2014 Spain

La Poza de Ballesteros, the second of the three single vineyard sites faces Valdeginés in the San Ginés Valley, its west exposition engendering a wine with a different character, firmer, denser and with more stentorian tannins.

Biurco is a vineyard that we have enjoyed visiting over the years; it has a tranquillity and beauty and, predominately west-facing, is particularly attractive in the evening. The soil is homogenised clay and limestone, and the wine is marked by the charm of its aromas; violets, truffles and dark chocolate to name but three. If its stablemate Valdeparasio is linear, this wine is more fleshy and noted for both the sweetness of fruit on the palate and the power on the finish with layers of sumptuous ripe red cherry, fresh strawberry and vanilla new oak. Drink 2018-2029

A firm favourite from the Palacios stable, Finca Dofi has had a particularly successful outing in 2014. Generous from the outset, yet in no way lacking staying power, the blend of Garnacha ( 94%) and Samso ( 6%) reflects Alvaro’s great love of old Garnacha, in particular its floral aromatics, its intimations of concentration and power and the evocations of the distinctive schistous ( known locally as ‘licorella’) soils in the weave of its texture. A thoroughbred.