The El Escoces Volante Calatayud El Cismatico 2018 is a fascinating testament to the winemaking prowess of Scotland-born master oenologist Norrel Robertson, also known as 'The Flying Scotsman.' An exceptional expression of Garnacha, this wine radiates a vivid ruby-red hue reflecting the vibrant soils of the Calatayud region in northeastern Spain. Hand-harvested from century-old vines at 900 - 1000 metres altitude, this vintage underscores meticulous winemaking.

Oak-aged for 10 months in 500 litre barrels, the El Cismatico 2018 delivers a multi-layered palate, with dark fruits, Mediterranean herb notes, and a touch of dark chocolate. Integrated tannins, delicious complexity and a well-balanced acidity make it a stunning example of modern Spanish viticulture. Whether savoured solo or paired with hearty meals, a bottle of El Escoces Volante Calatayud El Cismatico 2018 is an investment in extraordinary winemaking.

From the distinguished winemaker, El Escoces Volante, comes the mature, full-bodied Calatayud El Puno Old Vine Garnacha 2016. This exquisite Spanish fine wine, made from 100% Garnacha grapes, brims with a distinctive character symbolising its origin in the historic region of Calatayud. It is the careful cultivation of vineyards, some as old as 80 years, and the minimal interventionist philosophy of the producer, that imbue this wine with its depth and complexity.

Exhibiting a rich palette of garnet hues, this bold red bears the weight of seductive raspberry and black cherry aromas which artfully harmonise with notes of wild herbs and minerality. Its elegantly structured tannins and expressive, lasting finish speak to the meticulous care and wine-making prowess that has been employed. The El Escoces Volante Calatayud El Puno Old Vine Garnacha 2016 is a sublime testament to passionate wine-making and the nuanced potential of Garnacha grapes.

Jancis Robinson (18)

95% Syrah, 5% Viognier, vineyards at 950 m above sea level. Aged for 12 months in a mixture of 650- and 500-litre used French oak. Spectacular and intense dark fruit on the nose! Blackcurrant, blackberries, cassis, violets, smoke and minerality. On the palate, it is rich and deep but not massive. It has mouth-watering acidity, ripe tannins, and elegant oak integration. I find this vintage more balanced than previous ones. The wine has precise fruit expression. 2018 has been the greatest year for this wine. (FC)

Wine Advocate (94)

This was their original top red until they started producing the single-vineyard El Jardín de las Iguales, which has had different names through the years, being mostly eponymous, but in 2016, they began adding the name of the vineyard where the grape are grown. The current release is the 2018 La Cerqueta, a pure Garnacha from a 1.18-hectare dry-farmed, head-pruned, 75-year-old vineyard at 630 meters in altitude on slate-rich soils and facing southeast. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and some 60% full clusters that were foot trodden in open-top barrels and then macerated for 47 days. The wine matured in an underground cellar in an oak foudre for 14 months. This wine and Las Alas probably show the evolution in style and the search of finesse and expression of the places better than any others. It's fresh, floral and complete, a little spicy and with lots of energy, inner strength and balance with freshness. It's clean and delicious. This is very close to La Tejera, but the two vineyards have different expressions, a little more powerful here, a little more ethereal in the case of La Tejera. 3,056 bottles were filled in February 2020.

Wine Advocate (95)

I was looking forward to the 2018 Mas de Mancuso Garnacha, from one of the finest vintages in the region in recent times. It comes from a vineyard in the village of Almonacid, an old plot at 670 meters in altitude surrounded by forest. It's a mountain vineyard protected by the warm winds, a cool place with stone, clay and marl soils. This 2018 is perfumed and floral, expressive, open and quite different from the 2017, balanced and with very good depth. It fermented with 50% full clusters that were foot trodden and matured in used 500-liter oak barrels and later in concrete. It's medium-bodied and elegant, with great finesse, a lot more refined and elegant than the previous vintage. It has tension, light and energy. 3,500 bottles were filled in March 2021.