Wine & Spirits

96 points James Suckling  The oak makes plenty of impact on the nose with some tarry notes across ripe-blue-plum, ccassis and chocolate aromas. Tannins are assertive. An essay in tannin structure and power, this has balance with impressive core strength. Flavors are in the purple-cherry, cassis and blackberry zone. Needs time. Great wine.  (10/2016) 96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate  Since the 2010 harvest, they ferment plot by plot, and it shows. This Valbuena has almost 100 components in it, smaller lots, all of them corresponding to a plot of vines. It has all the signs of being one of the best vintages ever for this second wine from Vega Sicilia, mostly Tempranillo but with 5% Merlot that matured five months in 20,000-liter oak vats, 18 months in new barriques (equal parts French and American oak), three months in used barrels and then five months in the vats again before being bottled in May 2013. 2010 seems to have the exuberance of the 2011 and the seriousness and elegance of 2009. It has the Burgundian philosophy of terroir, with all plots fermented and aged separately, giving each vineyard what it needs in terms of vinification and elevage resulting in something like 40 separate lots to blend. This wine has gained in precision and sharpness, and is very pure with delineated aromas and flavors. It is a world-class wine, possibly the best Valbuena ever. (LG)  (8/2014)

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Dried fruits and gingerbread in your nose, intensive Grenadine garnet with fruity red in your eyes, with plum, chocolate and sweet tobacco notes, tannins and currants balanced with its rather sweety core. Balanced and with smoothly fading finish. Highly recommended. here in Thailand available at Wine Garage. --Christoph Hampel

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Critic tasting note: "Deep violet-red to the eye, this wine has a nose of raspberry, white chocolate and juniper berry. Still youthful on the palate, it offers ever-present tannins supporting flavors of dark plum, black cherry, caramel and violet that slowly fade into a soft cherry-pie finish. Drink through 2042. Mike DeSimone" - 97/100, Wine Enthusiast

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Nice dark red colour. Red/black fruit, spicy and oaky on the nose 👃 Medium bodied, medium tannins and medium+ acidity. Notes, red fruit, strawberry, raspberry, black fruit, plum, oak, vanilla, tobacco, a bit of chocolate, nice spiciness, earthy, smoke and some leather. Quite long finish 🏁🏁 Good and tasty Rioja Crianza, I like this one 👌 Would be a good all-around wine with some meat dishes 🍷-Mikko H

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Assertive dark fruit with ripe plums and mulberries, as well as currants and riper, prune-like notes. The palate delivers earthy flavors in a very rich array of smooth tannins. Drink now.

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YJAR 2017, is really beyond the vintage, delivering a wonderful wine in such a challenging vintage. It has a deep bright garnet color. Its nose gracefully gets out of the glass with a complex, fragrant, and harmonious notion of black raspberries figs, spicy notes of star anise, cloves and green pepper, with a core of warm red and black currants and a touch of pencil lead and dark chocolate. Rich intense and medium to full-bodied wine with round and layered silky tannins with a polished mouthfeel than vibrates with the chalky texture and fresh intensity that gives its very long finish.

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Very full juicy with great strength deep ruby off dry Rioja. Medium/heavy body with medium tannins & acidity that are well balanced and textured. Lovely bouquet of cherry, oak, red currant & vanilla on nose. The palate adds strawberries & mushrooms. On mouth & throughout smoked oak flavors elegantly massages while gentle notes of cedar & earthy hints add another dimension to the olfactory & taste incredible experience. Long, suave & firm finish with bits of spice at end.

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Founded in 1986 by Miguel Ángel de Gregorio in the hillside town of Briones, Finca Allende is located in an ancient 17th century manor, set in a medieval town square within the heart of Rioja Alta. Roughly translated as ‘further,’ Allende’s philosophy is to go further towards creating the perfect Rioja. The majority of vines are plowed with mules and grapes are hand-harvested, triple-selected and manually punched-down before undergoing extensive underground aging in both barrel and bottle. Known for producing round wines with great body and structure, each bottle is hand-crafted by and contains the signature of Miguel Ángel de Gregorio. Considered to be Spain’s first terroirs, Miguel Ángel’s sincere dedication to natural farming and preserving the integrity of Rioja Alta are why he is one of Rioja’s most celebrated winemakers and a mastermind when it comes to making world-class Tempranillo.

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Sourced from estate vines primarily 15- to 25-years-old, Vall Llach’s Embruix (pronounced Embroosh), means “bewitching” in Catalan and the name, along with the symbol of a full moon on the wine’s label, is testament to the winery’s interest in biodynamic winemaking.

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On the nose it displays toasty baking spices, nutmeg, spring flowers, marzipan, and pit fruits. The partial oak and lees aging gives this Verdejo additional roundness, complexity, and length. 100% Verdejo planted on sandy, alluvial pebble covered soils - many of the old vines are ungrafted - at the high altitudes of the Spanish Meseta, west of Segovia. An intense contintental climate provides ample sunshine for the Verdejo to develop rich aromas of peaches, pears, and tropical fruits, while the high altitudes bring cool nights that ensure balanced acidity that keeps these wines fresh. Vines are dry-farmed without use of pesticides or herbicides, hand-harvested and 20% are fermented in large, neutral French oak barrels while the rest ferments in stainless steel. This partial oak aging results in a Verdejo that shows some toasty notes of baking spice and marzipan that complement the bright peaches and pears. Dry-farmed, no pesticides or herbicides, hand-harvested, Vegan

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Faustino Rioja Grand Reserva 2009   Clean, bright. Ruby colour developing to maroon. On the nose is complex and elegant, with wide fruity and spicy notes. On the mouth, elegant, with pleasant hints due to the barrel ageing. Long and silky finish. It matches with any kind of meat and mushrooms rice. Some tasty or oily fish such as tuna or cod. Medium-aged cheese such as emmental or gruyere.  

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The careful selection of grapes in certain areas of Pinot Noir from the Pavina Pago has been followed for the elaboration of this wine the old burgundy tradition .. A wine of great quality: Clean aromatic, persistent and very elegant. Aged in barrel of the best French oak.

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