Meyer lemon and green mango.

Palate: Crisp, lively, and well-balanced. The wine delivers concentrated flavors of ripe peach,

Anjou pear, and citrus zest. Reviewers often mention a silky, almost olive oil-like texture and a savory note of capers or green almond.

Salinity: A distinct salinity runs through the wine, acting as a complex counterpoint to the fruit, which makes it incredibly versatile with food.

Winemaker Description 

Ànima Negra was founded in 1994 when two self-taught friends — Pere Ignasi Obrador and Miquelàngel Cerdà — decided that the wines of their native Mallorca weren’t reaching full potential.

Taking advantage of some unused milk tanks at the dairy farm owned by Pere’s family, they made two barriques of wine from Callet grapes (a native Mallorcan varietal) they’d purchased from local farmers. The initial results were so encouraging that the friends decided to form a partnership and continue pursuing their newly found passion for wine.

Situated in the southeast of Mallorca, Ànima Negra winery produces its wines on the old country estate of Son Burguera, close to the town of Felanitx. The buildings date back to the 13th century, and contain a traditional winemaking area, which historically was used to supply wine for locals living on and near the estate.

Ànima Negra sources its grapes from more than 135 carefully selected parcels of land that the partners either own or control. Virtually all of these parcels are within a six-mile radius of the winery, and most of the vines are 50 to 85 years old.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

James Suckling 92 Points | Restrained and ambitiously structured, showing some roasted coffee beans, pine cones and sweet spices to the rich blackberries and cherries. Juicy and chewy on the palate with fine-grained tannins and a tight, lengthy finish. Drink from 2025.

Decanter 91 Points | Plummy fruit on the nose, with smoky bacon fat nuances and jammy fruit notes. Powerful and textural, long and pleasant.

Winemaker Description

It is an attractive, bright, pale gold sparkling wine, with tiny, abundant bubbles that rise up in streams to form a consistent crown. Deep, intense and elegant, initially evokes notes of ripe white fruit followed by hints of fennel, toast and citrus to complete its distinguished aroma.

Its creamy mousse is perfectly integrated in the palate, making the mouth simultaneously fresh, rounded, and evocative.

Winemaker Description 

A young, powerful and fruity red wine. Intense ripe red fruit on the nose. On the palate, sweet fruit such as blueberries mingle with violets, scorched earth, and graphite in a plump, powerful, medium to full-bodied wine. 

Winemaker Description 

With the name Bàrbara Forés, the marriage of Carmen Ferrer and Manuel Sanmartín wanted to pay tribute to their great-grandmother Bárbara Forés, who was born in Gandesa on February 7, 1828. Bárbara Forés, the daughter of a wine merchant (Rafael Forés) and an agricultural owner (Maria Figueras), was a person of great character and had a decisive influence on her son Rafael.

Rafael Ferrer Forés, a pharmacist and illustrious winegrower, constructed the cellar of the manor house where he began bottling wine at the end of the 19th century. Bárbara Forés, therefore, represents respect and tradition in the production of wines, passed down from generation to generation for more than a hundred years in their house.

Winemaker Description 

Bright wine with good herb and fruit intensity across the palate. Notes of boxwood, coriander, and tomato leaf with richer tropical fruits framed by citrus lime. Fresh, bright finish.

Enjoy on its own or with an array of appetizers, soft cheeses, grilled fish and seasonal salads.

Bodegas Portia is Grupo Faustino’s most recent winery project and is the 7th winery in the group. Located in the heart of Ribera del Duero, the Portia winery is a display of modern design, winemaking function and artistic detail. The brand offers very small production wines - intense, energetic & balanced. 

Harvesting at night allows the grapes to maintain all of their organoleptic qualities, as well as a balance between alcohol content and acidity. Once in the winery, the grapes are cold-macerated for a few hours before being pressed. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a low temperature to maintain all the characteristics of the best Verdejo white wine.

Winemaker Description 

Fruit aromas follow into the palate with a fresh acidity balanced by a lot of baking spices and a chalky tannin structure. The finish is long and smoky with a note of black pepper.

Winemaking and aging | The grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature between 25 and 28 °C. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged in new and used barrels for 12 to 16 months.

Tasting note | Red wine of intense colour. Powerful ripe fruit aroma, notes of mineral and oak barrel. In the mouth, it presents friendly and tempting, with smooth, well-integrated tannins and a long, persistent finish.

Type of vine | Vines located in the area of the cellar, at an altitude of 470 meters.

Winemaker Description 

"Locos por el Vino” is a new project from Bodegas Alto Moncayo, aiming to expand their range with high-quality, modern and casual wines produced from the winery’s youngest vineyards, guaranteeing the continuity of the Alto Moncayo project for future generations to come. A local term used in the village of Borja, "Zismero" refers to one who is provocative, jovial, and mirthful, with a complexity and uniqueness that makes its audience think deeply from the pointed jocularity.