Spain

This is mostly Viura with perhaps a pinch of Malvasía Riojana (aka Alarije). The palate is both powerful and elegant, with superb acidity and great length, with volume and sharpness, with a mineral, umami-driven finish. It fills your mouth, tickles your taste buds and makes you salivate. There is nothing negative about the wine; there is no excess oak, nothing blurry, nothing to improve... perhaps the bottle used! I think this is a perfect wine. It seems to be getting younger and younger with time in the glass; it seems to be getting more focused and sharper, and I have no doubt the wine will evolve and last for a very, very, very long time in bottle. I kept the opened bottle for almost one week and the wine didn't move one inch--no oxidation or any signs of fatigue.

{***}
{region}Rioja{region}
{color}White{color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}1986{vintage}
{ratings}
[]Wine Advocate::100/100 
{ratings} 
{***}

Mustiguillo were delighted when this outstanding site was awarded a stand-alone Vino De Pago status. Located on terraced escarpments of ancient Dolomite limestone the vineyards are seen by many the definitive statement in the Bobal varietal. These old vines, some of which were planted before 1940, do not hurry to mature; in 2011 the harvest finished at the end of October. The result is unabashed complexity, encouraged by fermentation in open-top 225 ltr vats and a 19 month barrel maturation. Intense red and blue fruits, hints of soft spice and violets and a grippy, rich palate. Mediterranean wine with altitude..and attitude! Excellent.

{***}
{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2011{vintage}
{ratings}
[]Jancis Robinson::18/20
{ratings}
{***}

Miguel Angel's two favourite wines, from outside Spain, needless to say, are Bordeaux and Burgundy. His homage to the latter is the Calvario, to the former is the Aurus. Beyond the tell-tale bottle shapes, the differences are subtle and intriguing; the Aurus 2005 is made from 85% Tempranillo and 15% Graciano and was aged for no fewer than 25 months in 100% new French oak. The result, especially given the warm vintage, is a incredibly powerful wine; rich and creamy, with black cherries, damson and liqueur.... a brooding beast, bristling with cellar potential and the will to live for a very long time.

{***} 
{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2005{vintage}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate:: 90/100
{ratings}    

Intense deep ruby colour in glass with orange rims. Complex aromatic nose with dark fruits, cedar wood and herbal vanilla notes on entry. Plenty of jammy plums, dried raisin, roasted beans, tea leaf, bitter chocolate, herbs of licorice and cinnamon flavors to this full-bodied red. Silky tannins and soft texture well balanced with pleasant acidity. Velvety mouthfeel and sweet spicy at ending. 

{***}
{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}1992{vintage}      
{***}

The 2005 Viña Tondonia Reserva is immediately appealing, exhibiting aromas of baked plums and cherries, Asian spice and tea leaves. Silky tannins are woven across the generous palate, revealing great depth of flavour from a core of muddled forest fruit to a layer of sweet spice, which is complemented by an underlying meatiness. Lovely richness and texture across the palate which is seamlessly balanced by the notable acidity, a trademark of all great Riojas, and finishes with a long, spicy finish. Archetypal traditional Rioja which is open and enjoyable now yet has the spark which will allow it to unravel further complexities over the coming decade and beyond. May be worth picking up a case or two to enjoy this at any point between 2018 – 2027.

{***}
{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2005{vintage}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate:: 93/100
{ratings}
{***}

Mid ruby. Very open indeed on the nose with a certain sweet strawberry character. Again this wine is fine-boned and has lots of acidity. Dry finish. Neat and very well balanced. Just a little austere but certainly refined. Mid length. - Jancis Robinson

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{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                                {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}1961{vintage}
{ratings}
[]Vinous Antonio Galloni:: 94/100       
[]Jancis Robinson::17.5/20
{ratings} 
{***}

According to the Wine Spectator: "A full-bodied red that offers rich flavors of coffee, prune and leather, with muscular tannins. Needs food for harmony."

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{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                                {maturity}drink-now{maturity} 
{maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}1978{vintage}
{ratings}
[]Neil Martin:: 89/100
{ratings}
{***}

Rich Deep, dark red colour with brick highlights. Spicy aromas with notes of vanillin and red fruits. On the palate it is Smooth, elegant and long. Very balanced, with toasty, spiced fruit in the finish.

{***}
{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                                {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}1991{vintage}
{***}

The 2006 Vina El Pison comes from a single Tempranillo vineyard planted in 1945 on pure limestone. The wine was aged for 16-18 months in new French oak. It has an ethereal nose found only in the greatest wines. Toasty oak, wood smoke, truffle, wild blueberry, and blackberry liqueur are striking and complex. - The Wine Advocate

{***}
{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} 
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2006{vintage}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate:: 97/100
{ratings}  
{***}

The secret of Tempranillo seems to reside in its hidden depth; gregarious and initially appearing far too attractive to be remotely serious, this wine gradually revels the true depth of its personality; the black fruits are ripe of course , but are backed by notes of laurel, licorice, garrigue and forest floor; the tannins are finely-tuned needless to say, but are swathed in a fine minerality; all in all this is clearly very fine indeed. Juan Carlos thinks it more closely resembles 2004 than 2001, but is sure that it will be better than both of them.

{***}
{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                          {maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
 {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2007{vintage}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate:: 98/100
{ratings} 

The 2004 Pagos Viejos is inky purple with a sublime nose of pain grille, spice box, cherries, raspberries, and wild blue fruits. This is followed by a dense, plush, full-flavored, sexy wine with perfect balance and remarkable elegance for a wine so powerful. Although it can be enjoyed now, it deserves a minimum of a decade of cellaring after which it should drink well through 2047. Kudos to Bodegas Artadi for this tour de force! - The Wine Advocate

{***}
{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} 
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2004{vintage}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate:: 97/100
{ratings}
{***}

Eponymous old vines, some approaching their half century, punctuate the gentle limestone hillsides of Rioja Alavesa. The quality of the Tempranillo grapes is high beyond dispute, but they are still treated to the rigours of six sorting tables in the quest for perfection, an on-going process as they are currently mid-way through their ageing in new Allier barriques. The tasting of the wines pre-assemblage from 6 different sites revealed astonishing differences from the various microclimates; the finished article is greater than the sum of its parts; the truffly notes from the Biurco vineyard, allied to the firm tannins from Valandres and then a perfumed elegance from San Lorenzo....add the genius of Juan Carlos and the wine is complete, very complete in every sense.

{***}
{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2007{vintage}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate:: 95/100        
{ratings}
{***}

Rich colour, hints of balsam and blackberry; a finely textured wine of real depth and elegant balancing acidity.

{***}
{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2005{vintage}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate:: 95/100
{ratings}       
{***}

This is intense ruby with purple edges. Fresh, vibrant blackberry, cranberry and wild forest fruits dominate before the subtle cedar and tobacco is revealed. The oak is perfectly integrated. It’s very lively on the palate with excellent depth and an elegant structure. Drink now to 2021.

{***} 
{region}Spain{region}
{color}Red{color}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2011{vintage}
{***}

This lighter-styled, mature Rioja shows just a hint of brown at the edges. An initial light sweaty note blows off quickly, revealing appealing dried cherry, spice and wood aromas and flavors, and an elegant, balanced mouthfeel.

{***}{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                                {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}1994{vintage}{***}