Spain and Portugal

The accent is on juicy fruit and supple tannins, whilst still striving to preserve sufficient tannic support in the blend to allow the wine to cross over between tipple and table. The Merlot has a fresh, mulberry note to which Tempranillo adds vibrant red cherry and strawberry along with a herbal undertone. Garnacha adds further freshness, while the Syrah brings energy and spice.

{***}{region} Spain {region}
{color}Red{color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2018{vintage}{***}

Created by Bodegas Paniza in the eponymous village in the historic region of Carinena, southwest of the town of Zaragoza and midway between Madrid and Barcelona. Predominantly Chardonnay, backed up with Viura this is a light, dry and refreshing style of wine that is ideal as an apertif. Lovely lemon and pineapple aromas with zingy citrus flavours.

{***}{region} Spain {region}
{color}White{color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}{***}

The colour is key here; an alluring, gentle salmon-pink. Garnacha gives the wine a gentle note of strawberry along with the merest hint of white pepper that provides lift, making it a happy partner to lightly flavoured plates. The wine is properly dry and best served chilled, with condensation gathering on the bottle.

{***}
{region}Spain{region}
{color}Rose{color}
{maturity}drink-now{maturity}
{maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{***}

This white Rioja has a dense core of gold with a lighter, pale lemon rim. The nose is vibrantly tropical with pineapple, mango and kiwi fruit balanced by fresher notes of grapefruit and peach. On the palate, hints of star anise and ginger also emerge alongside subtle cedar from the 14 months spent in French oak. The mouth-feel is generous and rounded, but with just the right amount of restraint and a refreshing, complete finish. Ready to drink now, it would be great alongside scallops, lobster or roast chicken.

{***}{region}  Rioja {region}
{color} White {color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2013{vintage}{***}

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

A blend of Encruzado and Bical from 25 year old vines fermented in 30 percent new and 70 percent used French oak barrels. Aged for 8 months on the lees with slight batonnage, the wine displays a beautiful golden color. The nose is mysterious, with notes of flint and minerality, arising among white fruit and flowery aromas. Very elegant on the palate, with fine texture and lively acidity. A wine with unique character that will continue to evolve over years in the bottle. This wine pairs perfectly with grilled fish dishes. Try a robalo grelhado (grilled seabass) accompanied by a light salada mista (mixed salad). Shellfish also pairs well, such as sapateira (stone crab) mexilhões (mussels) and ameijoas (clams) as well as soft and creamy sheep and goats milk cheese.

{***}{region}Portugal{region}
{color} White{color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}{***}

As a self-confessed sherry nut, I could not omit my favourite beverage from this selection. Whilst olorosos suit winter’s cold embrace, summer calls for something lighter but not lacking in complexity. This Manzanilla Pasada from the coastal town of Sanlucar fits the bill perfectly – the citrus and bready notes of flor yeast have been tempered by longer aging, giving weight and additional layers to the wine. Sherry can be surprisingly food friendly, and this is no exception, having the weight to accompany scallops and chorizo or garlic prawns. Serve cool but not ice-cold to benefit from all the flavour this wine delivers.

{***}{region}Spain{region}
{color} White{color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}NV{vintage}{***}

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}    

Reassuringly “Tondonia”, the nose exhibits the classic characteristics of sweet strawberries and leather, yet it is bright, perfumed and vibrant at the same time. It has wonderful complexity with supremely integrated hints of vanilla and that warming, autumnal feel which will make any aficionado of Spanish wines feel at home. The palate is where there is a slight, subtle gearchange; it is lip-smackingly fresh with fine acidity and tart raspberry fruit. There is a real line to this wine; it feels “straight-up” – quite different to the open generosity of 2005. The tannins are super-fine, yet the structure of the wine is clear, all supported by gentle, supremely integrated oak. To complete a near-perfect picture is the serious, yet wonderfully long finish – a finish that is subtly complex yet which goes on and on towards nuanced depths, with even a hint of marmite. It would be impossible not to enjoy this wine now, yet believe it or not, it still feels young. It will relax slightly, opening up even more over the next couple of years – and has wonderful potential for longevity. Enjoy at its peak from 2021 to ’35 onwards, but don’t be put off trying it now with a bit of air.

{***}{region}Rioja {region}
{color} Red {color}                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2006{vintage}{***}

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}      
{***}

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

{***}
{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."

{***}
{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}
{***}

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}       
{***}

Visiting la Poza and Valdegines, each on the gentle slopes of a valley, with differing aspects and orientations, one can clearly see how Artadi are in the vanguard of the Parcellaire movement in Spain, that is to say the identification of specific plots to give specific character to the wines. La Poza gets afternoon sun and is harvested a week earlier than Valdegines. Its pure clay/limestone soils give wines of power and structure; the 2011 has a nose of eucalypt, soy and black tea, and a ripe fruit character on the palate, nicely supported by the finely-chiselled tannins.

{***}
{region}Rioja{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2011{vintage}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate:: 92/100        
{ratings}
{***}

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}{***}

This Crianza spends 13 months gently maturing in barrel, then a further year in bottle prior to release. It displays ripe fruit notes while remaining remarkably fresh thanks to the region’s significant diurnal shift. Deep ruby in colour, the wine offers aromas of black cherry, blackcurrant, forest fruits and fresher raspberry notes alongside subtle hints of cedar and nutmeg. On the palate, it is fleshy but structured, with a finesse and silkiness that lingers on the finish. Ready to drink now.

{***}{region} Spain {region}
{color} Red{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}
{ratings}
[] The Wine Advocate:: 91/100{ratings}{***}

Incredibly elegant on the nose, this wine has bright red cherry aromas, with a fresh beetroot character and a hint of dill. Vibrant and refreshing, it has real depth and concentration with crunchy red fruit and earthy notes alongside fine, yet pert, tannins and a granitic minerality which lingers. Drink now to 2022.

{***}
{region}Galicia{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2014{vintage}
{***}

A dreamy relaxed white ready to refresh and invigorate. Delicate white blossom drifts across the palate cushioned by exotic citrus flavours. “A dream within a dream” - Edgar Alan Poe

{***}{region} Spain{region}
{color} White {color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}{***}

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        
{ratings}
{***}

Closed and austere when young, it is only with adequate ageing that Taylors sublime qualities come to the fore. This rich, structured Port shows that they are well worth waiting for.

{***}{region} Port {region}
{color} Red{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}1977{vintage}
{ratings}
[] The Wine Advocate:: 96/100
[] Jancis Robinson:: 18.5/20{ratings}{***}

The structure, style and superb quality of Warre’s Ports are defined by its vineyards. Its main and largest vineyards include Quinta da Cavadinha, Quinta de Retiro Antigo and Quinta de Telhada. Further to these, Warres also produces from a collection of other vineyards that are privately owned by members of the Symington family. These include Quinta do Alvito and Quinta das Netas.

{***}{region} Port {region}
{color} Red{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}1977{vintage}{***}