2004 Coronado, Finca Allende

Having achieved world renown for his superlative Riojas, Miguel Angel di Gregorio has set him-self a fairly difficult task; namely to produce a wine of distinction from Spain’s brutal central plain, the Meseta. Its climate extremes are enough to infuriate even the the most quixotic of wine-makers; Miguel’s answer has been to add 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah to the Tempranilo, to completely destalk the grapes and to treat them to 14 months of partially new Allier oak. The result is out-standing, the tannins evidenced but not austere, the fruit ripe but not dessicated, the complexity in the mouth a wonder to behold. (Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer)