Tim Atkin MW (97)

This superb Reserva from the textbook, cooler climate 2016 vintage is one of the best young wines I have ever tasted from Carlos de la Fuente and Peter Sisseck. Marrying Tinto Fino with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 40% new wood, this comes from a parcel with a very high limestone content, which adds freshness on these warm slopes. Scented, graceful and refined, it has cassis and blackberry fruit, graceful tannins, subtle wood and a long, tapering finish. Exceptional winemaking. 2023-32

Tim Atkin MW (97)

This superb Reserva from the textbook, cooler climate 2016 vintage is one of the best young wines I have ever tasted from Carlos de la Fuente and Peter Sisseck. Marrying Tinto Fino with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 40% new wood, this comes from a parcel with a very high limestone content, which adds freshness on these warm slopes. Scented, graceful and refined, it has cassis and blackberry fruit, graceful tannins, subtle wood and a long, tapering finish. Exceptional winemaking. 2023-32

Wine Advocate (95)

Somehow I didn't taste the 2017 Hacienda Monasterio, but I did taste the 2017 Reserva, which is quite impressive for such a challenging year in Ribera del Duero. They suffered less from the frost on the property, which is quite warm and usually frost-free. The wine has a seductive nose that combines raspberries and cranberries with herbs and flowers. It's ripe at 15% alcohol, but it does not show heat or alcohol. This is 80% to 82% Tinto Fino and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon that matured in barrel for some 20 months. It's medium to full-bodied, juicy, rich and velvety, with fine, chalky tannins. The wine really transcends the challenges of the vintage and delivers more than I expected. 35,000 bottles produced.

Vinous (94)

(78% tempranillo and 22% cabernet sauvignon; aged for 20 months in small French oak barrels): Deep ruby. Intense aromas of blackcurrant, cherry compote and licorice, with a suggestion of sexy oak spices. Supple and broad but lively, with ripe, sweet dark berry flavors lifted by juicy acidity. Smooth, sweet and seamless on the finish, which hangs on with outstanding tenacity and youthful tannic grip.

The top shelf expression of Hacienda Monasterio, the Reserva Especial is not produced every year and could be the equivalent of a Gran Reserva. It is typically a Temperanillo-dominated blend complemented with Cabernet Sauvignon. Quantities may vary but for the 2015 vintage, only 4,000 bottles were produced. Although sitting in bottle for years now, the estate doesn’t allow anyone to taste the wine until it's actually released, which is usually a few months later in the calendar year than its younger siblings.

Jeb Dunnuck (98+)

From the same vineyard as the Vatan release, the 2014 Vatan Arena is the first vintage of the cuvée and was brought up all in new French oak. This deep, inky-colored effort gives up awesome notes of crème de cassis, smoked earth, violets, and vanilla bean. Full-bodied, concentrated, yet opulent and layered, with fabulous purity of fruit and building tannin, this monumental beauty has no hard edges, fine, fine tannin, and a blockbuster finish. It's straight up gorgeous on all accounts yet needs 7-8 years of bottle age and will keep for 3-4 decades.

Immerse yourself in the exquisite sensorial experience that is the La Rioja Alta, Ribera del Duero, Aster El Espino 2020. This remarkable wine originates from the famed Astér winery in Spain's Ribera del Duero region. Crafted under the meticulous supervision of La Rioja Alta's experienced winemakers, its signature reflects an authentic Spanish terroir.

Each sip of Aster El Espino 2020 offers pronounced notes of ripe blackberry and sweet spices, unveiling hints of earthy truffle complexity. Its maturation in French oak barrels lends it a soft tannin structure and a remarkably persistent finish. A perfect companion to your fine dining experience.

La Rioja Alta, Ribera del Duero, Aster El Espino 2020 is more than a beverage, it's an embodiment of Spanish passion and artistry in viticulture. Savour the pride of Ribera del Duero, where climate and soil merge to create viticultural miracles. A worthy addition to any discerning wine connoisseur's collection.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2020 Paixar is the one wine from the portfolio that is completely different from the others and comes from high-altitude vineyards in the zone of Dragonte on slate soils. In 2020 and 2021 they used the whole field blend—reds and around 5% white grapes, which might have given it an extra spark of acidity. It matured in 5,000-liter oak vat and 500-liter oak barrels. It has a perfumed nose, elegant and floral, with good ripeness but without excess. It's finely textured with a chalky thread and great balance. It finishes long and dry. This is truly superb and should evolve nicely in bottle. It's now Vino de Paraje 'A Serra' in Dragonte, a parish of Corullón. 8,000 bottles were filled in November 2021.

Wine Advocate (97)

The vino de paraje from A Serra in Dragonte 2021 Paixar is as good as ever, with the austerity of the slate slopes and the old vines that deliver low yields of concentrated and characterful grapes. It has a moderate 13.5% alcohol and a very fresh sensation on the palate beyond analysis. The vineyards are in the process to obtain organic certification. 6,500 bottles produced. This is one of the most elegant vintages for this wine.

Vinous (93)

Inky ruby. Primary, mineral-tinged black and blue fruits, potpourri, oak spices and woodsmoke on the highly perfumed nose. Sweet, deeply concentrated boysenberry, licorice and cherry cola flavors fan out steadily on the palate, picking up spiciness and a touch of candied flowers on the back half. Broad and youthfully chewy in texture. Finishes with excellent length and dusty tannins contributing shape and closing grip.

Vinous (95)

Inky ruby. A deeply perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, Moroccan spices and floral pastilles, along with suggestions of cola, licorice and smoky minerals. Shows a suave blend of depth and energy to the sharply focused black raspberry, cherry vanilla, star anise and candied violet flavors, which deepen and become sweeter with aeration. Well-knit tannins add grip to a penetrating finish that leaves behind notes of dark berry preserves and spicecake.

Vinous (94)

(all old-vines tempranillo; aged for 32 months in small French oak, 80% of it new): Inky ruby. An expressive, exotically perfumed bouquet evokes candied black and blue fruits, incense, vanilla, roasted coffee and potpourri, along with a bright mineral overtone. Sweet, densely packed blueberry and cherry-vanilla flavors are energized by a peppery, spicy nuance that gains strength as the wine opens in the glass. Shows the richness of the vintage to excellent effect and finishes sweet, supple and very long, leaving a sexy floral pastille quality behind.

Vinous (95)

(malo and 33 months of aging in new French and American oak barrels): Inky ruby. A strikingly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, incense, vanilla and smoky Indian spices, plus a vibrant mineral topnote. Sweet, seamless and expansive, offering sappy black raspberry and spicecake flavors that deepen in the mid-palate while maintaining vivacity. Smooth plays power and depth off of finesse and finishes with superb energy and lift, the velvety tannins adding gentle grip.

Vinous (95)

(malo and 33 months of aging in new French and American oak barrels): Inky ruby. A strikingly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, incense, vanilla and smoky Indian spices, plus a vibrant mineral topnote. Sweet, seamless and expansive, offering sappy black raspberry and spicecake flavors that deepen in the mid-palate while maintaining vivacity. Smooth plays power and depth off of finesse and finishes with superb energy and lift, the velvety tannins adding gentle grip.

Decanter World Wine Awards 2023 (97)

Our Best in Show journey across Northern Spain continues with a 2020 Bierzo, grown just across the provincial border from Galicia into Castilla y Léon. It’s another zone of steep slopes and old vines – the variety in this case being Mencia (known as Jaen in Portugal’s Dão region). This wine is deep black-red in colour and vivacious and urgent in aroma: wild plums mingled with the woodland scents of leaf, copse and forest floor. The palate is fruit-packed and vibrant, vigorous with an energy derived both from ripe acidity and fresh though smooth tannins; look out, too, for a stony, bitter-edged finish perhaps derived from the region’s slate soils. Wonderful drinking now in the flush of youth, but fruit of this quality will hold well for a few years yet.

In the renowned Ribera del Duero region of Spain, epicentre of world-class Tempranillo, resides the magnificent Neo Ribera del Duero Neo 2009. Crafted by hallowed vintners Bodegas Neo, recognised for their dedication to tradition and artisanal exploration, this sumptuous red wine is a testament to their supremacy.

Neo Ribera del Duero Neo 2009 presents intense, richly layered aromas of black fruit, cocoa, and subtle spice, courtesy of its meticulous maturation in French oak barrels. The palate unfurls remarkable depth with concentrated dark fruit notes elegantly balanced by supple tannins and a hint of espresso and liquorice on the finish. The longevity of this wine is stupefying; the nuanced complexity unravels gradually with each sip and spans epochs in the glass.

Celebrate the pulsating rhythm of Spanish craftsmanship with the Neo Ribera del Duero Neo 2009, a symphony of depth and complexity tailor-made for the discerning oenophile.

Revered amongst the finest Spanish wines, Neo Ribera del Duero Punta Esencia 2009 is a true connoisseur's delight. Born in the renowned Ribera del Duero region, this vintage is the epitome of Neo's exemplary winemaking skills, embodying the rich Spanish terroir. Crafted from old vines of Tempranillo variety, this wine, aged in French oak barrels for 21 months, exhibits a remarkable complexity.

Neo Ribera del Duero Punta Esencia 2009 has an intense ruby hue and an intoxicating bouquet of ripe red berries, wild herbs, and toasty oak nuances. On the palate, it captivates with plush tannins, concentrated fruit flavours, and a lingering mineral-laced finish. This intricate blend of power and elegance is the hallmark of Neo's winemaking ethos and a tribute to Ribera del Duero's unique winemaking tradition.

Presenting the Neo Ribera del Duero Punta Esencia 2009, a masterpiece for those who appreciate the finest expressions of Tempranillo!

Jancis Robinson (18.5)

Tasted blind. The wine has massive concentration and extract. It is extremely deep and ripe with tones of ripe black fruit, intense new French oak, pencil lead and sweet spices. It has an extra dose of concentration and muscle compared with the rest of wines from Toro. It still keeps elegance despite its massive palate. Glorious wine full of high-quality, juicy and fleshy tannins. It is a fantastic wine that has almost everything.

Experience the passionate craftsmanship of Spain’s celebrated Ribera del Duero region with Pesquera 2020. Having achieved remarkable acclaim, Pesquera 2020 is the brainchild of Alejandro Fernández, a visionary who revolutionised the region's wine-making industry. This breathtaking Tempranillo varietal is lovingly crafted from grapes meticulously selected from high altitude vineyards, aged perfectly for 18 months in American oak barrels, culminating in a wine that truly impresses with its complexity.

The richly intense Pesquera 2020 exhibits depth and refinement, its robust characteristics displaying vibrant notes of black fruits and a subtle spice backdrop, complemented by smoky oak hints. Elegant tannins deliver a splendidly long finish, encapsulating the artistry and tradition that this masterfully crafted wine embodies. As a global symbol of the region's fine wine, Pesquera 2020's production is steeped in stringent quality control measures, to ensure each bottle embodies a rich Spanish heritage. A glass of Pesquera 2020 is more than a drink – it's a journey imbued with tradition and expertise.

Produced by one of Spain's most influential winemakers, the Pesquera Ribera del Duero Gran Reserva Janus 2018 is a quintessence of meticulous viticulture practices at Alejandro Fernández's estate. Rooted in the emblematic Douro River Valley, this sophisticated wine is skilfully crafted from the region's indigenous Tempranillo grape. Aided by high altitude vineyards and exceptional terroir, the cultivation process bestows an admirable stand-alone character to the wine.

Adopting traditional winemaking approaches, the Gran Reserva Janus 2018 is matured for an unprecedented 24 months in French oak barrels. This lends an exquisite resilience to the wine, enveloping the palate with complex flavours of dark fruits, toasted oak and alluring hints of spices. Exhibiting an intense dark ruby hue, the hallowed Pesquera Ribera del Duero Gran Reserva Janus 2018 excites with its endearing richness, balanced complexity, and an extended finish that reminisces the essence of granite and limestone soil.

Wine Advocate (95)

Jorge Monzón considers 2020 to be an almost prefect vintage—cool and fresh, reminiscent of the great 2016. The pink 2020 Pícaro del Águila Clarete was produced with 35% Tempranillo, 35% Albillo Mayor and the rest other local grape varieties (Garnacha, Bobal, Bruñal, Monastrell, Tempranillo Gris, other Albillos, Garnacha Blanca, Pirules, Jaén, Moscatel, Malvasías...) found in the old vineyards. This is very different from your average rosé, more like a serious light red or powerful white that slowly fermented during 11 months and matured in barrel for 18 months. The orange-ish/pink wine is still young and lively, with some notes of toasted sesame seeds and a faint flinty reduction a little à la Coche-Dury, reminiscent of some vintages of their superb white. This was bottled without being racked, and perhaps that's why it has this nice reduction and could be the finest vintage to date. It has a strong chalky aftertaste from the limestone-rich soils, which makes it a terroir white, but it's also very marked by the style (which they updated from the traditional wines in Aranda in the old times) of a unique wine. It's balanced and mellow but not a shy wine, with 14% alcohol and a pH of 3.26. I've tasted 15+-year-old bottles of wines of this style, and they were still lively, so this one should not be shorter lived. Unique. Given my experience with past vintages, I'd wait a little before pulling the cork here. 8,358 bottles and 151 magnums produced. It was bottled in February 2022.

Wine Advocate (93+)

The youngest of the released wines I tasted is a red—the 2016 Pícaro del Águila Tinto. It is from what they consider to be one of the best and freshest vintages in recent times. This is produced with the vines from the warmer parts of La Aguilera, a cold place to start with (and in a cooler year). The old vines are planted with a mix that is dominated by Tempranillo but also contains some 5% other grapes. All the grapes are picked and fermented together with full clusters and natural yeasts in concrete and stainless steel vats. It matured in oak barrels for 13 months. This is fragrant, expressive, open, aromatic and really attractive. The palate is really balanced, with great freshness, fine tannins and a very pleasant mouthfeel—supple, balanced and with great depth. This is the best version of this bottling so far, and it seems like 2016 could be a great overall vintage, based on some other wines I sampled from cask (many of them have an extended élevage). 21,550 bottles and 624 magnums were filled unfiltered and unfined in November 2017.