2011 Spain

This white Rioja, its name quite simply and appropriately meaning  ‘pleasing’, is a fine testament to the expressive potential of the Viura variety, which Álvaro describes, perhaps a little extravagantly, as ‘the Chardonnay of the south’. Light straw colouring, then a nose of pear, white peach, jasmine and vanillin. The palate is fascinating, with fruit, butter, nuts and vanillin all evidenced. Richly textured and long. 
Simon Field MW -  Wine Buyer

Pagos Viejos is a wondrous concoction produced from the oldest vines within three of the great vineyards of Artadi; El Carretil, La Poza de Ballesteros and Valdeginés. Dark and brooding in style, it has plenty of spice on the nose which mingles gently alongside the ripe yet fresh fruit. The tannins are chunky and encompassing, providing a sturdy frame for the multi-layered blueberry, red cherry and raspberry fruit. The finish is very long and seamless, this will age beautifully.
Martyn Rolph, Private Account Manager

From tiny yields (15hl/ha), farmed on a precipitous bed-rock of schist at an altitude of over 700 metres, Las Lamas is powerfully aromatic with blueberry, eucalypt and dark chocolate to the fore, then a dense but very finely textured palate with notes of tobacco and peat beneath the finely layered dark fruit. Drink 2016-2022.
(Simon Field MW, Berrys’ Spain Buyer)

The Cueva is all Tempranillo and is sourced from seven different vineyards, all of which have either sandy clay or calcareous clay soils. Aged for 18 months in 100% new French oak, the 2011 has a powerful nose of ripe blackberry and soft spice; the ripeness is also evident on the palate, which is powerful yet has finely integrated tannins and a hint of balsam on the finish, as one often finds with high quality Tempranillo.
Nicholas Stewart -  Fine Wine Team

Following the exceptional 2010, the 2011 Altos de Lanzaga was the top of the range until Las Beatas arrived and stole the show. Still you should not overlook this exceptional cuvée from four plots of old, head-pruned vines in the village of Lanciego at 500-600 meters altitude, which are worked biodynamically. The wine fermented in 3,000-kilo oak vats with wild yeasts for 20 days and matured in 1,500 and 225-liter oak barrels for 18 months.

It is a little reticent, very young and a little closed, subtle and a little shy. The palate shows very good flavors of red berries and flowers, plus a great balance between alcohol and acidity that give the wine length and persistence. 2,530 bottles produced.

Telmo Rodriguez and Pablo Eguzkiza work about 18 hectares of vineyards in the villages of Lanciego and Labastida and produce some 45,000 bottles of Rioja per year. Their single-vineyard Las Beatas, in its second vintage, is even better than the debut 2011. As I decided last year after tasting the first vintage of this magnificent vineyard, located not so far from Remelluri, Rodríguez's family winery, I went to see the vines after a colossal snow storm.

You can sense the terroir walking up the terraced plots, you see that place has to produce a special wine. They have some small parcels of old vineyards and are replanting the rest.
94+/100 Luis Gutierrez, eRobertParker.com #218 Apr 2015 

Andres is the child of a single vineyard; ‘La Liende’ close to the village of San Vicente de Sonsierra to be precise. The soils are located close to what is charmingly described as the Ebro Meander, and include a high proportion of clay. They are also relatively steep and devoted to Tempranilo. As are we; mocha and mineral notes dance alongside the ripe red, blue and black fruits. Beyond the youthful bravado there is real finesse and great potential here.

La Faraona is the definitive statement of Mencia, produced from a precipitous 0.55-hectare plot and, for the first time in 2011, matured in 600-litre barrels, allowing the naturally dense yet exuberant fruit full and glorious expression. The encyclopaedic aromas include loganberry, cassis, black tea and laurel… all recaptured on the palate, all nascent and poised, and threatening perfection.
Simon Field MW, Berrys’ Spain Buyer

L’Ermita is a monolith, and one of the most dense, brooding, colossal wines I have tasted in my career. There are enormous layers of dark fruit on the nose, lined with edges of cherry and combined with reams of violet, crushed rock and delicate spices. It has simply enormous weight on the palate, but what really impresses is the fantastically balanced freshness and acidity. This is a beast, but it is as intellectual as it is muscular. 
Fine Wine Team

The 2011 Pingus has a gorgeous, pure black cherry, cassis and blueberry scented bouquet interlaced by orange blossom and apricot. The oak is beautifully assimilated into the aromatic profile. The palate is full-bodied with a decadent entry. The tannins are ripe and rounded, imparting great tension and focus. There is both dimension and grace to this formidable Pingus that should blossom once it finishes its gestation. This is an outstanding Ribera del Duero wine. Drink 2020-2035+.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate #202, Aug 2012

Ungrafted vines from fantastically unpromising sandy single-vineyard soils are the source of one of Spain’s most exciting jewels, named, appropriately enough, after the pater familias of this very gifted family. The 2011 is the quintessence of fine Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), aged in new French oak for 18 months, yet gloriously fresh and exuberant. A nose of cedar, graphite and blackberry gives way to a dignified palate dominated by ripe fruit, needless to say, but with an interesting sub-text of tea, iodine and lavender. The tannins are very fine and the wine’s future is assured over the next decade.

The sun baked vineyards of Toro provide no lac k of ripe and textured fruit – brooding blackberry and plum. The challenge here is to match the superb concentration with freshness and finesse – something that 2011 Pintia achieves with unerring ease. Full bodied and dense with notes of liquorice, scorched earth, and savoury smoky/nutty oak characters. The acidity and fine grained tannins add a sense of succulence and precision. A robust, impressive red with more than a hint of class.
Martyn Rolph - Private Account Manager

A tremendous nose of rich spices soars alongside a brilliant red fruit perfume; star anise, clove and sweet earthy notes all combine here. Wonderful red fruit spills on to the palate, with acidity equal to the task of balancing its depth. The best is saved until last though: a delicious finish, wrapped in a cape of mouth-coating, fine and very long tannins.
Fine Wine Team