2011 Spain

The jewel in the crown of this remarkable estate. This outstanding Rioja shows the full potential of the Tempranillo grape, with a tiny amount of Garnacha, for flesh and meatiness. A soaring nose of perfume, strawberries, raspberries and vanilla, combined perfectly with tilled earth, roasted meats and cinnamon. The palate has exceptional power, yet perfect poise, which is always the sign of a great wine: layers and layers of fruit develop on the palate, which is at the same time spicy and savoury. Eventually the soft, smooth weight gives way to an ethereal, fine, yet driven finish of bright acidity, fine tannins and delicate flavours of rosemary and red fruits. 
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer

Following on from the huge success of the 2012 Spanish Gold offer, the team at Berry Bros. & Rudd knew that we would have to find some truly outstanding new wines to better the offer in 2013. Fortunately we have done just that and are very proud to present our latest, major Rioja producer, Bodega Contador. The property was founded as recently as 1995, but the fact that it has become one of Rioja’s most respected wineries in such a relatively short time, is testament to its superb terroir and the brilliant wine making skill of proprietor Benjamin Romeo. Starting off with an awe inspiring cellar hewn into the rock beneath the Castle of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, finding extra space in his parents’ garage, where he crafted the stunning 2004 and 2005 vintages, which both received 100 points from the Wine Advocate. In 2008 Benjamin completed his new, state of the art winery, built into the hills of Rioja surrounded by his vineyards. Benjamin’s wine making is relatively modern, with individual vineyard plots farmed to very small yields and vinified separately, before ageing for a comparatively short 18-20 months in new French oak (as opposed to the traditional American oak). The results are extraordinary.

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

There is something completely ethereal about the nose of this Valbuena. 2011 was a cooler year and, to my mind, this has played to the strengths of this terroir. The wine is beautifully fragrant with layers and layers of lifted red and black fruit. Sweet cranberries and raspberries entwine with freshly picked blackberries on the palate and a lovely sense of freshness pervades the whole. The tannins are fine yet pert, indicating the potential for this to age gracefully, and the length is impressive.  It is the combination of all of this, combined with the sheer sophistication of this wine, that makes it a truly special Valbuena. Drink 2017-2030.
Catriona Felstead MW, Spain Buyer

Produced from 100% Tempranillo, the 2011 Valbuena is immediately striking on the nose with a floral bouquet of wild roses and black raspberry leaf. Underneath sits a core of beautifully defined cool red fruits; plums and cherries spring to mind. Graceful on the palate with a sleek texture, flavours of forest fruits and bramble are evident amongst a slightly richer note of milk chocolate coated red berries. There is a remarkable freshness here, neatly encompassing the ripe and grippy tannins which support in the background. This younger brother of ‘Unico’ is cool, elegant and supremely well balanced, moving with great focus and structure through to a long and rewarding finish. A truly delicious wine which should not be overlooked, allow a couple of years for this beauty to evolve and enjoy from 2018 – 2028+.
Chris Lamb, Private Account Manager

The 2011 Reserva continues the fine run of form at Hacienda Monasterio, the wines are now consistently amongst the finest of Ribera del Duero. Whilst the core is dark and concentrated, this is a wine full of aromatic expression with a nose featuring floral and violet notes alongside meaty, savoury characters. The palate continues in the same vein, dark and rich but with no lack of finesse; fine acidity and fine, velvety tannins create a juiciness and linear flow. Very complete and beautifully harmonious. Drink 2016 - 2026

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 2011 Cirsion is unashamedly modern and ripe, with a very exuberant nose where the oak is perfectly integrated with notes of blackberries, plums, dark cherries and damp earth, peat and a core of violets and blueberries. This is a wine from selected bunches with a special ripeness that they consider produces a wine that needs shorter time in barrel (some eight months) and is accessible and released earlier. Exceptionally in 2012, this wine has 5% of Graciano; until now it’s been a pure Tempranillo.

There will be no Cirsion in 2013 and they have serious doubts about 2014. Next year we will taste that 2012, a special wine they produced to celebrate their 25th anniversary. It will be released in June 2015. It actually feels like the wine closes down in the glass. I believe this wine will benefit from a couple of years in bottle and wouldn’t touch it until 2017. This 2011 is a limited cuvée of 6,114 bottles.
93/100 points Luis Gutierrez, eRobertParker.com #218 Apr 2015

Torre Muga is aged for 18 months in new French oak and is made up of 15% Mazuelo and 10% Graciano in addition to the core of Tempranillo. Spice from the oak is married to the distinct berry fruit character which is pure, direct and powerful. In time power will somewhat reluctantly cede to complexity and the work of art will be complete.
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

The Artadi winery was once a co-operative of 13 growers who owned well-sited vineyards around the town of Laguardia in Rioja. Juan Carlos López de Lacalle saw the potential of these wonderful vineyards and purchased the bodega, immediately amending the philosophy. Today 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.

The southeast-facing vineyard of Valdeginés sees the cooler morning sun and so has an added level of refinement; the emphasis is upon the fresh red fruit and fine, silky structure. This displays an enchanting purity with beautifully integrated, fine tannins and a wonderfully persistent finish.

The sheer exuberance of raspberry fruit is truly striking, moving towards a more damson-laden close; this is a really impressive wine from Artadi’s best vineyard. It is as good as any tasted at this stage and promises much more in the decades ahead. Could this be the perfect expression of Tempranillo? It is amongst the greatest wines of Rioja, but patience is required here to experience its full potential.
Martyn Rolph, Private Account Manager