Wine & Spirits

Winemaker Notes Lemon yellow with greenish highlights, clean and bright. A pure sensation of fruit on the nose, ripe peach wrapped in citrus notes and a finish of ripe pear. On the palate, its enthralling acidity and great extract make a powerful impact upon entry. It then bursts with an explosion of delicious fruit: peach, attractive citrus notes and a lovely silkiness. The characteristic saline note of great wines made with this variety, which makes them so good with food, makes a clear appearance on the finish. A very seductive wine. The clean flavors of Albariño are very versatile and partner well with typical local dishes such as Galician style octopus or scallops. It is ideal with white meats and vegetables or seafood, clams, oysters and oven-baked fish.

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Winemaker Notes On the nose, this Reserva shows great balance, with very ripe fruit appearing at first, followed by hints of freshness and noble oak. Sweet, aniseed-like notes appear in the background, leaving an intense and long-lasting flavor which is elegant, lively, and very pleasant on the palate. Balanced acidity and well-polished tannins give a very smooth mouth feel, with high quality oak on the finish.

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Wine Advocate As has happened in the last few years, the NV Único Reserva Especial 2021 Release is composed of wines of around 10 years of age, in this case 2009, 2010 and 2011, with 2011 being the Único vintage released at the same time as this non-vintage blend. It's a tribute to the tradition and the past times, a blend of mostly Tinto Fino, the local strain of Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, and a little Cabernet Sauvignon where they look for the balance and house style by blending different vintages of Único. There are many similarities with the 2011, which can represent about one-third of the blend. There's a little more development in the aromas, some of those ripe but herbal aromas and a powerful palate but without the elegance of the 2011 vintage bottling, which has more stuffing in the mid-palate. It finishes dry, with some tannins. It's certainly younger and fresher than the Reserva Especial from yesteryear, and they are now trying to hold onto some wine to again give it some older components like in the recent past. 16,916 bottles and 257 magnums produced. It was bottled in June 2017.

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Winemaker Notes Valbuena 5º is the purest expression of red wine at Vega Sicilia. It is aged between barrel and bottle over five years, giving rise to the wine's name. The 2018 bottling is a vertical, zingy, crystalline expression, full of nuances, with a seductive and unctuous texture. Blend: 96% Tinto Fino, 4% Merlot

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WINEMAKERS: Fernando Remírez de Ganuza & Pedro Aibar Sánchez 2016 HARVEST: 2016 was characterized by an unusually mild winter for a continental climate, with a rainy spring that delayed budding. Summer was hot and dry, with high temperatures in June that caused the early onset of flowering. The existing water reserves in the soil allowed optimal ripening. The harvest took place on the morning of October 6, with exceptional grape quality. It was carried out manually in small boxes, and the best clusters were carefully selected by hand. GRAPE CHARACTERISTICS: 100% Tempranillo. Grown in two exclusive vineyards of more than 100 years old, located in the area of Anguix and La Horra, on the moorlands, at an altitude of approximately 1000m. Cultivated in very poor soils of limestone parent rock.

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Winemaker Notes Very covered cherry red color, intense on the nose, highlighting ripe black fruits that gain intensity as the wine evolves in the glass. During the tasting, a fruity base is perceived, nuances of the typical aromas of Tempranillo and spicy notes characteristic of the great vintages of this brand. In the mouth it is voluminous, with ripe and silky tannins. The aftertaste is long and very persistent. Its silkiness and elegance on the palate allow this Malleolus 2020 to pair with any roast or stew, making it one of the Ribera del Duero wines recommended by the public and critics.

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Broadbent Description Aged in oak casks for at least 10 years. A superb, full-bodied, wonderfully rich Madeira with a sweet, rich chocolaty flavor and a concentrated bouquet. Best enjoyed with desserts, or on its own after a meal. Wine Enthusiast: 90 Points The Madeira regulations say that 10-years old is the age of the youngest part of the blend. So this richly sweet Malmsey contains many older wines. These are shown in the old gold color, the proper citrus acidity and the dryness that goes with wood aging. At the end, though, the liquid honey flavors are dominant.

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A biodynamic Priorat comprising Garnacha & Carignan, this was quite unlike many other examples I’ve tried, reminding of Nebbiolo. Pale ruby. Pronounced aroma intensity w. cherry, black cherry, raspberry & dried red flowers. Quite tarry w. loganberry & earthy plum & liquorice root. Blind I’d be in Piemonte. Developing. Dry. Quite rustic w. structured m+ tannins, m+ alc & juicy m+ acid. Grippy cherry, raspberry, raspberry pip, loganberry & plum. M+ bodied w. a m+ finish. An all round very enjoyable drop. -- Andy B

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Vinyes Domènech is a family project started Joan Ignaci and his wife, Rita, in Capçanes, in the south of Priorat. Together with their sons, they biodynamically farm 15 hectares of recovered old-vines vineyards. From an amphitheatre vineyard surrounded by forest at 600m, this biodynamic garnacha is rooted in red clay and limestone, and is produced without adding SO2. After a native ferment, this aged in 300L amphora. An intoxicating nose of perfumed wildflowers, musk, scrubby herbs, rockrose, pink peppercorns continues through this medium bodied wine, shaped with a finely grippy amphora texture and fine, sculpted tannins. There is an easy, buoyant, mountainous acidity streaming this to the botanical finish. Very characterful.

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Made with the indigenous Hondarribi Zuri grape variety, this wonderful Txakoli (pronounced cha-co-li) is a brilliantly zesty example of this intriguing wine.  Bodegas Katxina strive to produce the healthiest fruit possible with which to make clean, crisp and enjoyable wine.  The grapes are harvested at optimum ripeness in October and are pressed very gently to protect the delicate fruit characters of the grape.  Following a cool fermentation the wine sits on it’s lees for 3 – 4 months at 4 degrees celsius helping to retain it’s gentle spritz.  Super fresh, with lovely aromatics and crisp, zesty finish, this is a great aperitif style and also perfect for shellfish dishes.

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Winemaker Notes Intense color with a slightly brick-red border. Very complex bouquet of balsamic notes with delicate wood notes. Full-bodied palate with ripe plum and sweet spices over toasted flavors. It maintains the freshness of a subtle vividness that promises excellent aging potential. Flavorsome, rich with a lingering finish.  Blend: 85% Tempranillo, 8% Garnacha Tinta, 7% GracianoJames Suckling A fragrant and complex nose of cherries, plums, roasted spices, dried black mushrooms, refined soy sauce and cigar box. Such a lovely note of umami savoriness! It’s medium-bodied with a fine grip of fine tannins. Delicate, velvety texture, but tight, with a very savory, long and layered finish. Classic Rioja Gran Reserva.

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Critic tasting note: "Deep violet-red to the eye, this wine has aromas of black cherry, blackberry preserves and a hint of mint. Fruit of the wood flavors are joined by notes of freshly ground espresso, dark chocolate and touches of eucalyptus and orange zest. Opulent tannins make their way across the palate and linger for a while."

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