Spain and Portugal

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 NV Palo Cortado Obispo Gascon, produced from Palomino grapes averaging 20 years old, and shows the telltale nose of Palo Cortado with its lactic touch and an off-dry nose of apricots, blond tobacco and spices. The palate is dominated by the salty notes (common to all Barbadillo wines), sharp, medium-bodied, with great length.

{***}
{region}Jerez{region}
{color}White{color}                                                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate:: 92/100        
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Founded in 1821, Barbadillo is a seventh-generation family owned and operated bodega based in Sanlucar de Barrameda. VORS is a rare category denoting a ‘Very Old Rare Sherry’ over 30 years of age and this limited release bottling is taken from the third criadera of their 120-cask solera. It is darker in colour, drier and more intense in aroma and flavour than the classic Palo Cortado Obispo Gascon, with fantastically complex notes of citrus, grilled nuts, spices and a distinctive salty finish. This pairs incredibly well with almonds, mature cheeses and cured meats.

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{region}Jerez{region}
{color}White{color}                                                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{ratings}
        
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Founded in 1821, Barbadillo is a seventh-generation family owned and operated bodega based in Sanlucar de Barrameda. The NV Amontillado Principe, from 30-year-old Palomino vineyards, spends eight years under flor and a further six years of oxidative aging. Amber-colored, it has aromas of candied oranges, hazelnuts, mushrooms and a touch of iodine. The palate is sharp and fresh, showing good integration. 

{***}
{region}Jerez{region}
{color}White{color}        {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text}
{ratings}
   [] Robert Parker:: 91/100     
{ratings}
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The Pedro Ximenez originates from barrels that Don Rafael Terán Carrera left Don Antonio Barbadillo Abrossy at the end of the 19th Century which formed the basis of a solera created in 1921 at the Bodega del Toro in Sanlucar de Barrameda. It is immensely rich and concentrated with incredibly complex layers of sweet dried figs, Medjool dates, baking spices and aged noble woods. The palate is thick and silky, coating the mouth like an oil slick and culminating in a long, intense and bittersweet finish.

{***}
{region}Jerez{region}
{color}White{color}                                                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{ratings}
       
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{***}{region} Port {region}
{color} Red{color}              {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text}
{vintage}NV{vintage}
{***}

In a head-to-head of those two great Rioja vintages, 1995 is now showing even more promise than the 1994 and this wine is no exception. An absolute gem, try it with roast turkey or game.

{***}
{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} 
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}1995{vintage}
{ratings}
[] Robert Parker:: 92/100

[] Jancis Robinson:: 17.5/20

{ratings} {***}

Made by sisters María and Cristina de Amézola, our Rioja combines aromas of sweet strawberries and redcurrants with a savoury note of cured meat. This is wonderfully fresh, with focused tannins and a smooth mouth-feel. An early frost led to low yields in 2017, but the resultant quality, intensity and complexity is extremely impressive.

{***}{region}Rioja, Spain{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}{***}

La Rioja Alta continues to be one of the benchmarks for traditionally produced Rioja wine. Established in 1890 at the same spot where their head office sits today, their three Reserva Wine brands, Alberdi, Arana and Ardanza are named after the founding families, all three of which remain shareholders. The company still maintains traditional Rioja winemaking practices whilst embracing many of the new technological advances.

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{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} 
{maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text}
{vintage}1973{vintage}
{ratings}

{ratings} {***}

Mid crimson with some dark notes still. Very hot, alcoholic nose. Rather seductively, roundly perfumed. Quite evolved but it has evolved into something rather attractive. The thwack of ripe fruit is followed only at some interval by tight, well held-together tannins. This has more to give than it seems at first. Quite a dry finish – especially for a Graham’s port.
(Jancis Robinson MW - jancisrobinson.com – October 2004)

{***}{region} Port {region}
{color} Red{color}              {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}1991{vintage}

{ratings} [] Jancis Robinson MW:: 16/20

[] Wine Advocate:: 94/100

{ratings}

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