Search Results
Marques de Murrieta "Castillo Ygay" Gran Reserva Especial Blanco 1986
100
James Suckling
100
Wine Advocate
(8/2016) "I have been terribly excited about this wine since I first learned that (part of) it was still in cement waiting to be bottled in September 2013. I consider the rare white Castillo Ygay one of the greatest white wines ever produced in Spain, and the 1986 Castillo Ygay Blanco Gran Reserva Especial is a great addition to the portfolio of the winery--an historic wine that is coming back to life. I did a vertical tasting of many of the old, historic vintages of this wine, and they are included in a separate article in this very same issue. This 1986 had seen the light as a limited early release bottled in 1992 and sold around 1995, and some bottles might still be found in the market. But most of it remained unbottled and was kept at the winery, where it stayed in oak for 21 years, followed by some six years in cement vats until it was bottled. It has 13.5% alcohol, an extremely low pH of 2.98 and 6.75 grams of acidity (tartaric). It has a very subtle nose and it's a bit shy, a little closed at first. It was only bottled one and a half years ago, and it's not crazy to say that the wine is showing extremely young. The wine shows more open the day after, when it has developed some nuances of mushrooms and verbena tea. This is mostly Viura with perhaps a pinch of Malvasía Riojana (aka Alarije). The palate is both powerful and elegant, with superb acidity and great length, with volume and sharpness, with a mineral, umami-driven finish. It fills your mouth, tickles your taste buds and makes you salivate. There is nothing negative about the wine; there is no excess oak, nothing blurry, nothing to improve... perhaps the bottle used! I think this is a perfect wine. It seems to be getting younger and younger with time in the glass; it seems to be getting more focused and sharper, and I have no doubt the wine will evolve and last for a very, very, very long time in bottle. I kept the opened bottle for almost one week and the wine didn't move one inch--no oxidation or any signs of fatigue. Having tasted many other vintages, including the also perfect 1919 (which is still going strong at age 97), I have no doubt we're talking about a white for the next 50 years. Looking at the older vintages, I might even be underestimating its life span. The potential next release could be the 1998 in no less than ten years' time."
(8/2016) "I have been terribly excited about this wine since I first learned that (part of) it was still in cement waiting to be bottled in September 2013. I consider the rare white Castillo Ygay one of the greatest white wines ever produced in Spain, and the 1986 Castillo Ygay Blanco Gran Reserva Especial is a great addition to the portfolio of the winery--an historic wine that is coming back to life. I did a vertical tasting of many of the old, historic vintages of this wine, and they are included in a separate article in this very same issue. This 1986 had seen the light as a limited early release bottled in 1992 and sold around 1995, and some bottles might still be found in the market. But most of it remained unbottled and was kept at the winery, where it stayed in oak for 21 years, followed by some six years in cement vats until it was bottled. It has 13.5% alcohol, an extremely low pH of 2.98 and 6.75 grams of acidity (tartaric). It has a very subtle nose and it's a bit shy, a little closed at first. It was only bottled one and a half years ago, and it's not crazy to say that the wine is showing extremely young. The wine shows more open the day after, when it has developed some nuances of mushrooms and verbena tea. This is mostly Viura with perhaps a pinch of Malvasía Riojana (aka Alarije). The palate is both powerful and elegant, with superb acidity and great length, with volume and sharpness, with a mineral, umami-driven finish. It fills your mouth, tickles your taste buds and makes you salivate. There is nothing negative about the wine; there is no excess oak, nothing blurry, nothing to improve... perhaps the bottle used! I think this is a perfect wine. It seems to be getting younger and younger with time in the glass; it seems to be getting more focused and sharper, and I have no doubt the wine will evolve and last for a very, very, very long time in bottle. I kept the opened bottle for almost one week and the wine didn't move one inch--no oxidation or any signs of fatigue. Having tasted many other vintages, including the also perfect 1919 (which is still going strong at age 97), I have no doubt we're talking about a white for the next 50 years. Looking at the older vintages, I might even be underestimating its life span. The potential next release could be the 1998 in no less than ten years' time."
$
52900
Discount:
750 ML
R. Lopez de Heredia "Vina Tondonia" Reserva Rioja 2005
94
James Suckling
93
Wine Advocate
94
Vinous, Josh Raynolds
(2/2019) "(aged for six years in American oak barrels and four years in bottle) Bright red. Vibrant, spice-tinged red currant and cherry aromas are complemented by suggestions of pipe tobacco, vanilla and incense, and a spicy nuance gains volume with air. Sweet and seamless on the palate, offering energetic red fruit and spicecake flavors that pick up a hint of smokiness on the back half. Concentrated yet lively, showing impressive delineation and a sexy floral quality on the extremely long, seamless finish. While this wine is quite seductive right now, I've little doubt that it will cruise along nicely for at least another decade or more, and probably quite a bit longer"
(2/2019) "(aged for six years in American oak barrels and four years in bottle) Bright red. Vibrant, spice-tinged red currant and cherry aromas are complemented by suggestions of pipe tobacco, vanilla and incense, and a spicy nuance gains volume with air. Sweet and seamless on the palate, offering energetic red fruit and spicecake flavors that pick up a hint of smokiness on the back half. Concentrated yet lively, showing impressive delineation and a sexy floral quality on the extremely long, seamless finish. While this wine is quite seductive right now, I've little doubt that it will cruise along nicely for at least another decade or more, and probably quite a bit longer"
$
8899
Discount:
1.5 LT
Muga "Prado Enea" Gran Reserva Rioja 2010
97
Wine Advocate
99
James Suckling
(1/18/2018) "The wonderfully silky texture with an added juiciness is what makes this wine so very special. The flawless and seamless nature to the wine is so impressive that it takes you breath away. Plenty of beautiful fruit but what mouthfeel. Drink now and forever."
(1/18/2018) "The wonderfully silky texture with an added juiciness is what makes this wine so very special. The flawless and seamless nature to the wine is so impressive that it takes you breath away. Plenty of beautiful fruit but what mouthfeel. Drink now and forever."
$
6599
Discount:
750 ML
Vinedos de Paganos "El Puntido" Rioja Gran Reserva 2006
95
James Suckling
93
Vinous, Josh Raynolds
94
Wine Advocate
(6/28/2010) "The 2006 El Puntido is purple-colored with a fragrant nose of wood smoke, espresso, Asian spices, black cherry, and blackberry. Dense, round and smooth-textured, this opulent effort is loaded with luscious fruit and has enough structure to evolve for 6-8 years. Drink this lengthy effort from 2016 to 2026."
(6/28/2010) "The 2006 El Puntido is purple-colored with a fragrant nose of wood smoke, espresso, Asian spices, black cherry, and blackberry. Dense, round and smooth-textured, this opulent effort is loaded with luscious fruit and has enough structure to evolve for 6-8 years. Drink this lengthy effort from 2016 to 2026."
$
5499
Discount:
750 ML
Bodegas Bhilar "Phinca Lali" Rioja 2013
92+
Our Score
(8/2018) This powerful single-vineyard red is one of the most unique examples of Rioja you will find. The fruit comes from a tiny (.54-hectare) vineyard planted back in 1910. Today, these old bush vines are farmed naturally using biodynamic practices and yield a wine of deep concentration with hauntingly wonderful aromatics. Blending 90% Tempranillo with 10% Viura (a white varietal that contributes additional freshness and aromatics), the 2013 Phinca Lali sings of beautiful dark fruits of black cherry, black berry and dark raspberry that are layered with aromatic floral and herbal tones including violets and spearmint , deep nuances of rocky earth, and a potpourri of exotic spice notes. This full-bodied and full-flavored wine is still youthful, so make sure to decant for a couple of hours. Even better, throw a few bottles in the cellar and let it develop even further over the next decade or longer. A mere 990 bottles (about 83 cases) were produced of this stunning "new school" Rioja.
(8/2018) This powerful single-vineyard red is one of the most unique examples of Rioja you will find. The fruit comes from a tiny (.54-hectare) vineyard planted back in 1910. Today, these old bush vines are farmed naturally using biodynamic practices and yield a wine of deep concentration with hauntingly wonderful aromatics. Blending 90% Tempranillo with 10% Viura (a white varietal that contributes additional freshness and aromatics), the 2013 Phinca Lali sings of beautiful dark fruits of black cherry, black berry and dark raspberry that are layered with aromatic floral and herbal tones including violets and spearmint , deep nuances of rocky earth, and a potpourri of exotic spice notes. This full-bodied and full-flavored wine is still youthful, so make sure to decant for a couple of hours. Even better, throw a few bottles in the cellar and let it develop even further over the next decade or longer. A mere 990 bottles (about 83 cases) were produced of this stunning "new school" Rioja.
$
4999
Discount:
750 ML
Bodegas Muga "Seleccion Especial" Reserva Rioja 2014
94
James Suckling
93
Vinous, Josh Raynolds
93
Wine Advocate
93+
Jeb Dunnuck
(3/1/2018) "A wine that won't be released on the market until next year, the 2014 Muga Reserva Seleccion Especial checks in as a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 10% Graciano, 5% Manuelo. With an inky black color and loads of black fruits, charcoal, lead pencil, and espresso aromas and flavors, it's medium to full-bodied, has slightly more acidity than the 2012, as well as more tannin. It's a balanced, pure, beautiful expression of Rioja. It's going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for 15-20+ years."
(3/1/2018) "A wine that won't be released on the market until next year, the 2014 Muga Reserva Seleccion Especial checks in as a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 10% Graciano, 5% Manuelo. With an inky black color and loads of black fruits, charcoal, lead pencil, and espresso aromas and flavors, it's medium to full-bodied, has slightly more acidity than the 2012, as well as more tannin. It's a balanced, pure, beautiful expression of Rioja. It's going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for 15-20+ years."
$
3799
Discount:
750 ML
Bodegas Bhilar "Terca" Rioja Blanco 2010
93
Wine Advocate
(4/29/2015) "The classically proportioned 2010 Terca is sourced from two clay-rich old vineyards from the Elvillar village in the Rioja Alavesa subzone, mostly Viura with some 10% Malvasía Riojana (aka Alarije) produced with Sampedro's unusual modus operandi for these low-quantity whites: the grapes are hand-harvested into 400-liter containers and on arrival at the winery the whole bunches are foot trodden and they stay there macerating with the stems and skins for a week until fermentation starts. Then they are pressed, and finish fermenting in used 500-liter oak barrels where the wine ages for two years. It feels a little neutral with quite an imprint from the elevage, in the style of the white Riojas form yesteryear. It is evolving slowly with shy aromas of chamomile and aromatic herbs, hints of beeswax and honey, all of it in a subtle way. It has a solid palate showing good balance, which should secure it a nice evolution in bottle. Drink Date: 2015 - 2022."
(4/29/2015) "The classically proportioned 2010 Terca is sourced from two clay-rich old vineyards from the Elvillar village in the Rioja Alavesa subzone, mostly Viura with some 10% Malvasía Riojana (aka Alarije) produced with Sampedro's unusual modus operandi for these low-quantity whites: the grapes are hand-harvested into 400-liter containers and on arrival at the winery the whole bunches are foot trodden and they stay there macerating with the stems and skins for a week until fermentation starts. Then they are pressed, and finish fermenting in used 500-liter oak barrels where the wine ages for two years. It feels a little neutral with quite an imprint from the elevage, in the style of the white Riojas form yesteryear. It is evolving slowly with shy aromas of chamomile and aromatic herbs, hints of beeswax and honey, all of it in a subtle way. It has a solid palate showing good balance, which should secure it a nice evolution in bottle. Drink Date: 2015 - 2022."
$
3499
Discount:
750 ML
R. Lopez de Heredia "Vina Tondonia" Reserva Rioja 2006
95
Wine Advocate
(2/28/2018) "The red flagship 2006 Vina Tondonia Reserva was inspired by the vineyards of the Medoc but produced with local grapes, 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, which achieved 13% alcohol in 2006. It always matures in used American oak barriques for some six years. The oldest of all the reds I tasted, it was also the one with more freshness, which speaks to the quality of the vineyard. Drink 2018 - 2028."
(2/28/2018) "The red flagship 2006 Vina Tondonia Reserva was inspired by the vineyards of the Medoc but produced with local grapes, 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, which achieved 13% alcohol in 2006. It always matures in used American oak barriques for some six years. The oldest of all the reds I tasted, it was also the one with more freshness, which speaks to the quality of the vineyard. Drink 2018 - 2028."
$
3499
Discount:
750 ML
Bodegas Moraza "4 Caminos" Rioja Tempranillo 2015
92
Our Score
(7/2017) "4 Caminos" is a single vineyard bottling from the biodynamically farmed estate of Bodegas Moraza. The wine is fermented and aged in concrete tanks, forgoing the use of any oak. This allows the fruit and terroir to shine through. The style is one of elegance, with perfumed aromas of dried red fruits, red flower petals, chalky earth and aromatic herbs. Medium bodied, the bright red fruit and floral tones are deliciously balanced out with bright acidity. This wine is very much alive with plenty of energy and will make a fantastic accompaniment to your herb rubbed pork shoulder, grilled baby lamb chops or charcuterie board.
(7/2017) "4 Caminos" is a single vineyard bottling from the biodynamically farmed estate of Bodegas Moraza. The wine is fermented and aged in concrete tanks, forgoing the use of any oak. This allows the fruit and terroir to shine through. The style is one of elegance, with perfumed aromas of dried red fruits, red flower petals, chalky earth and aromatic herbs. Medium bodied, the bright red fruit and floral tones are deliciously balanced out with bright acidity. This wine is very much alive with plenty of energy and will make a fantastic accompaniment to your herb rubbed pork shoulder, grilled baby lamb chops or charcuterie board.
Bodegas Moraza Rioja Garnacha 2014
90+
Our Score
(11/2017) This Rioja bottling from Bodegas Moraza is 100% Garncha from their small, biodynamically farmed estate. The aromas let you know this is natural wine, with plenty of wet rocky earth, barnyard and mushroom. On the palate, the wine is totally vibrant and energetic, showing off black cherry, raspberry and blueberry flavors with the earthy tones playing more of a background role. This medium bodied red is delicious, especially for those that like 'em earthy and raw.
(11/2017) This Rioja bottling from Bodegas Moraza is 100% Garncha from their small, biodynamically farmed estate. The aromas let you know this is natural wine, with plenty of wet rocky earth, barnyard and mushroom. On the palate, the wine is totally vibrant and energetic, showing off black cherry, raspberry and blueberry flavors with the earthy tones playing more of a background role. This medium bodied red is delicious, especially for those that like 'em earthy and raw.
$
2699
Discount:
750 ML
