Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar – Best New Wines from Spain Reviews by Josh Raynolds (September/October 2013)

BODEGAS EIDOSELA Albariño 2012 {Rías Baixas} 90 points “High-pitched aromas of lemon zest, white flowers and minerals. Dry, incisive and pure, offering dusty citrus fruit flavors along with a deeper pear nuance. Closes smooth and long, with lingering floral character and strong citrus bite.” FINCA VIÑOA Ribeiro 2012 {Ribeiro} 90 points “Mineral-accented orchard fruits and lemon on the fragrant nose. Dry, sharply defined pear and lemon pith flavors show excellent energy and pick up notes of fennel and honeysuckle with air. Closes nervy and long, with crackling minerality and a refreshingly bitter pear skin quality.” BODEGAS VALDESIL Montenovo 2012 {Valdeorras} 90 points “Fragrant scents of tangerine, white flowers and minerals, with a gingery topnote. Dry, racy and precise, offering tangy citrus and orchard fruit flavors and a hint of bitter quinine. Closes spicy and long, with resonating minerality and a suggestion of fennel.” BODEGAS VALDESIL Valdesil 2012 {Valdeorras} 91 points “Intense lime and melon aromas are complemented by floral and honey nuances. Silky, mineral-tinged flavors of candied lime and tangerine show a suave blend of depth and vivacity, with a smoky nuance emerging on the back half. This dense yet lithe wine finishes with excellent clarity and mineral persistence. Zero excess fat here.” BODEGAS VALDESIL Pezas da Portela 2010 {Valdeorras} 93 points “Nectarine, pear skin, smoky minerals and white flowers on the nose. Juicy and fresh, with ripe acidity framing and sharpening intense pit and orchard fruit flavors flavors. This really stains the palate. Powerful yet lively wine with superb finishing clarity and mineral-driven persistence.” BODEGAS VALDESIL Pedrouzos 2010 {Valdeorras} 93 points “Ripe peach and poached pear on the nose, with complicating notes of iodine, honey and musky flowers. Round, chewy and expansive, offering intense pit fruit flavors and bracing notes of lemon zest and smoky minerals. Nicely balances richness and vivacity and finishes with outstanding clarity and mineral-driven persistence.” BODEGAS VALDESIL Valderroa 2011 {Valdeorras} 90 points “Vibrant floral and dark berry aromas are complemented by cracked pepper and smoky minerals. Sappy raspberry and blackberry flavors are given lift and spine by tangy acidity. Fresh, elegant and precise, finishing with persistent dark berry and violet notes. This is an excellent introduction to mencia, at a great price.” ANTONIO SANZ Verdejo 2012 {Rueda} 90 points “Aromas of lemon, ginger, white pepper and honeysuckle. Taut and dry, with assertive citrus fruit and floral flavors and hints of bitter pear skin and quinine. Sharply focused and pure on the finish, featuring persistent mineral and citrus zest notes. This wine doesn't display the often overt herbal character that I notice in so many examples from Rueda.”

BODEGAS ERCAVIO Blanc 2012 {Tierra de Castilla} 89 points “High-pitched citrus fruit and mineral aromas are complemented by suggestions of pear skin and anise. Silky, penetrating lemon and pear flavors pick up a spicy nuance with air, along with a hint of honeysuckle. Closes tangy and tight, with good energy and length. This is an impressive example of the airen variety, which is the most widely planted grape in Spain.” BODEGAS ERCAVIO Tempranillo Roble 2011 {Tierra de Castilla} 90 points “Fragrant aromas of blueberry, blackberry, mocha and smoky Indian spices. Very good clarity and lift to the flavors of dark berries, vanilla and candied flowers. The clinging finish repeats the smoke and floral notes. Outstanding value here.” LA BUENA VID Rioja 2010 {Rioja } 90 points “Fresh cherry and dark berry scents are complicated by notes of cola and peppery spices. Chewy and precise, offering bitter cherry and blueberry flavors and a zesty note of cracked pepper. Closes spicy and long, with a hint of bitter chocolate and youthful tannins.” LECHUZA Garnacha 2012 {Cariñena} 90 points “Expressive aromas of black and blue fruits, licorice and candied flowers, with a peppery nuance adding lift. Round, supple and appealingly sweet, offering concentrated blueberry and cassis flavors and a touch of bitter chocolate. Shows impressive energy and power on the finish, which is shaped by smooth, harmonious tannins that are quickly absorbed by the wine's fruit. There's serious bang for the buck here.” MENCÍAS DE DOS de 2 2011 {Bierzo} 90 points “Lively, sharply focused cherry and dark berry aromas are complemented by licorice and cracked pepper. Mineral-laced bitter cherry and blackberry flavors show very good clarity, picking up a smoky nuance with air. Finishes clean and nervy, with echoing mineral and licorice notes.” AZUL Y GARANZA Fiesta 2012 {Navarra} 89 points “Peppery raspberry and cherry aromas are complemented by cracked pepper and spicecake. Juicy red fruit flavors take a slightly jammy turn with air but maintain vivacity and focus. Finishes sweet, with very good clarity and good spicy persistence. This is a fantastic value.” AZUL Y GARANZA Abril 2012 {Navarra} 90 points “Floral aromas of blueberry and violet accented by a mineral element. Bright, clean and fresh, showing appealing sweetness to its dark berry and floral pastille flavors. Finishes sweet and persistent, with smooth tannins and bright acidity.” AZUL Y GARANZA Seis 2011 {Navarra} 91 points “Powerful cherry and dark berry scents are enlivened by a bright mineral nuance. Tangy and precise on entry, then fleshier in the middle, offering blackcurrant and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of cracked pepper. Closes with firm tannic grip, an echo of black pepper and very good persistence. Shows the darker side of Navarra--and built to age.” AZUL Y GARANZA Desierto 2009 {Navarra} 92 points “Powerful, deeply pitched aromas of cherry compote and blueberry, with a smoky overtone. Zesty mineral and Asian spice notes add vibrancy to sweet black and blue fruit flavors, with floral nuance emerging with air. Closes spicy and long, with slow-building tannins and an echo of floral pastilles.” TOMÀS CUSINÉ Auzells 2012 {Costers del Segre} 90 points “Vibrant, perfumed scents of dusty minerals, honeysuckle, lime and lemon zest and green apple. Racy, exuberant citrus and fresh orchard flavors show very good lift and a mouthwatering minerally quality. Finishes with impressive length and energy, leaving a bitter citrus zest note behind.” TOMÀS CUSINÉ Llebre 2011 {Costers del Segre} 89 points “Lively, mineral-laced aromas of dark berries and cherry, with cracked pepper, smoky oak and floral accents coming up with aeration. Tangy and delineated on the palate, showing bitter cherry and blackcurrant flavors and a hint of candied violet. Finishes on a zesty mineral note, with very good focus and sneaky tannins.”

TOMÀS CUSINÉ Vilosell 2010 {Costers del Segre} 91 points “A highly expressive, mineral-accented bouquet evokes black raspberry, potpourri, Indian spices and cola. Vibrant and focused on entry, then gains heft and depth in the mid-palate, offering smoky dark berry, licorice and musky spice flavors with strong tangy lift. Dusty tannins frame the intense dark fruit flavors on the lingering, smoky finish.” TOMÀS CUSINÉ Geol 2009 {Costers del Segre} 91 points “Smoky, deeply pitched black and blue fruit aromas are lifted and sharpened by peppery spice and mineral nuances. An exotic floral note comes up with air and carries onto the palate, which displays sweet blueberry and cherry-vanilla flavors. Smooth and broad on the finish, which features supple tannins and lingering smokiness.” LA VINYETA Heus Blanc 2012 {Empordà} 90 points “Mineral-tinged citrus fruits and jasmine on the fragrant nose. Dry, tightly wound lemon and green apple flavors unfold with air while maintaining very good clarity. Fat-free and nervy (thanks at least in part to the relatively low 12.5% alcohol), finishing with strong bite and lingering mineral and floral notes.” LA VINYETA Heus Negre 2012 {Empordà} 90 points “Spicy redcurrant and cherry pit aromas are complemented by peppery spices and dried rose. Lively and precise on the palate, offering tangy red berry and bitter cherry flavors plus a hint of sassafras. The nicely delineated finish shows no obvious tannins and good spicy persistence.” LA VINYETA Llavors 2011 {Empordà} 89 points “Dried cherry and dark berry aromas are complicated by cola and smoky Indian spices. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry, black raspberry and dark chocolate flavors and an invigorating note of peppery spices. Closes on a smoky, oaky note, with a hint of bitter chocolate and youthful tannic grip.” DIT CELLER Cabirol Blanc 2012 {Terra Alta} 90 points “A complex bouquet evokes dried pear, peach pit, beeswax and dried flowers; smells a lot like a serious dry Vouvray. Taut and linear but dense, offering powerful but refreshingly bitter-edged orchard fruit and citrus pith flavors. Closes on a chewy note, with firm grip and bright mineral cut.” DIT CELLER Cabirol Tinto 2011 {Montsant} 90 points “Perfumed scents of red berry preserves, dried rose, incense and licorice, along with a spicy overtone. Spicy raspberry and cherry flavors show very good clarity, supple texture and a subtle floral pastille quality. Packs a punch but comes off as energetic, finishing with impressive freshness and persistence.” DIT CELLER Selenita Tinto 2010 {Montsant} 91 points “Blackberry, blueberry and sexy oak spices on the nose, with a floral topnote providing lift. Appealingly sweet, lush and deep, with smooth flavors of black raspberry, vanilla and licorice. Finishes generous and long, with supple tannins and lingering sweetness.” DIT CELLER Selenita Tanit 2009 {Montsant} 91 points “Candied blackberry and cherry on the nose, with notes of potpourri, vanilla and allspice adding complexity. Deeply pitched black and blue fruit flavors show surprising energy and pick up a smoky nuance on the back half. Suave and velvety wine with toasty vanillin oak spice notes carrying through a long, sweet finish.” BODEGAS MUSTIGUILLO Mestizaje Blanco 2012 {Vino de Espana} 90 points “Spicy citrus, mineral and floral scents are deepened by notes of pear skin and anise. Tangy and focused, with finely etched Meyer lemon, green apple and fennel flavors. Gains depth with air and finishes with chalky mineral cut and lingering citrus fruit qualities.”

BODEGAS MUSTIGUILLO Mestizaje Tinto 2011 {Vino de Espana} 89 points “Highly perfumed scents of smoky dark fruits, violet, resiny herbs and cracked pepper. Fleshy and sweet, with deep blackcurrant and bitter cherry flavors lifted by brisk acidity and nicely framed by supple tannins. Gains spiciness on the long, sweet finish, which leaves a smoky note behind.” BODEGAS MUSTIGUILLO Finca Terrerazo 2010 {DOP El Terrerazo} 91 points “Sexy, floral black and blue fruits on the nose, with a spicy nuance adding lift. Plush and broad on entry, then tighter in the the mid-palate, offering lively boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of sweet vanillin oak. Supple tannins shape the finish, which lingers with impressive tenacity.” BODEGAS MUSTIGUILLO Quincha Corral 2011 {DOP El Terrerazo} 92 points “A heady, complex bouquet evokes candied dark berries, cola, incense and smoky minerals. Sweet, palate-staining blackberry and violet pastille flavors are braced by juicy acidity and show excellent clarity. Closes spicy and very long, with supple tannins coming on late.” LA VIDA AL CAMP Novembre 2011 {Penedès} 89 points “Smoky dark berries and cherry pit on the fragrant nose. Chewy, sharply focused bitter cherry and cassis flavors show good depth and pick up a smoky nuance with air. Closes with firm tannic grip, subtle sweetness and good length.” CELLER JOAN SIMÓ Sentius 2009 {Priorat} 91 points “Sexy black and blue fruit aromas are complicated by smoky mineral and cola qualities. Fleshy cassis and blueberry flavors are sharpened and lifted by juicy acidity. Gains sweetness and depth with air, finishing with a suave note of black raspberry and silky, polished tannins.” CELLER JOAN SIMÓ Les Eres 2009 {Priorat} 93 points “Nuanced spicy aromas of cassis, black raspberry, violet, orange zest and smoky minerals. Juicy and bright on the palate, offering dark berry, floral pastille and bitter chocolate flavors lifted by a zesty mineral element. Dense and fleshy but structured, with tangy acidity lifting the strikingly long, gently tannic finish.” BODEGAS RIOJANAS Canchales 2011 {Rioja} 89 points “Pungent redcurrant and cherry on the nose, with a peppery quality contributing lift and focus. Firm bitter cherry and rose pastille flavors show very good concentration, with juicy acidity adding cut. Aeration brings up deeper blackberry and licorice notes that linger on the taut, youthfully tannic finish.” BODEGAS RIOJANAS Puerta Vieja Crianza 2010 {Rioja} 90 points “Zesty redcurrant and cherry aromas are complicated by notes of fresh rose and blood orange. Firm, focused and juicy, with lively cherry and red berry flavors showing a refreshing bitterness. Bright and focused on the clinging finish.” BODEGAS RIOJANAS Viña Albina Reserva 2006 {Rioja} 91 points “Musky cherry pit and rhubarb scents, with complicating notes of vanilla and pipe tobacco. Smoky and broad on the palate, offering lively red fruit flavors and hints of mocha and coconut. Finishes sweet and long, with resonating smokiness and soft, harmonious tannins.” BODEGAS RIOJANAS Monte Real Reserva 2006 {Rioja} 92 points “Sexy smoke- and spice-accented red fruit and floral pastille scents show impressive clarity and energy. Smooth, sweet and expansive on the palate, offering intense cherry-cola and blackberry flavors and an exotic rose pastille quality. Closes very long and sweet, with sneaky tannins and lingering spiciness. These are far and away the freshest bottles from this historic bodega that I've ever tasted stateside.”

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