Spanish Red

Wine Advocate 94"The 2010 Milcampos Vinas Viejas comes from vines planted in 1930 and raised in French and American oak barrels. The nose is bashful at first with subtle black cherry, iodine and violet scents, but the palate is simply divine with filigree tannins and an effortless, pure, poised

Wine Advocate 96"The 2001 Gran Reserva 904 will not be released for another 3 years. Dark ruby-colored with a garnet rim, it displays a lovely nose of Asian spices, incense, tobacco, balsamic, and blackberry. On the palate it has exceptional depth, layers of spicy black fruit, excellent ripeness,

Robert Parker 92"A magnificent custom cuvee for Eric Solomon, this 2010 was made from high-elevation vineyards in the Costa Brava planted in granite. It was fashioned by the brilliant Jean-Marc Lafage, whose wines are reviewed elsewhere in this article. Composed of 100% Grenache aged 3 months in

Robert Parker 92"There are 5,000 cases of this remarkable value, another stunning example of the astonishing palate of Eric Solomon and his ability to ferret out exceptional wines at such ridiculously low prices that most consumers will never guess how good they are based on the price alone.

Wine Advocate 94"The 2011 P.F. is also from Iniesta and sees 10 months aging in 600-liter used French oak. The nose is broody and demands coaxing, reluctantly offering black currant, cranberry, cold stones and a touch of boysenberry jam. The palate is offers an effervescent entry – this wine just

Wine Advocate 93"The 2007 La Cueva del Contador is the second wine of Contador with final selection of the bunches based on taste. ML is in barrel and the wine is aged for 12 months in new French oak. Purple-colored, it displays a slightly reticent bouquet of smoke, mineral, Asian spices, violets,

Wine Advocate 94"The current release is the 2001 Reserva Especial, a deeply colored wine with a lovely perfume of cinnamon, lavender, incense, balsamic, and black cherry. Medium-bodied, velvety-textured, and already complex, it will continue to evolve for another 5-10 years and offer a drinking

International Wine Cellar 91"Deep, bright violet. Blackberry, cherry-vanilla and licorice on the oak-spiced nose. Deep, sweet and pliant, but with very good juicy character and spicy lift to its dark fruit preserve and licorice flavors. Finishes velvety and long, with fine-grained tannins, a

Wine Advocate 92"The 2010 Monastrell comes from 40-year-old vines cropped at 2.5 tons per hectare and aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. It has a clean fresh nose of bilberry and blackberry that is well defined and elegant for a 15% alcohol wine. The palate is medium-bodied with an

International Wine Cellar 91"The 2011 Tres Picos is an Explosive, flamboyant bouquet that exudes blackberry, cherry cola, violet, lavender and cracked pepper, plus a bonus of smokiness that is intense and impressively persistent on the finish."~ST

Robert Parker 94"A sensational offering from Navarra, the 2007 Baron de Magana is an intriguing blend of 35% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Tempranillo and 10% Syrah aged 14 months in primarily new oak. As its composition suggests, it is somewhat Bordeaux like with lots of black currant and

Rhone Report 91"Comprised of 80% Garnacha and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 20 months in French and American oak barrels and foudre, the 2010 Conreria d’Scala Dei Priorat Black Slate Escaladei is an energetic, beautifully lifted and elegant Priorat that delivers plenty of jammy black raspberry,

Robert Parker 93"Benjamin Romeo has garnered a few perfect scores from The Wine Advocate in the past. His least expensive offering, the brilliant 2009 Predicador is a blend of 96% Tempranillo, 3% Garnacha and 1% Viura aged 16 months in one-year-old French barrels. It exhibits an opaque purple

Robert Parker 93"From vineyards planted in pure granite soils, the 2011 A Portela is an amazing, unoaked, naturally made 100% Mencia. Opulently styled with copious notes of blueberry liqueur, crushed rocks, spring flowers and a hint of camphor, it exhibits fabulous intensity, a medium to

Wine Enthusiast 94"Exemplary Gran Reserva Rioja blending modernity with the best traditions of this famed region. Perfumed, lush and complex to start, then vibrant in the mouth, with excellent integration of flavors, acidity and tannins. Tastes of fine tobacco, mulled blackberry, chocolate and dry

Stephen Tanzer 90"(100% tempranillo): Ruby-red. Cherry, vanilla, tobacco and anise on the perfumed nose. Juicy and focused on entry, then fleshier in the mid-palate, offering vibrant dark berry and bitter cherry flavors and a touch of mocha. Finishes on a tangy note, with gentle tannins and

Robert Parker 93"A spectacular offering from Priorato that sells for a song (most wines from this region are in the $50-150 or higher range), the 2011 La Cartuja is a 4,000 case blend of 70% Garnacha and 30% Carinena (3,000 cases are being exported to the USA). It was aged for eight months in 50%

Wine Advocate 95"The 2009 Antiguos Vinedos comes from four small plots cropped at 3,500 kilogram per hectare, a selection of old vines then raised in new and used oak for 14 months. It has a startlingly fresh bouquet with wild strawberry, raspberry leaf and crushed stone, straight out of the

Wine Advocate 92-95"The 2009 Alonso del Yerro, tasted from a barrel sample, is purple/black in color with outstanding density and richness. It is a promising effort from what looks to be a great Tempranillo vintage in Ribera del Duero. Derenoncourt finds it reminiscent of the 2004. "

Wine spectator 91WS TOP 100 2012 Rank 75"This silky red offers fresh fruit flavors of plum and blackberry, with espresso and licorice notes. This is firm, bright and balanced, with a perfumed, floral finish. Drink now through 2018."~ T.M.Stephen Tanzer 90"Deep ruby. Oak-spiced cherry and

Wine Advocate 91-93"The 2011 Almirez was tasted as a final blend, although bottling was planned for the month following my visit. It comes from vineyards in Valdefinjas and Toro from vines between 15 and 65 years in age. The “crazy” thermal jumps meant there was much more freshness in this

Rhone Report 96"Even better than the smoking 2009, the 2010 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio is an over the top, decadent, and voluptuous effort that stays gorgeously drinkable and light on the palate. A blend of 70% Monastrell (aka Mourvèdre) and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 24 months in new

Wine Advocate 93"The opaque purple-colored 2010 Tarima Hill exhibits notes of chocolate fudge, pen ink, graphite, blueberries and blackberries. This full-bodied, 100% Monastrell should drink well for a decade or more. These amazing efforts taste more like they should cost $30 to $50 as opposed to

Wine Advocate 87The 2007 Reserva is virtually 100% Tempranillo from 30- to 40-year-old vines and it is raised for 25 months in American oak. It has a well-defined mulberry, cocoa and mint-scented bouquet that unfurls temptingly in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and