Spain

“A concentrated, elegant Ribera del Duero with a persistent, polished finish”. James Suckling.   #4 Best Spanish Wine for 2023   WS 95 (3/2023): "This full-bodied red is rich and concentrated, yet fresh and elegant overall. Offers plush texture wrapped around a firm frame of sculpted tannins, carrying violet-laced notes of ripe black plum, dried fig, eucalyptus and spices. Hints of coffee and smoke enrich the lasting finish. Drink now through 2033. 835 cases made," WINERY NOTE:   PINEA is a signature wine named after the majestic, legendary  Pinus Pinea tree that stands guard over our vineyards....

Preludio de Sei Solo  is a red wine from the  Ribera del Duero  region produced by  Bodegas Sei Solo . It is made using only  Tinto Fino (Tempranillo)   grapes. The grapes that are used to make  Preludio de Sei Solo  come from nine small plots situated in the locality of  La Horra,  in the province of  Burgos.  The vines, which are around 60-90 years old, are of a very low yield. Only 7,000 bottles of this wine are produced per vintage. On arrival at the winery, the grapes are pass through the process of being desetemmed, followed by undergoing cold maceration. Then...

Wine Advocate 91 points. As with many reds from 2017, I was pleasantly surprised by the 2017 Hado, which Carlos San Pedro told me could be a modern version of the 2005 (and 2016, perhaps 2007). It has good ripeness, black rather than red fruit and spicy oak. The palate is still a bit tannic, but this wine will not be released until October 2019, so it will have some time to polish those tannins in bottle. LG June 2019. #22

Wine Advocate 94 points. The eminently Mediterranean 2020 Uno was produced with Monastrell grapes from ungrafted 57-year-old vines picked at full ripeness with plenty of aromas and flavors. It fermented in open-top vats with indigenous yeast and was foot trodden and matured in a 5,000-liter oak vat for 12 months. So, the oaking is almost imperceptible and the wine comes through as balanced, harmonious, varietal and clean, very expressive, with a medium to full body and very fine tannins. Superb. It should age nicely in bottle. 6,600 bottles were filled in January 2022.  

Wine Advocate 91 points. The entry-level red is the 2019 Románico, produced with Tinta de Toro (a.k.a. Tempranillo) from younger vines (10 to 25 or 30 years old, some of them grafted) in the villages of Valdefinjas and Toro. It fermented in a traditional way, foot trodden and with soft pumping overs, with indigenous yeasts selected from their own vineyards and matured in used French oak barrels for an average of six to eight months, as some wine is kept in stainless steel and other lots are aged in barrel for longer. This is primary and fruit-driven (black fruit), with purity and something floral; it's juicy and tender, with ripe,...

Wine Advocate 93 points.   The 2019 7 Fuentes El Lance, a red blend that changes with the vintage, was a blend of 70% Listán Negro, 20% Castellana Negra and 10% Vijariego Negro from different plots from five vineyards—Habanera, Florida, Pencones, Cruz Santa and Diego—fermented in plastic bins and concrete vats with 20% to 100% full clusters, depending on the variety, with indigenous yeasts and without temperature control. It matured in used 500-liter oak barrels for nine months. It has a medium body and ripeness with 12.5% alcohol. It's very volcanic, stony and tasty, with very fine tannins and tasty flavors. This...

Wine Advocate 96 points. James Suckling 95 points. Decanter 95 points.   Blend of mostly Tinto Fino then Navarro, Valenciano, and Albillo. "There is a change in the 2020 Matallana, as they have included Jean-Guillaume Prats (ex-Cos d'Estournel, ex-Lafite...) in the Ribera del Duero project, and the wine is going to be sold for the first time with this vintage through the négociant system of La Place de Bordeaux. The grapes from the five villages (mentioned but then crossed out on the label) were picked between the sixth and 18th of October and fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel and oak vats. The...

Wine Advocate 91 points. The light red 2021 Tragolargo is a pure fruit-driven and young Monastrell from a vineyard on sandy and limestone soils in the Casa Balaguer property. It was picked early to preserve acidity and fermented with one-third full clusters and the rest uncrushed. In 2021 there was a heat wave that affected the whites, but they consider it a very good year for reds. It has 13.5% alcohol and a medium body, bottled unoaked, primary, young and fleshy. 25,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2022.  

94 points Wine Spectator: “This full-bodied red is generous yet structured, featuring depth and balance. Ripe flavors of plum and currant mingle with cocoa, clove and mineral notes, supported by mouthcoating tannins and balsamic acidity. Harmonious and long. Best from 2022 through 2037." Bodegas Valderiz is located in Roa, where some of the most complex Tinta del Pais grapes in Spain are produced. In 1980, the head of the family, Tomas Esteban considered his options for making the most of their plots. The vineyard began to take shape over the next 10 years with the efforts and devotion of his sons Juan and Ricardo. The current...

Mundus Vini 2018, Trophy, Best Wine from Ribera del Duero. AWC Vienna, Gold Medal, 2017.   Vintage: 2005 Varieties: 100% Tempranillo grape from vineyards over 80 years old. Vineyard: Located between 800 and 850 meters of altitude Soils: Granites and sandstones from the alteration of the bedrock Alcoholic grade: 14.5% vol. Harvest: The year 2005 turned out to be a short vegetative cycle, due to an early frost in September, which did not affect the grapes, which were already ripe and of optimal quality to be harvested. The harvest was carried out between September 15 and 20, 2005, with an average...

4 Golds. AWC Vienna 2023; Beverage Testing Institute 2021 Mundus Vini 2021 Les Citadelles du Vin 2017 Tim Aitken 91/100 Penin Guise 91/100 Vintage: 2009 Varieties: 100% Tempranillo grape from vineyards over 80 years old. Vineyard: Located between 800 and 850 meters of altitude Soils: Granites and sandstones from the alteration of the bedrock Alcoholic grade: 14.5% vol. Harvest: The 2009 vintage had a balanced development cycle of the vines, with the typical temperature contrast between day and night throughout the summer, which allowed the production of a wine of exceptional quality, with a powerful structure...

Gold Medal IWC Vienna 2011. Vintage: 2003 Varieties: 100% Tempranillo grape from vineyards over 80 years old. Vineyard: Located between 800 and 850 meters of altitude. Soils: Granites and sandstones from the alteration of the bedrock Alcoholic grade: 15% vol. Harvest: This vintage was especially complicated due to the drought and strong heat, but the good weather conditions of the vintage with wide contrasts between day and night achieved excellent maturation, which has allowed us to carry out this magnificent elaboration. The harvest was carried out on October 3 and 4, 2003 with an average temperature of...

7 Gold medals. HK IWSC 2020 Trophy Best Wine from Spain. HK IWSC 2020 Trophy Best Tempranillo. Vintage: 2004 Varieties: 100% Tempranillo grape from vineyards over 80 years old. Vineyard: Located between 800 and 850 meters of altitude Soils: Granites and sandstones from the alteration of the bedrock Alcoholic grade: 15.5% vol. Harvest:  The year 2004 turned out to be an exceptional vegetative cycle with enormous thermal jumps between days and nights throughout the summer and especially in the last month before the harvest. This has allowed us to produce an exceptionally qualitative wine with great structure...

2 Golds. Decanter 94 points. Tim Aitken 91 points Vintage: 2005 Varieties: 100% Tempranillo grape from vineyards over 80 years old. Vineyard: Located between 800 and 850 meters of altitude Soils: Granites and sandstones from the alteration of the bedrock Alcoholic grade: 15.5% vol. Harvest: The year 2005 turned out to be a short vegetative cycle, due to an early frost in September, which did not affect the grapes, which were already ripe and of optimal quality to be picked. This has allowed us to produce an exceptional wine, with great structure and power, which ensures a great capacity for aging in the...

Gold Medal. Mundus Vini 2020 Glod Medal, AWC Vienna 2017. Decanter 93 points. Vintage: 2009 Varieties: 100% Tempranillo grape from vineyards over 80 years old. Vineyard: Located between 800 and 850 meters of altitude Soils: Granites and sandstones from the alteration of the bedrock Alcoholic grade: 15.5% vol. Harvest: The 2009 vintage had a balanced development cycle of the vines, with the typical temperature contrast between day and night throughout the summer, which allowed the production of a wine of exceptional quality, with a powerful structure and great aging capacity. The harvest was carried out...

Gold Medal, Mundus Vini 2012. Gold Medal, Les Citadelles du Vin 2012. James Suckling 92 points. Varieties: 100% Tempranillo grapes from our own vineyards. Vineyard: Located in alluvial terrain between 800 and 850 meters of altitude. Soils: Granites and sandstones from the alteration of the bedrock. Alcoholic grade: 14.5% vol. Harvest: The year 2004 turned out to be an exceptional vegetative cycle with enormous thermal jumps between days and nights throughout the summer and especially in the last month before the harvest.  The harvest was carried out between September 27 and 29, 2004 with an average temperature...

Gold Medal, AWC Vienna, 2017. Gold Medal, Bacchus 2016. James Suckling 92 points.   Varieties: 100% Tempranillo grapes from our own vineyards. Vineyard: Located in alluvial terrain between 800 and 850 meters of altitude. Soils: Granites and sandstones from the alteration of the bedrock. Alcoholic grade: 14.5% vol. Harvest: The year 2005 turned out to be a short vegetative cycle, due to an early frost in September, which did not affect the grapes, which were already ripe and of optimal quality to be picked. The harvest was carried out between September 15 and 20, 2005, with an average temperature of...

Gold Medal, Les Citadelles du Vin 2011 Varieties: 100% Tempranillo grapes from our own vineyards. Vineyard: Located in alluvial terrain between 800 and 850 meters of altitude. Soils: Granites and sandstones from the alteration of the bedrock. Alcoholic grade:  14.5% vol. Harvest: The 2009 vintage had a balanced development cycle of the vines, with the typical temperature contrast between day and night throughout the summer, which allowed the production of a wine of exceptional quality, with a powerful structure and great aging capacity. The harvest was carried out between October 10 and 14, 2009 at an...

Wine Enthusiast 95 points. "A black fruit aroma melds with a balsamic tone and a hint of road tar on the nose. The palate deals a forceful combination of tannins and acidity, while this Gran Reserva from a hot, dry year tastes of ripe black fruits backed by oak and vanilla. Drink through 2028. " Michael Schachner. Decanter World Wine awards 95 points. Intense and complex aromas. Its deep notes of ripe black and red fruit are mixed with the smoky aromas and the hints of coffee, chocolate and leather with a touch of undergrowth. In the background, a subtle and elegant minerality is felt along with its good balsamic aromas. Only made...

Wine and Spirits Magazine 93 points. Vineyards: A selection of our own vineyards in Sotillo and Quintana del Pidio (Burgos) and Pesquera (Valladolid), with an altitude between 900 and 1050 meters. The vineyards are an average of 40 years old and the soil is a mixture of clay and lime, with deep and very sandy gravel on the surface. Ageing: Following the fermentation and maceration, the wine was transferred into 225-litre barrels of new French oak, where it remained for 14 months (and was racked every six months). The wine was then aged in the bottle for a minimum of six months. Tasting: A deep, intense cherry-red colour, bright and...

Tim Atkin MW 91 points. “Intense red colour with garnet edge Complex aroma, red fruits, wild herbs Roasted notes of coffee, black chocolate. Fresh, fruity, fleshy, tasty, round, complex, balanced, long and persistent in the mouth". Tempranillo 100%. From a selection of the Tempranillo harvested at optimal health and maturation in small 15 kg boxes. In the winery, a manual selection of bunches and destemming occurs and crushing without pressure. Produced by malolactic fermentation in the barrel and then an aging of 14 months in French and American oak barrels, 50% of which are 12 months old.