Red Spanish Wines
Red Spanish Wines – Spanish red wine is primarily known for its dominant use of the Tempranillo grape, often blended with other varieties like Garnacha, Mazuelo (Carignan), and Graciano.
These grapes produce wines with vibrant fruit flavors, medium to full body, and varying levels of oak aging depending on the region and aging classification (Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva), with Rioja being the most famous region for Spanish red wine.
These wines offer excellent value across different styles depending on the aging process; other notable regions include Ribera del Duero for powerful, robust Tempranillo-based wines and Priorat for full-bodied blends with Garnacha and Cariñena as key components.
Red Spanish Wines – 2019 Pago de los Capellanes Tinto Reserva Ribera del Duero, Spain
92 Points
$64
Originating from our oldest vineyards in Pedrosa de Duero.
Tempranillo vines over 80 years old in clay limestone soils, stony, of very poor fertility and low production.
Its bouquet has fine complexity with tones of ripened fruit, especially cherries, blue berries and black currants, which are in harmony with tones of good wood, spices (vanilla and coconut) and a liquorice undertone.
In the mouth, this wine displays great balance, proving pleasing to the taste, sweet due to the maturity of its tannins and exuberant on account of its pleasant level of acidity.
2020 Bodegas Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva Rioja DOCa, Spain
94 Points
$40
This 2020 vintage has a bright ruby-red color, with medium depth and a garnet-tinged rim.
On the nose you discover an intense, complex wine. Aromas of wild fruits of the forest (blackberries and blueberries) come to the fore, with hints of spices.
On the palate it is long, elegant and nicely balanced. Its sharp acidity is perfectly integrated and it has soft tannins.
The finish is very long and full of fruit.
This wine will be an excellent accompaniment to meat dishes like a ribeye steak, as well as with charcuterie and all kinds of casseroles.
Red Spanish Wines – 2019 Alto Horizonte ‘El Cerro Brujo’ Garnacha Vino de Parcela de la Sierra de Gredos
94 Points
$112
In this wine, a bouquet of wild berry, olive tapenade and Earl Grey tea prepares the palate for flavors of cassis, raspberry, saddle leather, black pepper and fennel pollen, with a hint of citrus zest.
Tannins start strong and then peel away to reveal cooling herb notes.
2020 Dominio Basconcillos Vina Magna Reserva Ribera del Duero, Spain
94 Points
$49
Color: deep cherry. Aroma: ripe fruit, dried herbs, creamy oak. Flavour: powerful, ripe fruit, spicy, round tannins.
Cherry red color with a high layer, its violet rim shows its perfect state of youth.
Varietal aromas of very mature Tinta Fina.
Red Spanish Wines – 2018 Vega Sicilia Alion Ribera del Duero, Spain
93 Points
$125
Made exclusively from Tempranillo grapes, with 80% new carvalho barrels, 90% French and 10% American, apart from part of the wine also stagiar in concrete.
Following the style of greater fluidity and greater sensation of freshness perceived in Alión 2016, it shows ripe vermilion and black fruits accompanied by floral, earthy, dried herbs and twelve spice notes, which are confirmed to be non-palatable.
It has excellent acidity and tense and finely grained tannins, which trace the support of the whole and the contribution of wood.
Precise and persistent finish, with earthy touches, ameixas, chá preto, alcaçuz and graphite. An amável, aveludada and also refined version of Alión, which is excellent now, but designed to be even better in the next 20 years. Alcohol 15%.
2018 Daniel Gomez Jimenez-Landi Cantos del Diablo Mentrida, Spain
95 Points
$115
The grapes for the 2020 Cantos del Diablo were picked a little earlier to avoid the rains, and the wine has a paler color than the 2021.
It feels a little more reductive, and despite having very similar analytics, this is more about the palate with depth and length, while the 2021 is more aromatic and ethereal.
This was vinified by Landi and is more in the Comando G style; the 2021 was vinified by Bareño, and the wine is more Fedellos.
Red Spanish Wines – 2017 Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5
95 Points
$230
Deep ruby to the eye, this wine has aromas of blackberry and black cherry, with a hint of rose petal.
It is fresh yet well structured, with polished tannins and flavors of cherry, pomegranate, purple fig, milk chocolate and a dusting of floral and spice notes that carry into the smooth finish.
2020 Artadi Vina El Pison
98 Points
$340
Formerly this wine was labeled as ‘DOCa Rioja’. From Vintage 2014 onwards it is labeled as ‘Álava’.
Has a vineyard located on a modest inclination protected by natural stone fence. Strong structured soil with poor composition.
Red Spanish Wines – Arzuaga Reserva Especial 2019
94 Points
$100
Style: classic, full-bodied. Color: cherry, garnet rim. Aroma: complex, ripe fruit, black fruit, creamy oak, sweet spices. Flavor: flavorful, round, round tannins.
The wine shows an intense, deep red with purple nuances.
Complex, concentrated, and intense on the nose with aromas of ripe black fruits, mint, and cocoa.
A mineral and light background of toasted and caramelized tones dominate.
Very elegant and complex aromas that evolve favorably throughout the tasting.
In the mouth it is fresh and gentle.
Elegant mouthfeel, fresh and well-textured, and a long finish that recalls the fruity, spicy and caramelized aromas.
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