The Wine Advocate recognizes excellence in ENYE's portfolio for a second year in a row

Rating

Product Name

Tasting Notes

92

Bodegas Torrederos Reserva 2005 (SRP $42)

The opaque purple 2005 Reserva spent 18 months in barrel. This sizeable Reserva reflects the style of the vintage in a positive manner. Brooding black fruits, Asian spices, incense, lavender, and licorice form the wine’s impressive bouquet. It leads to a loaded, dense, rich, structured, impeccably balanced wine that will achieve its 20th birthday in fine form. It is a worthy successor to the impressive 2004 Reserva reviewed one year ago.

91

Pago Casa del Blanco Quixote Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah 2006 (SRP $30)

The 2006 Quixote Cabernet Sauvignon (50%) - Syrah (50%) also spent 12 months in barrel. It displays a similar personality but the aromas and flavors are focused on game, lavender, black currant and blueberry. Drink it over the next 8 years.

Pago Casa del Blanco is one of only a handful of Spanish wineries awarded the « protected designation of origin » recognizing that the wines are a true expression of their terroir.

91

Bodegas Diez-Caballero Victoria 2008 (SRP $50)

The 2008 Victoria is the Bodega’s bow to a modern, fruit-forward style. It was sourced from 60-year-old vines, the oldest on the estate, and aged for 12 months in French oak. It exhibits a complex aromatic array of Asian spices, incense, lavender, and blackberry followed by a wine with outstanding volume, impeccable balance, 2-3 years of aging potential, and a lengthy finish. It will be at its best from 2012 to 2020.

90+

Bodegas Diez-Caballero Reserva 2004 (SRP $25)

The 2004 Reserva received the same elevage as the 2005 but reflects the plusher, fruit-forward style of the great 2004 vintage. Earthy minerals, spicy black fruits, and pain grille aromas are framed by a traditionally styled Rioja with some elegance, layered fruit, and outstanding volume. This savory effort displays plenty of finesse and a pleasure-bent personality in its silky finish. It will drink nicely through 2019 if not longer. Both the 2004 and 2005 Reservas are outstanding values.

90

Bodegas Diez-Caballero Reserva 2005 (SRP $25)

The 2005 Reserva is a large-scaled Rioja in the style of the vintage. Aromas of spice box, tobacco, lavender, black cherry, and blackberry lead to a structured wine that will evolve for another 3-4 years. On the palate it displays an elegant personality, excellent volume, and precision focus. It will provide pleasure through 2020 if not longer.

90

Bodegas Diez-Caballero Crianza 2008 (SRP $20)

The 2008 Tempranillo Crianza spent 15 months in French and American oak. Toasty black fruit and spice aromas lead to an elegant, fruit-filled, savory offering that will evolve for 1-2 years and drink well through 2019.

90

Bodegas Diez-Caballero Tempranillo Joven 2009 (SRP $14)

The unoaked 2009 Tempranillo Joven is a forward, nicely balanced wine in an expression of Tempranillo that offers cherry, cinnamon, clove, and lavender aromas and flavors. Savory, concentrated, and lengthy, it over-delivers in a big way.

90

Castell del Remei “Gotim Bru” 2009 (SRP $17)

The red wines begin with the 2009 Gotim Bru, a perennial Best Buy in this journal. It is a blend of 5 grapes featuring 35% Tempranillo and 30% Garnacha aged for 10 months in French and American oak. Aromas of underbrush, brier, spice box, lavender, and assorted black fruits leads to a mouth-filling wine with good balance, some complexity, and 1-2 years of aging potential (not that there is any reason to defer gratification). Drink this outstanding value over the next 5-7 years.

90

Pago Casa del Blanco Quixote Merlot-Tempranillo-Petit Verdot 2006 (SRP $28)

The 2006 Quixote Petit Verdot reveals the greatest depth and layering. Backward on the palate, dense, and masculine, this lengthy, powerful wine will benefit from 3-4 years of additional cellaring and offer a drinking window extending through 2026.

Pago Casa del Blanco is one of only a handful of Spanish wineries awarded the « protected designation of origin » recognizing that the wines are a true expression of their terroir.

89

Bodegas Diez-Caballero Barrel Fermented Viura 2009 (SRP $16)

Diez-Caballero’s 2009 Barrel-Fermented Viura was sourced from 40-year-old vines and spent 6 months in French oak on the lees with periodic batonnage. It possesses excellent clarity and focus in its mineral and melon-accented fruit. Smooth-textured from the oak aging, it is nicely balanced and savory with the oak well-integrated. This lengthy effort is an outstanding value for drinking over the next 3-4 years.

89

Bodegas Pagos de Mogar Roble 2008 (SRP $20)

Pagos de Mogar’s 2008 Roble (100% Tempranillo) spent 6 months in French and American oak. It exhibits an attractive perfume of cigar box, Asian spices, incense, and blackberry. Firmly structured on the palate with lively acidity and a bit of fine grained tannin, the wine is well-balanced by ample savory fruit and a sense of elegance. Drink this solid value over the next 6 years.

89

Bodegas Torrederos Crianza 2008 (SRP $26)

The 2008 Crianza spent 12 months in French and American oak. It features smoky black fruits framed by aromas of violets, incense, and mineral. Layered on the palate with savory flavors, a sense of elegance, and a firm acid structure, this length effort will evolve for 2-3 years and drink well through 2020.

89

Bodegas Torrederos Barrica Roble 2009 (SRP $18)

Torrederos’ 2009 Roble spent 6 months in French and American oak. It is a fresh, vinous offering laced with attractive black fruits, cedar, and spice box. This pleasure-bent entry-level wine finishes with no hard edges. It is a great value for drinking over the next 3-4 years.

89

Castell del Remei “ODA” 2007 (SRP $32)

The purple-colored 2007 Oda is composed of 60% Merlot, 25% Tempranillo, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 12 months in a mix of new and used French and American oak. It offers up an alluring perfume of pain grille, spice box, incense, and black currant leading to a medium-bodied, structured, savory offering with good volume, excellent balance, and 2-3 years of aging potential. It will provide optimal drinking through 2019.

88

Adegas Valtea Albarino 2010 (SRP $21)

The 2010 Valtea Albarino displays a pleasant perfume of mineral, lemon, and citrus. Medium-bodied, savory, dry, and well-balanced, this flavorful wine from an excellent vintage will provide pleasure for another 3 years.

88

Bodegas Antaño Alta Plata Verdejo 2010 (SRP $17)

Bodegas Antano’s 2010 Alta Plata Verdejo gives up an alluring bouquet of baking spices, lychee, jasmine, and peach. Medium-bodied, dry, and savory on the palate with intense fruit and mineral flavors, this nicely balanced Verdejo will provide pleasure over the next 3 years.

88

ESENZIA Old Vine Garnacha 2010 (SRP $12)

Bodegas Tempore’s 2010 Old Vine Garnacha is a mouth-filling wine with layered black cherry fruit, savory flavors, and no hard edges. Drink this excellent value over the next 4 years.

88

ESENZIA Old Vine Tempranillo 2010 (SRP $12)

The 2010 Old Vine Tempranillo displays a similar personality but with darker blackberry fruit. It is an easy to understand, spicy, forward wine that will provide plenty of enjoyment over the next 4 years.

87

Chivite Gran Feudo Rosado 2010 (SRP $11)

The DO of Navarra is noted for its Rosados. Gran Feudo’s 2010 Rosado is 100% Garnacha fermented and aged in stainless steel. Medium pink in color, it displays a lovely perfume of rose petal, strawberry, and cherry. Dry on the palate with a sense of elegance, this vibrant Rose is a very good value meant for drinking over the next 12-18 months.