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$44.95
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PG 95
RR 94
WS 93
Spain
-
Red
In stock,
3
available
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95 points Peñín Guide: "(100% garnacha). Colour: very deep cherry. Nose: ripe fruit, fruit preserve, sweet spices, cocoa bean, dark chocolate, mineral. Palate: powerful, flavourful, concentrated, complex. (2013)"
94 points Rhone Report: "Even richer and more concentrated, with a slightly more serious feel, the 2009 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Campo de Borja boast rocking aromatics of smoked blackberries, campfire, meat juice, graphite, and chocolate to go with a full-bodied, seamless, and beautifully pure and polished palate. This 100% Garnacha has no hard edges, a light, weightless texture, ripe tannin, and a long, hedonistic finish. Certainly, along the same lines as the Veraton with its sweetness of fruit and overall purity, yet there's more richness and depth through the mid-palate, as well as additional structure on the finish. While it is a hedonistic turn on now, it should nevertheless continue to shine for upwards of a decade. (Mar 2012)"
93 points Wine Spectator: "The espresso, toasted vanilla and licorice flavors are dark and sweet in this rich red. Features linzer torte, fig pudding and dried cherry flavors, with a plush, generous texture and soft, thick tannins. An extreme style, but sensuous and appealing. Drink now through 2015. (1/23/13)"
91 points Wine Enthusiast: "Smoky, charred and minerally on the nose, this has a balsamic berry aroma and lots of dark spice. It feels deep, pure and layered, with flavors of wild berry, toast, baked plum and dark spice. It finishes big, with hints of rubber, blackberry and lasting spice. Alcohol 16%. (Feb 2013)"
100% Garnacha. This wine is spectacular, and represents the perfect foil for grilled steak. Rich, full bodied and muscular, Alto Moncayo has riveting intensity and palate staining extract; this Spanish red is inky/purple, full-bodied, and rich. This pedal-to-the-metal offering should age handsomely for a decade. 600 cases produced.
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$12.95
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PG 91
Spain
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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91 points Peñín Guide: "(mencia). Colour: cherry, purple rim. Nose: expressive, red berry notes, floral, varietal, balsamic herbs. Palate: fruity, good acidity, round tannins. (2012)"
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$169.95
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RR 98
IWC 95
Spain
-
Red
In stock,
2
available
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98 points Rhone Report: "A thrilling Clos Erasmus that I think will be up there with the '01 (and possibly the '98) when all is said and done, the 2009 Clos Erasmus Priorat, an old-vine blend of 70% Garnacha and 30% Syrah aged for 22 months in barrel, delivers a textbook Erasmus bouquet of jammy raspberry, creme de cassis, cedar, licorice, flowers, dusty minerality, and vanilla that is decadent and exceedingly rich, yet somehow stays vibrant, fresh and delineated at the same time. Already voluptuous and hedonistic on the palate, with layers of fruit, beautiful freshness, and a full-bodied, rich texture, this nevertheless has solid underlying structure that emerges over the evening. Gorgeous all around, this is sublime now, yet deserves 3-4 years of bottle age, and should have upwards of 15 to 20 years of longevity. (Mar 2012)"
95 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "(60% garnacha and 40% syrah): Bright ruby. An explosively perfumed, fruit-dominated bouquet displays raspberry liqueur, cherry-cola and candied plum, with notes of violet and incense adding complexity. Deeply pitched but energetic in the mouth, offering sappy red and dark berry flavors and a smooth, seamless texture. Floral and spice notes linger on a very long, subtly smoky finish. This seductive wine is approachable now, with some decanting, but I'd give it at least another seven years of bottle age. (Oct/Nov 2011)"
Importer notes: "Clos Erasmus was born in an afternoon with the purchase of some old vines of Garnacha by Daphne Glorian, who happened to be in the area visiting some friends. Although she had no intention of purchasing such a plot or starting a winery, her friends (Alvaro Palacios and Rene Barbier) convinced her that amazing wines could be produced here if given the right attention. They were right. The wine was named after the philosopher Erasmus von Rotterdam as an allusion to his essay 'In Praise of Folly' and an answer to all who dubbed the enterprise pure madness. What started as a ‘fun’ project soon became a very serious endeavor as the Priorat earned a fame that surprised all of the growers by the rapidity of its ascent. Clos Erasmus is now considered one of the benchmarks of the region and has received consecutive 100 Point scores from the Wine Advocate, the only wine of Spain to ever achieve such critical praise."
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$189.95
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RR 96
IWC 93
PG 93
Spain
-
Red
In stock,
2
available
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96+ points Rhone Report: "A legendary wine in the making, the 2009 Clos Mogador Priorat is a blend 40% Garnacha (from 80 year old vines), 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah and 5% Pinot Noir, Mourvedre and Merlot, that's aged in new, 500-liter oak casks for a year before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Gorgeously perfumed, with a liquid-mineral, creamy raspberry, currant, earth, and licorice-driven bouquet, this full-bodied effort hits the palate with a dense, structured feel, layers of fruit, and defining acidity that emerges on the finish. Almost impervious to air and drinking brilliantly for the 3-days I had the bottle open, this powerful, yet perfectly balanced, Priorat needs 3-5 years of bottle age, and will shine for over two decades. (Dec 2012)"
93 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "(a blend of garnacha, carinena, cabernet sauvignon and syrah): Inky ruby. An explosive perfume of candied dark berries, potpourri, woodsmoke and cola, with a strong mineral overtone. Sappy and penetrating, offering sweet cherry compote and cassis flavors and bracing minerality. Puts on weight with air and finishes with firm tannic grip and lingering floral and spice elements. By all means give this wine at least five more years of age. (Sep 2012)"
93 points Peñín Guide: "(garnacha, cariñena, cabernet sauvignon, syrah). Colour: cherry, garnet rim. Nose: earthy notes, overripe fruit, dark chocolate. Palate: powerful, flavourful, fine bitter notes, good acidity, round tannins. (2013)"
92 points Neal Martin (Wine Advocate): "The 2009 Clos Mogador has a more opulent, luscious bouquet than the 2008, with lifted, high-toned floral fruit (iodine, star anise and sloe) and a smudge of warm alcohol. The palate is full-bodied with succulent, gamey dark fruits and an underlying earthiness that should develop with bottle age. It exudes fine tension and poise and is very expressive on the structured finish, which will mellow nicely. (Apr 2012)"
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$14.95
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IWC 90
Spain
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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List $18.00
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90 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "(100% mencia): Full ruby. Pungent, high-pitched aromas of cherry skin, black raspberry, licorice and cracked pepper, with a bright mineral topnote. Spicy and incisive, with good deep dark berry and bitter cherry flavors. Dusty tannins add grip to a long, spice- and floral-accented finish. This wine drinks very well now but I suspect that it will age nicely on its balance. (Sep 2012)"
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$9.95
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PG 89
RP 88
IWC 88
Spain
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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List $13.00
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89 points Peñín Guide: "(80% tempranillo, 20% garnacha). Colour: cherry, garnet rim. Nose: spicy, fruit expression, sweet spices, cocoa bean. Palate: flavourful, spicy, ripe fruit, round tannins. (2012)"
88 points Robert Parker: "[$13 list] Another good buy, the 2009 Rioja Cvne Crianza (80% Tempranillo and the rest other authorized varietals) exhibits a dark ruby/purple color, loads of fruit (black currants and cherries), licorice and forest floor notes, a supple texture, medium body, and considerable flavor authority as well as character. Drink it over the next 2-3 years. (Aug 2012)"
88 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "(100% tempranillo): Dark ruby. Aromas and flavors of raspberry and cherry, with a vanilla overtone. Silky and smooth, with a lingering finish of clove, mocha and vanilla. Easy-going and very drinkable right now. (Sep 2012)"
87 points Wine Spectator: "[$13 list] Smoky and gamy notes shadow cherry, floral and licorice flavors in this smooth red, displaying a rather austere character. Tobacco and toast notes linger on the finish. Drink now through 2015. (2/28/13)"
Importer notes: "80% Tempranillo with the remainder composed of Garnacha and Mazuelo. All grapes come from the 'Rioja Alta' subzone, where higher altitudes and Atlantic influences make for a moderate climate which is ideal for producing wines of elegance and finesse. Soils are composed of iron-rich clay and limestone. The wine sees two years of aging before being bottled, with at least 12 months in American oak."
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$23.95
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PG 93
W&S 92
IWC 91
Spain
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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93 points Peñín Guide: "(100% tinto fino). Colour: cherry, garnet rim. Nose: ripe fruit, spicy, creamy oak, toasty, characterful. Palate: powerful, flavourful, toasty, round tannins. (2013)"
92 points Wine & Spirits: "With the 2009 vintage, Emilio Moro seems to be moving away from a style that stresses power and instead giving more attention to the elegance possible in Ribera reds. This is generously ripe and red, focused on juiciness rather than extraction, deliciously Ribera del Duero in its abundant fruit and spice, but never tiring. (Jun 2013)"
91 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Glass-staining ruby. Seductive aromas of blackberry and blueberry preserves, cherry-cola and rose, with a sexy incense note and a touch of allspice. Stains the palate with dark berry compote and spicecake flavors, with zesty minerality adding cut. Blends depth and vivacity smoothly, finishing with impressive clarity, a kiss of vanillin oak and lingering sweetness. (Sep 2012)"
Producer notes: "A deep, cherry red colour. Intense aromas of mature, ripe black fruits, integrated with well-balanced toasty touches. Powerful on the palette, it is full, meaty and rich with thick black-fruit tannins Vanilla, balsamic and spicy touches from fine quality oak. The finish is long and full."
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$28.95
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IWC 91
WE 91
Spain
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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List $36.00
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91 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Deep, bright violet. Blackberry, cherry-vanilla and licorice on the oak-spiced nose. Deep, sweet and pliant, but with very good juicy character and spicy lift to its dark fruit preserve and licorice flavors. Finishes velvety and long, with fine-grained tannins, a repeating notes of licorice and impressive clarity. (Sep/Oct 2011)"
91 points Wine Enthusiast: "[$36 list] Dense, fruity and rock-solid as Ribera goes, this has aromas of cassis and blackberry that are full and lusty. The palate is thick and saturated, with rich black-fruit flavors, finishing long and potent. Drink now-2017. (Feb 2013)"
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$9.95
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PG 93
WA 90
W&S 90
Spain
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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List $14.00
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93 points Peñín Guide: "(garnacha) Colour: deep cherry, garnet rim. Nose: varietal, balsamic herbs, ripe fruit, dry stone. Palate: flavourful, good structure, complex. (2012)"
90 points Jay Miller (Wine Advocate): "[$14 list] The 2009 Las Rocas is 100% Garnacha sourced from 80-year-old vines from the DO of Calatayud with 25% of the wine aged in wood. It is a forward, savory, ripe, succulent offering that should prove to be a crowd-pleaser. It is an outstanding value that will deliver enjoyment over the next 5 years. (Jun 2011)"
90 points and 'Year's Best Catalan Wines,' Wine & Spirits: "[$14 list] The mix of almond, dried fruit and earth notes give a certain air of mystery to the aroma of this wine. The palate is taut, with a fine layer of tannins and firm acidity that padlocks the flavors for now. Give it time in a decanter to open and serve with charcuterie. (Feb 2013)"
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$14.95
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PG 93
WA 90
RR 90
Spain
-
Red
In stock,
9
available
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List $20.00
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93 points Peñín Guide: "(garnacha). Colour: cherry, garnet rim. Nose: complex, elegant, ripe fruit, closed. Palate: full, complex, flavourful, fine bitter notes, mineral. (2012)"
90 points and 'Best Buy,' Robert Parker: "My favorite of this trio, and a big time sleeper, is the outstanding 2009 Las Rocas Garnacha Vinas Viejas, which comes from 60-100-year old vines planted at 2,500-3,500 feet elevations. Aged ten months in old French and American oak, it possesses 15.2% alcohol along with a deep ruby/purple color and copious notes of plums, raspberries, black cherries, lavender and licorice, a full-bodied texture, and impressive purity, depth and freshness. This dry red represents super value for frugal consumers. It should last for several years. (Aug 2012)"
90 points Rhone Report: "[$20 list] Presumably a blend of old vine Garnacha, the 2009 Las Rocas Viñas Viejas over delivers and possess a perfumed, spice-driven bouquet of sweet cherry fruit, dusty earth, cedar, and dried herbs that flows to a medium to full-bodied, silky, and elegant palate. Balanced, clean, and with integrated acidity and building richness through the mid-palate, this outstanding Garnacha needs air to shine, and should continue to impress for another 5-7 years. (Sep 2012)"
90 points Anthony Dias Blue (The Tasting Panel): "[$20 list] Silky and ripe with deep blackberry and cassis; spicy, long and rich with a good acid structure and a long finish. (May 2012)"
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$9.95
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Spain
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "This elegant, complex wine exudes fresh aromas with decadent flavors of sweet dark cherry integrated with nuances of vanillin oak."
Wine Spectator on the 2008 vintage: "Toast and chocolate envelop sweet cherry and kirsch in this velvety red, which is ripe and a bit thick, but has enough acidity to stay lively. Drink now."
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$11.95
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IWC 89
Spain
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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89 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Deep red. Expressive aromas of fresh red berries, potpourri, spicecake and white pepper. Supple on entry, then lively and pliant in the mid-palate, offering sweet, incisive flavors of raspberry, candied cherry and spices. An energetic wine that finishes with good clarity and sweet persistence. (Sep/Oct 2010)"
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$15.95
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WA 90
W&S 90
IWC 89
Spain
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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90 points Jay Miller (Wine Advocate): "The 2009 Buen Amor is 100% Tinta de Toro aged in oak for 2 months. It exhibits the strength of the great 2009 Toro vintage in its deep purple color, fragrant black fruits, menthol, and balsamic notes. Savory, spicy, and pleasure-bent, this tasty offering over-delivers in a big way. Drink it over the next 4 years. (Jun 2011)"
90 points Wine & Spirits: "An unusual interpretation of Toro, this juicy, pleasant red has floral scents that meld into blue and red fruit. It combines a sense of simplicity with impressive depth of flavor. Relatively soft in character, this is ready for chorizo. (Jun 2011)"
89 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Glass-staining ruby. Flamboyant high-toned aromas of black and blue fruits, licorice and bitter chocolate. Sweet, dense and concentrated but open-knit, offering sweet blackberry and blueberry flavors and showing no rough edges. Supple tannins build on the nicely persistent finish, which shows a slightly jammy character. I'd drink this on the young side for its fruit. (Sep/Oct 2011)"
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$29.95
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WS 93
PG 93
W&S 91
Spain
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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List $34.00
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93 points and 'Highly Recommended,' Wine Spectator: "[$34 list] The polished texture carries complex yet harmonious flavors of plum, toast, licorice and mineral in this elegant red. Spice and floral notes linger on the long, gentle finish. Very focused and fresh. Drink now through 2018. (3/31/13)"
93 points Peñín Guide: "(100% tempranillo). Colour: cherry, garnet rim. Nose: ripe fruit, spicy, creamy oak, toasty, complex, mineral, earthy notes. Palate: powerful, flavourful, toasty, round tannins. (2013)"
91 points Wine & Spirits: "[$34 list] Despite the significant tannins, which create a dense barrier to the fruit, this wine grows increasingly more approachable with time in the glass. Wait long enough and it becomes silky and smooth, beginning to evidence its fruitier side. Decant this in the morning to serve with a dinner of braised lamb. (Jun 2012)"
Producer notes: "Prepared with Tempranillo grapes (100%), this wine has a very bright, intense maraschino cherry colour that fades to a Cardinal red rim. It has a very marked aroma with a good balance of fruit and wood, where tones of vanilla intermingle with well-ripened fruit, black berries and wild fruits. There are also noticeable hints of leather and liquorice, resulting from the mingling of the French oak and the aromas inherent in this variety of grape. In the mouth, the wine has a smooth texture but fills the palate with balanced flavours, including fine tannins, which help extend the life of the wine. The finish and aftertaste are both long and elegant."
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$17.95
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IWC 89
Spain
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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List $23.00
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89 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Glass-staining ruby. A fragrant bouquet evokes cherry-vanilla, violet and spices. Juicy and open-knit, offering zesty red and dark berry flavors and a touch of vanillin oak. Finishes smooth, gently sweet and long, with the cherry note echoing. This is already approachable. (Sep/Oct 2011)"
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$46.95
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WA 92
Spain
-
Red
In stock,
1
available
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92 points Jay Miller (Wine Advocate): "Familia Nin-Ortiz’s 2009 Planetes de Nin is sourced from a contiguous 11 acre parcel all planted on llicorella and farmed biodynamically. The wine is made up of 70% Garnacha and 30% Carignan aged in foudre. It is purple in color with an intriguing nose of dates and figs (reminiscent of a Fig Newton) as well as mineral, lavender, and black cherry. On the palate it reveals an elegant, racy personality with enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years. It is approachable now and will continue to provide pleasure through 2021. (May 2011)"
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$9.95
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Spain
-
Red
In stock,
2
available
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List $12.00
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This wine, formerly from Australia, is now made in Aragon, Spain. Not yet reviewed, but following are notes from winemaker Chris Ringland: "I blended Bitch Grenache Aragon 2009 from a selection of un-oaked Grenache wines from various sub-regions of Aragon and Navarra, around the Southern regions of the Ebro river valley... Grenache (Garnacha) survives here without the need for irrigation. Yields are typically low and this, combined with a historical selection of small-berried, deeply colored clones, produces wines of a more 'masculine' expression of the variety. Dark cherry and raspberry aromas are underpinned with spicy, peppery notes with hints of anise. Aragon Grenache displays extraordinary natural acid balance, even at elevated ripeness levels. I have selected wines, which convey vibrant, juicy fruit together with a very soft, sweet-fruited palate structure... the style for Bitch Grenache is all about fruit aromas and flavors. Maturation without oak influence enhances the natural fruit expression of these selections... Bitch Aragon Grenache is very approachable now, but don’t be deceived into thinking that it won’t age. I predict that the wine will develop further personality with 3 to 5 years in the cellar."
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$14.95
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RP 92
W&S 91
Spain
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
|
List $18.00
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92 points Robert Parker: "There are 5,000 cases of this remarkable value, another stunning example of the astonishing palate of Eric Solomon and his ability to ferret out exceptional wines at such ridiculously low prices that most consumers will never guess how good they are based on the price alone. Composed of 66% Monastrell, 19% Garnacha and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for one year in both new and 2-year-old French oak, it displays an inky/purple color along with notes of road tar, melted asphalt, blackberry liqueur, camphor, graphite and forest floor. The wine is complex, full-bodied, rich and intense with terrific purity and wonderful overall balance. It is one more example of a wine that completely over-delivers. Enjoy it over the next 2-3 years. (Jun 2012)"
91 points and '100 Best Buys of 2012,' Wine & Spirits: "[$18 list] Lush and exuberantly ripe, this wine develops in the glass, gaining notes of spice and fresher fruit. It's a tight web of tannins, completely filling the mouth with their energy and power. A wine to cellar for five years or more. (Dec 2012)"
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