1984 Spain

One word summarises the Mustiguillo message and that is Bobal, one of the greatest and most under-rated Spanish grape varieties, now on the cusp of a renaissance. Mustiguillo is a family project, dedicated to organic viticulture and the pursuit of elegance and finesse rather than excess oak and the like. A well-rehearsed mantra maybe, but one that does not have many adherents of such pedigree.

Located on terraced escarpments of ancient Dolomite limestone, the vineyards of Quincha Corral are seen by many as the definitive statement of the Bobal varietal. The bonus of the superlative 2012 vintage underlines this statement with a deeply coloured wine, its rich, smoky, floral aromas and luxuriant, grippy mouth-feel harnessing an ensemble that has a long and successful life to look forward to.

The vineyard of El Pison is in the form of an amphitheatre, lying in a small hollow protected by a barrier of sandstone. This vineyard, planted in 1945, is remarkable and can make a claim to produce the finest wine in Spain. A lifted, pure expression of Tempranillo; black cherry and damson fruit, ethereal precision, spice and mineral hints. So much depth and body, twinned with elegance and finesse, and complexity will come with age.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer

Juan Carlos López de Lacalle, owner and winemaker of Artadi, is recognised as one of the greatest names in the business in Spain. The winery was once a co-operative of 13 growers who owned well-sited vineyards around the town of Laguardia in the Alavesa wine region of Rioja. Juan Carlos saw the potential of these wonderful vineyards and purchased the Bodega, immediately amending the philosophy and style of winemaking. The winemaking is modern with an emphasis upon fruit driven wines, characterised by the terroir of individual vineyard sites – a far cry from the philosophy of traditional Rioja producers. French oak is used, not American, allowing the principle variety, Tempranillo, eloquent natural expression.

2012 was a relatively dry vintage, with drought threatening at some points. The blend here is 96% Garnacha and 4% Samso; Garnacha is described as La Reina, the queen of all varieties, generous, soft and benevolent and, of course, completely devoid of caprice. Mules till the soil here as they always have done, and the high mineral content of the sub-soils (zinc, aluminium and iron) lends definition and purity to the grapes. The wine is rich and velvety and yet with ethereal charm and, to use a phrase which Alavro would like, has real presence.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer

Álvaro Palacios, whose family owns the prestigious Rioja Bodega, Palacios Remondo, spent two years at Château Pétrus before setting up on his own in Priorat in 1989. From the very beginning, he set out to produce world-class wines by using fruit from extremely low-yielding old vines and by applying ultramodern winemaking techniques. The cream of the crop is the single vineyard wine L'Ermita, which was first produced in 1993. Arguably the most individual red wine in Spain, it is certainly now the most expensive.

There is an extra degree of elegance, precision and focus in the 2012 Altos de Lanzaga compared with the regular Lanzaga from that same year. It is produced from four small plots of over 70-year-old vines at 500-600 meters altitude, planted on very poor soils that are biodynamically farmed. It fermented in 3,000-kilo oak vats for 20 days with indigenous yeasts, and matured in 1,500-liter oak foudres and 225-liter barriques for some 18 months. The nose might be a little reticent at first, quite subtle, serious, balanced, a little backward. There is great balance, very fine tannins and very good freshness. This wine is very tasty, combining elegance and power. This is a very good vintage of Altos, with enough stuffing and balance to age magnificently in bottle. 
Luis Gutiérrez - The Wine Advocate, 31st August 2016

This is the first vintage of Viña Arana as a Gran Reserva (it was previously a Reserva) and it’s immediately apparent it belongs alongside La Rioja Alta’s other Gran Reservas 904 and 890, albeit one that fits the profile for slightly earlier drinking. A classic Rioja Alta blend of Tempranillo (95%) and Graciano (5%) from vines that are over 40 years old, it is the latter which gives the Arana a majestic aromatic lift. All the things you want from traditionally aged Rioja are here in abundance; strawberries, vanilla, balsamic. Aged for three years in American oak, with the standard Rioja Alta racking every six months, the wines were blended in March 2016 and have been aged in bottle since, doing a fair amount of the hard work for you. This is certainly good to go now, but – like all the top wines from the estate – will age effortlessly for many years. A welcome addition to an already great range.
Fergus Stewart, Private Account Manager (spring 2019)

“La Rioja Alta […] number among the world's most aromatically complex, food-friendly wines-wines that can truly stand comparison to the top Bordeaux and Burgundies.” Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

A blend from El Carretil, La Poza de Ballesteros and Veldeginès, the 2012 Pagos Viejos is beautifully judged. Structured and full (presumably from the El Carretil element) floral aromas on the nose give way to powerful blueberry and dark cherry notes across the palate. The freshness of the vintage is apparent, with lovely acidity and energy at the core.
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer

Juan Carlos López de Lacalle, owner and winemaker of Artadi, is recognised as one of the greatest names in the business in Spain. The winery was once a co-operative of 13 growers who owned well-sited vineyards around the town of Laguardia in the Alavesa wine region of Rioja. Juan Carlos saw the potential of these wonderful vineyards and purchased the Bodega, immediately amending the philosophy and style of winemaking. The winemaking is modern with an emphasis upon fruit driven wines, characterised by the terroir of individual vineyard sites – a far cry from the philosophy of traditional Rioja producers. French oak is used, not American, allowing the principle variety, Tempranillo, eloquent natural expression.

Virtually flawless, Flor de Silos comes from pre-phylloxera Tinto Fino vines, grown on sandy soils in the eastern part of the DO. The  wine exalts in all that is good about Ribera del Duero, namely an unabashed deep purple colour, ripe ripe fruit ( black cherry and damson are especially evident) and pure linear acidity, courtesy of the altitude of the  vineyard. Balsamic notes, spice, sousbois and licorice are all evidenced, underlining an inherent complexity which demonstrates very well why 2012 has a good reputation. The wine has been aged for eighteen months in French barrels. 

Alión was the first 100 percent Tinto Fino wine aged in 100 percent new oak in Ribera del Duero.. and where the mighty Vega Sicilia lead, others follow……and the style is now very popular in the DO, but, unsurprisingly, seldom equalled. Exuberant fruit and age-worthy restraint go hand in hand; the 2012 is a cornucopia of violets, damson, black olive and toasty oak… less flamboyant than some of its forebears ( 2009 being an example), maybe, but still with plenty of matière and an impressively structured finish.
Simon Field, MW - Wine Buyer

2012 is an excellent vintage in Ribera del Duero, shown to great effect here. Dark and robust, there’s an attractive bloody character to the fruit. Supple and gentle throughout with a lovely creaminess to the fruit. Lots of violets on the finish, with herbs and spicy richness. Drink 2016 - 2021