Apr 30, 2010 - Wine Advocate

Wine Advocate - Issue 188 High Scoring Wines

All reviews by Jay Miller, Wine Advocate, Issue 188, April 2010

Mont-Marçal Cava Brut Extremarium "The Non-Vintage Brut Extremarium is actually a product of the 2006 vintage. It is made up of Xarel-lo, Parellada, and barrel-fermented Chardonnay. It offers up a sophisticated, Champagne-like mousse leading to a substantial, concentrated, dry, and well balanced sparkling wine that should last for several years. —90 points"

Legado del Conde Albariño 2009 "The 2009 Legado del Conde Albarino is light straw-colored with a pleasing perfume of lemon and mineral. Made in a lighter style, it has very good concentration, savory, dry flavors, and good length. Drink it over the next 2-3 years. —88 points"

Morgadío Albariño 2009 "The 2009 Morgadio Albarino has a more mineral-dominated nose along with lemon zest, honey, and floral elements. Dry, concentrated, and lengthy, it will drink nicely for another 3-4 years. —90 points"

Eidos de Padriñán Albariño 2008 "The 2008 Eidos de Padrinan Albarino was sourced from old vines on granite and raised sur lie for 7 months. It gives up aromas of mineral, sea salt, lemon, and floral notes. Vibrant on the palate, this savory, intense offering will drink well for another 2-3 years. —90 points"

Veigas de Padriñán Albariño 2008 "The 2008 Veiga de Padrinan was sourced from ungrafted 80+-year-old vines. It is a bit more terroir-driven with an intense mineral element, earth notes, lemon, and floral rudiments. On the palate it is impeccably balanced, concentrated, and lengthy. It should drink well for several more years. —92 points"

Martínsancho Verdejo 2009 "The 2009 Martinsancho Verdejo is light straw-colored and redolent of baking spices, especially nutmeg, mineral, and floral notes. On the palate it has excellent grip and volume along with intense fruit flavors and a lengthy, pure finish. Drink this vibrant effort over the next 3 years.

The Angel Rodriguez estate is given much of the credit for the preservation of the Verdejo grape. —90 points"

Garci Grande Verdejo 2009 "The 2009 Garci Grande Verdejo is medium straw-colored with an alluring bouquet of spring flowers, honey, nutmeg, marzipan, and tropical notes. Vibrant and concentrated in the mouth, it is meant for drinking over the next 1-2 years. —88 points"

Pazo de Arribi Godello 2009 "The 2009 Pazo de Arribi Godello reveals aromas of nutmeg, marzipan, apple, and pear. Crisp and dry on the palate with good depth, intense flavors, and a lengthy finish, it will deliver pleasant drinking for another 3-4 years. —88 points"

Peza do Rei Mencía 2008 "The 2008 Peza do Rei Tinto Mencia was partially barrel aged. Dark ruby-colored, it reveals a perfume of mineral/earth, leather, and raspberry. Sweet, savory, and pleasure-bent on the palate, this is an offering that is an excellent value for drinking over the next 3-4 years. —89 points"

Peza do Rei Barrica 2007 "The 2007 Peza do Rei Tinto Barrica spent 11 months in French oak. Purple-colored with aromas of cedar, mineral, earth, and assorted black fruits, in the mouth it is concentrated, voluminous, spicy, and long. It will evolve for another 1-2 years and drink well through 2017. —90 points"

Guelbenzu Azul 2007 "The 2007 Guelbenzu Azul exhibits aromas of cedar, tobacco, spice box, black currant, and blackberry. On the palate it has attractive flavors, some elegance, and enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years but can be approached now. —89 points"

Carchelo "C" 2009 "The 2009 Carchelo is a blend of 50% Monastrell, 30% Tempranillo, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 3 months in new French oak. Opaque purple-colored with a nose of toasty blue fruits, on the palate it has good density, plenty of mid-palate blue and black fruit, and a fruit-filled finish. Drink this excellent value over the next 3-4 years. —88 points"

Loriñón Reserva 2005 "The purple-colored 2005 Lorinon Reserva offers up aromas of cedar, spice box, leather, tobacco, and blackberry. Smooth-textured, concentrated, and spicy on the palate, it has ample fruit and ripe tannin to evolve for 2-3 years. Drink it from 2013 to 2020. —89 points"

Loriñón Gran Reserva 2004 "The 2004 Lorinon Gran Reserva spent 23 months in oak. It is an elegant offering with aromas of mineral, cigar box, damp earth, and black cherry. This well-balanced wine has 4-6 years of aging potential and a drinking window extending from 2014 to 2019. —90 points"

Viña Gormaz Tempranillo 2009 "Bodegas Gormaz’s unoaked 2009 Tempranillo is purple-colored with aromas of pencil lead, spice box, and blackberry. Flavorful and mouth-filling, it is a substantial effort that is also an excellent value. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. —88 points"

El Vínculo Tinto Crianza 2006 "The 2006 El Vinculo Tinto Crianza reveals an aromatic array of spice box, leather, violets, and assorted black fruits. Supple-textured, forward, and succulent, this tasty offering can be approached now but will benefit from another 1-2 years of cellaring to round out. Drink it from 2011 to 2021. —90 points"

El Vínculo Paraje la Golosa Gran Reserva 2003 "The 2003 El Vinculo Paraje la Golosa Gran Reserva was sourced from a single parcel of head-pruned Tempranillo over 60 years of age. It exhibits an alluring bouquet of smoke, mineral, espresso, roasted herbs, black cherry, and blackberry. On the palate it is dense, structured, and balanced with 3-4 years of aging potential. This incipiently complex effort will offer optimal drinking from 2013 to 2013. —92 points"

Tinto Pesquera 2007 "The 2007 Crianza is crimson-colored with an enticing nose of leather, Asian spices, incense, violets, and blackberry. Smooth-textured, ripe, and concentrated on the palate, it has the structure and balance to evolve for several years and will offer prime drinking from 2013 to 2022. —91 points"

Pesquera Reserva 2006 "The 2006 Pesquera Reserva is purple-colored with an expressive perfume of earth, leather, spice box, lavender, and blackberry. Layered on the palate, it has ample savory fruit, good richness, and 3-4 years of cellaring potential. Drink it from 2014 to 2026. —92 points"

Pesquera Janus Gran Reserva 2003 "The 2003 Pesquera Gran Reserva has a liqueur-like bouquet of blackberry and black cherry that jumps from the glass. On the palate it reveals a slightly roasted character (likely from the searing hot vintage) dense fruit, savory, incipiently complex flavors, and a lengthy finish. Drink it through 2023. —93 points"

Pasanau El Vell Coster 2007 "The purple-colored 2007 El Vell Coster is 87% Mazuelo and 13% Garnacha aged in new French oak. A bouquet of mineral, damp earth, Asian spices, balsamic, and blackberry lead to a dense, structured wine with incipient complexity and 4-6 years of cellaring potential. Drink it from 2014 to 2022. —90 points"

Pasanau Finca La Planeta 2006 "The 2006 Finca la Planeta is composed of an atypical Priorato blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Garnacha aged for 1 year in French oak. It gives up earthy, mineral, and crushed stone aromas along with pepper, espresso, and black cherry. Structured and concentrated in the mouth, it will evolve for 2-3 years and deliver optimal drinking from 2012 to 2021. —89 points"

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