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

Cantallops is the most northern village in the DO of Empordà, itself the most northerly of the Catalan wine regions. The vines undulate within the foothills of the Pyrenees and the winemaking at Vinyes dels Aspres is traditional, allowing the distinctive sandy-slate soils to express their personality with great dignity.

Garnatxa dominates the blend here, with minority shareholdings divided between Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. 16 months of ageing in French barrique has yielded a wine of pedigree and poise, with generous Garnatxa ripeness held in counterpoint by subtle mineral notes and finely etched tannins. 
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer

The Quest is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Part fermented in granite lagares which winemaker Raul Bobet has crafted out of the local rocks, the wine is exuberant and with a pit-cherry freshness, behind which the Cabernets kick in, the Franc adding forest floor notes, the Sauvignon depth and structure. Silky and seductive, the wine finishes well. 
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer

Here we have 80-year-old Garnacha vines, gnarled in Dali-esqe defiance of gravity, and yielding such parsimonious volumes that the production is very limited. The wine is aged in 500-litre barrels, and has an intense nose of lavender, liquorice and blueberry; the palate rejoices in a fruit basket of indulgence, with damson and blackberry to the fore. The finish is powerful, underlining, with great aplomb, the sheer quality of the ensemble.
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer

Ribeira Sacra is one of the most exciting regions to emerge from Spain in recent years. Situated in the north-eastern corner in Galicia, the area is remote, the landscape arid and mountainous. Dominio do Bibei's Javier Domínguez is producing modern wines with beautiful definition and verve, using traditional grape varieties. The vineyards are steeply terraced with little topsoil – the old vines working hard to survive amongst the rocky terrain of slate/schist. These are thoughtful wines, which not only please but also challenge the senses through their extraordinary purity and detail.

A 100 percent Mencía farmed on step slate and granite slopes, this has been aged in foudre for seven months; crushed raspberry, black tea and cassis are all evidenced. The palate shows cool fruit, but no lack of concentration, not to mention very finely etched tannins.

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

Mustiguillo were delighted when this outstanding site was awarded a stand-alone Vino De Pago status. Located on terraced escarpments of ancient Dolomite limestone the vineyards are seen by many the definitive statement in the Bobal varietal.

These old vines, some of which were planted before 1940, do not hurry to mature; in 2011 the harvest finished at the end of October.

The result is unabashed complexity, encouraged by fermentation in open-top 225 ltr vats and a 19 month barrel maturation. Intense red and blue fruits, hints of soft spice and violets and a grippy, rich palate. Mediterranean wine with altitude..and attitude! Excellent.  

Simon Field MW – Wine Buyer

Visiting la Poza and Valdegines, each on the gentle slopes of a valley, with differing aspects and orientations, one can clearly see how Artadi are in the vanguard of the Parcellaire movement in Spain, that is to say the identification of specific plots to give specific character to the wines. La Poza gets afternoon sun and is harvested a week earlier than Valdegines. Its pure clay/limestone soils give wines of power and structure; the 2011 has a nose of eucalypt, soy and black tea, and a ripe fruit character on the palate, nicely supported by the finely-chiselled tannins.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer

Described by some as a vinous gamble, Martires has proved itself a winner in no small measure as a result of excellent Viura grapes and terrior alike. The nose is concentrated and yet simultaneously elegant with notes of apple, beeswax and cinnamon stick. The palate is rich but there is a fine mineral character which lends balance to the equation; challenging yet rewarding. 
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer

Finca Allende, the estate created by brother and sister team Mercedes and Miguel Ángel de Gregorio, is located in the hill town of Briones in the Rioja Alta. ‘Allende’ can be roughly translated as ‘further’; its philosophy being to go further and further towards creating the perfect Rioja. This has been done by marrying the old and the new, by embracing the traditional grape varieties but then treating them to new French oak.

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

The 2007 TINTO is a Douro blend. It is another fine “regular” Tinto in this very consistent 2007 vintage. This relatively low priced Tinto has a hidden advantage in that a significant portion of its blend (27% this year) is an old vines field blend from 70 year old vines.

The young vines portion (defined as 15 years old, which is fine for most people) includes Touriga Franca (25%), Tinta Roriz (20%), Touriga Nacional (20%), Tinta Amarela (5%) and Sousao (3%).

Although it does not show a lot of mid-palate depth, noting that the wines from this estate are always on the more elegant side, it has fine structure and complexity, a certain earthy nuance and some brightness. It is gripping on the finish and should develop a medley of flavors as it ages. It is yet another in the string of regular or second wines in this vintage that perform particularly well at excellent price points. Drink now-2017.
Mark Squires - Wine Advocate - eRobertParker.com - Dec 2009

From the legendary Quinta, origin of some of the very finest vintage ports, an outstanding table wine, sure rapidly to acquire the same reputation as that of its fortified sibling. The blend is 70% Touriga Nacional, 20% Touriga Franca and 10% Tinta Amarela, all vinified separately and given an unusually long cuviason to enable maximum extraction of fruit and tannin. The wine is then aged for 10 months in 400 litre French barrels. The 2007 vintage was very good, with an especially pleasing late ripening season and harvest; Charles Symington is more than satisfied with the result; here we have a wine which is balanced and finely structured with finely etched tannins providing the perfect backdrop tot the wonderful classic Vesuvio perfume and the opulent plum and raspberry fruit profile.
(Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer)

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