2005 Spain

Following a vintage as profound as 2004, 2005 has come as a very pleasant surprise.  Many Spanish producers have on the whole been cautiously subdued regarding the 2005 vintage, partly due to wariness of declaring back to back exceptional vintages.  Although slightly different in style to the 2004, this new 2005 release is arguably its equal.  There is less structure, and more finesse but it is exactly what we now expect from this wonderful Gran Reserva.  A sweet, dark cherry and wild raspberry core is bolstered by that classic creaminess to the fruit.  There’s the classic vanilla, and sweet spice hints that you’d expect but this is tempered by fine acidity, very clean and fresh, serious precision for a wine of this style.  Light on its feet right across the long palate, but not at the expense of vibrancy; this can be enjoyed direct from release or cellared for the long term.  One only has to look at the cost of mature vintages (’94, ’85, ‘82) to see the benefit of buying at first release.   
Martyn Rolph - Private Account Manager

Old-vine Cariñena (Carignan) shines through in this glorious wine with its crunchy red fruit mixing with sweet, ripe blackberries. Energetic and warming, this is exceptionally smooth on the palate with very fine tannins and a long finish. This is a very well-judged wine and still so fresh for its 12 years of age. Drink now to 2025.
Catriona Felstead MW - Wine Buyer, June 2017

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

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.
(Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer)

This has an incredibly inviting nose of black raspberry, black cherry and the sweetest vanilla. Secondary aromatics of cocoa, violet and herbal (tarragon) characters lift the wine, adding to its pedigree and purity. The acidity is refreshing, the structure impeccable and the finish exquisite. Drink 2012-2025.
(Laura Atkinson, Private Account Manager)

Miguel Angel Gregorio's particular vision of Calvary dates from 1945 and is a clay/chalk vineyard of no apparent distinction. With Tempranillo vines dating from this seemingly magical year (not just Peace in Europe but also the birth date of Artadi's El Pison vineyard) and an ambitious elevage that involves over 20 months in 100% new French oak, there is an apparent risk of over-indulgence. This does not appear to be the case when tasting the wine; the oak is already wonderfully integrated, the tannins very fine with layers of fruit, spice and minerals etched with lapidary care.
(Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer) Very serious, classic and classy Bordeaux-esque nose, this is all about poise, balance and structure on the palate, with the beautifully defined spicy fruit vying for attention with the fine tannins, creating a mouth-filling whole which is a real treat. A sublime wine, this is really something special. Lovely now, this will drink for two decades from the vintage.
(Chris Pollington, Cellar Plan Advisor)

Fernando Remirez de Ganuza is one of the big characters in Rioja. An erstwhile Rioja Wine Broker, he set up his eponymous Bodega in 1989, using his contacts and knowledge to invest in 70 hectares of the best possible vineyards in the Rioja Alavesa. His philosophy inclines towards modernism with 80% French and 20% American oak, all new, used to age his wines, which are now justly celebrated throughout the world.

The excellent 2005 vintage Reserva is made from 50 year-old vines and is a blend of 90% Tempranilo and 10% Graciano. The wine has been aged for twenty-two months in new barrels ( 80% American and 20% French) The wine is rich and plush, with notes of ripe plum and black cherry dominating the aromas and a seductive creamy palate which is virtually impossible to resist! 
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer

Fernándo Remírez de Ganuza is one of the big characters in Rioja. A former Rioja wine broker, he set up his eponymous bodega in 1989, using his contacts and knowledge to invest in 70 hectares of the best possible vineyards in the Rioja Alavesa. His philosophy inclines towards modernism with 80% French and 20% American oak, all new, used to age his wines, which are now justly celebrated throughout the world.

Where the Duero is about to become the Douro and Spain cedes to Portugal, we find the arid forthright vineyards of Toro, its evocative name not inappropriate given the rugged terrain and the power of the wines. The Pintia vineyard is strewn with poppies and pudding stones; one could almost be in Châteauneuf du Pape here, were it not for the distinctive subsoil of red clay. The stewardship of Vega Sicilia has brought expertise and investment, but the character has not been lost.

Tempranillo is known as Tinta de Toro in these parts of Spain; with 50 years of age, these vines have had to dig deep to nourish and moisten the wines in the brutal heat of 2005. The wine has been aged for 23 months in new oak (70% French, 30% American); its haunting aromas of violets, plums and charcuterie almost remind me of Quinta Do Vesuvio (not that far away after all);

on the palate dark brooding fruits, licorice, tar and undergrowth; balancing acidity and robust but not astringent tannins. One for the longer term certainly; one to watch without any doubt at all.

As with 2001 and 2004 before it, the 2005 vintage has been marked out as something special in Rioja. This Prado Enea is brimming with ripe red and black fruit, strawberries, redcurrants, bramble and damsons; however there is also a whisper of pipe tobacco, earth and leather to keep things interesting. The palate is very dense as one would expect of a great wine in its youth, however the potential is there for all to see in the well-built tannins and the lengthy finish
Simon Field MW -  Wine Buyer

Bodegas Muga was founded in Haro in 1932 and is still in family ownership, farming an impressive 250 hectares in La Rioja Alta. The winery is located in Haro’s golden triangle of bodegas, its immediate neighbours being La Rioja Alta and López de Heredia. The extended Muga family controls all aspects of the production and advocates the complexity afforded by the entire canon of grapes: Tempranillo, of course, but also Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano for the reds, in addition to Viura and Malvasia for the whites. The key to everything is wood, from the magnificent 18th century wooden bodega to the impressive collection of 14,000 barrels used for the maturation. Organic viticulture is also fundamental here and the resulting wines are pure, linear of structure and memorable.

A single vineyard planted in 1978, Coranya is planted with both Cariñena and Garnatxa, the fruits of which are aged for twelve months, with 85 percent in French oak and 15 percent in American oak. Dense and rich, the wine sings a happy Mediterranean tune of sunshine and ripe fruit, with blueberry, damson and myrtle to the fore, then an elegant finish which boasts herbal complexity and linear acidity in the tradition of all the best Priorats.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer

With a deep blackcurrant colour, the nose is fragrant and perfumed; the 2005 has notes of black fruit, truffle, violets and cigar box. The palate is firm and intense but balanced with mouth-coating tannins and a sweetly seductive finish.
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer

The Marqués de Murrieta was one of two key pioneers in the production of Rioja. This bodega was established in 1852 and is proudly old-fashioned in its approach. The wines are produced by traditional methods, in wood for a minimum of two years – much longer than at any other bodega. The bodega produces a small range which includes the Marqués de Murrieta, the glorious Castillo Ygay, and a very rare Reserva.

The supreme quality of the raw materials has resulted in a wine of great character and depth. The nose is a jamboree of cherries, spice-box and forest floor. The palate is silky and charming, but one gets the feeling it’s built for the longer term, such is the profundity of flavour at its core. 
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer

The Marqués de Murrieta was one of two key pioneers in the production of Rioja. This bodega was established in 1852 and is proudly old-fashioned in its approach. The wines are produced by traditional methods, in wood for a minimum of two years – much longer than at any other bodega. The bodega produces a small range which includes the Marqués de Murrieta, the glorious Castillo Ygay, and a very rare Reserva.

Made from 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho (yes, not Garnacha) and a 10% combination of Graciano and Mazuelo, this is an immediately seductive wine with lifted aromas that entice the palate of macerated red berries and a touch of cured meats. The wine leaves a scent in the glass that is really quite magical, drawing you into a succulent palate which is broader and richer than its predecessor. Despite its six years in barrel and a further six in bottle, the 2005 Tinto Reserva manages to retain a core of rich red fruit which is perfectly complemented by the more mature, tertiary characters of its age. This is beautiful Tondonia with the same open feel as the 2001 and would be supremely enjoyable now whilst waiting for the 2004 to lose the last hint of its austerity. Don’t be fooled though, as with all great Tondonia Tinto Reservas the 2005 promises to hold its allure for many years to come.
Catriona Felstead MW - Spain Buyer - July 2017

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. 
Chris Lamb -  Private Account Manager