Spain

Accolades:
90/100 ? James Suckling
91/100 ? Bob Campbell MW

?The nose here has attractive, deep-set blackberries and plums that follow on the palate with assertive, mocha-flavored oak that builds on the finish. Drink or hold.? ? James Suckling

?From the Jumilla region in central Spain from grapes grown in certified organic vineyards. Rich, flavoursome red with dark berry, savoury/new leather, spice, baked earth and vanilla flavours. Gutsy red with a pleasingly rustic edge. Best with food.? ? Bob Campbell MW

Tasting Note: Deep-red coloured wine with purple edges, with an extremely intense aroma of red and ripe fruit, pleasantly creamy, accompanied by touches of toasty oak. It is fruity and flavourful in the mouth, meaty and gamey with smoked charcuterie notes and soft, ripe tannins. Vanilla and cinnamon accent the finish.

Winemaking Notes: The harvest is done by hand at the optimum ripening time. Each grape variety was separately fermented and macerated with their own peels during 15/20 days at a controlled temperature no higher than 28?C. Ageing: 4 months in American oak barrels.

Certification: Organic

Alcohol: 14.5%

Varietal: Monastrell, Syrah and Petit Verdot

Region: Jumilla, Spain

Bodega Muga was founded in 1932 and remains in family hands today with 250 hectares in La Rioja Alta and long standing contracts with owners of another 150 hectares of vineyards spread among five main vineyards on clay and limestone soils with a wide variety of microclimates. 

The Muga wines are exciting and interesting Spanish blends of indigenous grapes with Tempranillo in the lead, supported by Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano for the reds. 

If you?re a fan of Spanish wine, try this gorgeous next level reserve out for size. 

Graciano is one of Spain?s best kept wine secrets - a red grape with thick skins that is a tricky customer to grow, which means there?s precious little of it about, even in the vineyards of the Rioja, where it is one of the traditional ingredients in the wine of the same name.

This is a dark Spanish beauty with soft fruit flavours, medium body and fresh, long finish.

Spain's Sierra de Gredos mountains are home to the Garnacha grapes that go into making this stunning, structured, dark and delicious red wine. If all previous experiences of Garnacha (aka Grenache) are of pure red fruity styles, think again. This is a great wine made in small volumes from old bush vines. 

The Sierra de Gredos region is east of Madrid. It is characterised by hot days, cool nights and a trend of new wave producers. 

Pares Balta has made a name for itself on our market thanks to its accessible bubblies of great purity. Working with the Xarel-lo grape variety in maceration for this cuvee, the estate offers a remarkably fragrant orange wine whose profile will appeal to both fans of the genre and anybody curious about the style. Great choice to mix things up as an aperitif or to bring a new twist to a Thai dinner.

This wine has evolved perfectly showing a deep ruby colour with shades of orange. Its nose is persistent, full bodied and showing a lot of mature fruit, being dominated by the Tempranillo grape. Its taste is round, smooth, fresh, full of body and persistent.

93/100 Wine Spectator
The 2012 Viña Bosconia Reserva is perhaps a little too young (María José López de Heredia likes more polished wines, and for her this wine was too tough), with some tannins and the chalky texture from the limestone soils. This blend of Tempranillo with 15% Garnacho and 5% between Graciano and Mazuelo matured in used American oak barrels for five years.

Our Verdejo 100% signature wine is made from vineyards planted between 1962 and 1991.  These are family-owned and from selected old vineyards which allows us to blend the soil range complexity from the Appellation of Origin Rueda.

Vineyard: The soil, made up of round pebble layers, low in organic matter, develops some limestone outcrops on the higher levels. The local climate, continental with Atlantic influence, forces the vine roots to go deep in search of water.

Wine making process: Must ferments in stainless steel, concrete and older wooden vats. After fermentation, the wine rests on its lees for four months. This blend is what makes our wine José Pariente Verdejo unique.

Vintage: The year 2020 was defined by mild temperatures in winter and summer, without extreme temperatures and significant rainfalls in the spring. All these elements contributed to a slow and balanced ripering process. These conditions resulted into a vintage 2020 of great intensity and aromatic definition. Fresh fruit (remarkable citrus) and balsamic character (anise flavour and menthol) especially stand out.

Tasting: Brilliant straw yellow colour with greenish reflections. Complex, fresh, elegant and high intense aroma. It has a markedly fruity tone that spans the range of white fruits and citrus. There are also hints of fennel and garrigue on a balsamic aniseed ground. All of it over a mineral base.

On the palate: fresh fruity notes appear again. Unctuous and elegant, with a slight touch of bitterness at the end, typical of Verdejo, backed by a good acidity. Very good structure favours a lingering wine. Complex and intense aftertaste.

Food pairing: Suitable for appetizers, fish, seafood, pasta, rice and white meat. It also pairs well with smoked food, soft cheese and sausage specialties.

Origin of grapes: Vineyards situated in Ribeiro?s Mi?o valley.

Soil types: Granite-based with slate schist.

Variety: Treixadura (100%)

Vinification: Grapes are selected and picked by hand, both from our own vineyards and those leased and under our own control, situated in the best areas of production in the Mi?o valley. A second selection of the clusters is done in the winery using a vibrating inspection table, followed by destemming and cold maceration for two and a half hours to extract all the aromatic potential.

Controlled temperature fermentation and then rests on fine lees for four months in stainless steel.

NOSE: Enveloping, intense aromas of aromatic herbs (lemon balm, lemon thyme), white fruit and freshly cut grass, with subtle citric notes (lemon drops).

PALATE: A vibrant and fresh entry. Sensations of juicy apple, white plums and bittersweet fruit, with an interesting and refreshing acidity.

Clean, elegant and intense with concentrated citrus aromas that are perfectly blended with delicious bitter touches of savoury wormwood. Cinnamon, nutmeg and sweetness balance out the bitterness beautifully.

Beronia Reserva is made from a selection of the best grapes from the oldest Tempranillo vines, plus some Graciano y Mazuelo. After a spell undergoing cold pre-fermentation maceration and controlled fermentation with periodic pumping over to extract the desired colour and aromas, the wine spent 18 months in mixed French and American oak barrels to create the unmistakable 'Beronia Style'. Lastly the wine was left to rest in the bottle a further 18 months before being released to the market.

Atractive and intriguing on the nose it displays nutty aromas ? roasted almonds, walnuts ? followed by notes of plum primarily but also ripe fruit and a pleasant hint of white pepper, which all add complexity and freshness. Full bodied the palate, the wine displays balanced acidity. The flavours are mostly of ripe fruit, whilst the finish is sweet and smooth, bringing to mind cacao and roasted hazelnuts.

Inspired by its home city of Barcelona, Vilarnau Brut Reserva Rose is stylish, vibrant and always at the centre of good times. Enjoy the endless stream of delicate pink bubbles and mouth-watering summer fruit flavours.

Sizzling southern Spanish red blend of Monastrell (also known as Mourvèdre) and Garnacha, both contributing ripe dark fruit flavours to a full bodied red with smooth mouthfeel, textural spices and a long finish. 

The Muriel Family has been making wine since the early twentieth century and this brand forms the flagship offering.

Here we have 100% Tempranillo which to be labelled as a Crianza must age for at least 18 months with a minimum of six months in oak. This wine has actually spent a year in American oak and the flavour profile is testament to this, with beautifully integrated vanilla and coconut notes that combine effortlessly with the dark and red berry flavours. An elegant wine with plush tannins and a fullness of body as is befitting the style.

Drink now and over the next couple of years with poultry, veal and cured meats.

Made from 100% Tempranillo fruit aged for 36 months in American oak and held for five years before release and now with some decent age under its belt - what's not to like. Bold and powerful with spicy fruit and mellow tannins Rioja Reservas really are a law unto themselves and given half a chance the oak just melts into the aged tertiary flavours harmoniously.