Spain
Spanish Wines
The two most famous Spanish red regions are Rioja and Ribera del Duero - and in both of these the wines are dominated by Tempranillo.
This is where the character of Spanish reds is founded: strawberry-scented Tempranillo, traditionally aged in American oak barrels, which impart a vanilla sweetness (though increasingly now bodegas are employing more French oak barrels, or a mix). We try and find interesting reds beyond Rioja, for example listing wines from Toro, Bierzo and Catalonia. What are the other qualities which make Spanish reds interesting and exciting?
First is the heritage of old vines. As in the south of France, Spain retains large plantings of very old vines, especially the red varieties, Tempranillo, Monastrell (Mourvèdre), Garnacha (Grenache) and Carignan. These deliver concentrated, high quality juice - great raw material.
Second, and less well-known to us here, there is an exciting regionalism. One might be aware of the Catalan or Basque spirit of independence, but on wine labels from Galicia and Valencia too one sees words which are not Castilian Spanish. That regionalism is expressed in the preservation and celebration of local grape varieties, many unique to Spain.
Finally, the reds can offer amazing value. Unsurprisingly the domestic wine market has collapsed since 2008, and we encounter many estates very keen to work us, and open to gentle negotiation.
Order Wines...
- Alphabetically
- By Price
- Date Added
Spain
-
El Lagar de Isilla, Ribera Del Duero, Roble, 2018
“A best-seller here, 95% Tempranillo with 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, given precisely 122 days (it says so on the label) in French and American oak...”
-
El Lagar de Isilla, Ribera Del Duero, Reserva, 2014
“100% Tempranillo, including some parcels 80-90 years old; in French barrels for 18 months. Pure, lifted red fruit perfume on smart oak. Currently...”
-
El Lagar de Isilla, Ribera Del Duero, Crianza, 2016
“92% Tempranillo from 50-70 year old vines, with Cabernet and Merlot, given fourteen months in French oak. Showy and extrovert, showing intense black...”
-
Vega del Rayo, Rioja, Vendimia Seleccionada, 2017
“A blend of about 95% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo, a cheerful, oaked (American and Russian) Rioja. Clean, raspberry, red and black cherry character,...”
-
Segares, Rioja Tempranillo, 2018
“Situated in Rioja Media, the vineyards lie on a plateau at 520-650 metres between the Ocón and Jubera valleys. All the wines are 100% Tempranillo...”
-
Segares, Rioja Reserva, 2010
“The Reserva goes into 40% new French barrels, 60% in older American oak. It’s wonderful to have some really mature Rioja at hand. Very intense, all...”
-
Tierra Fuerte, Graciano, Méntrida, 2015
“Graciano is a high quality grape – described in Jancis Robinson’s monumental Wine Grapes as "fragrant, fresh, potentially powerful and...”
-
Bajel Pirata, Monastrell, Alicante, 2019 (Screwcap)
“A simple, smooth, easy-drinking quaffer, strawberry-fruited, with a little substance and a hint of meatiness. Easy to quaff on its own. Now-2021”
-
Finca La Solana, Monastrell (Organic & Vegan), Jumilla, 2018
“This unoaked, organic red is so bright, juicy and winning, strawberry flavoured but not in the least sweet, vivid and lightly savoury, with lots of...”
-
Finca La Solana, Monastrell, Seleccion Especial, 2018
“Monastrell given about four months in old barrels, mainly American, giving distinctively Spanish oak accents of coconut, milk chocolate and coffee...”
-
Finca Tobella, Negre, Priorat, 2018
“Very deeply coloured, inky; overtly flavoured by the barrels, with expensive, clean, cedary accents, over plush black-fruit; very concentrated, but...”
-
Montetoro, Toro, 5, 2018
“A new wine for us, from Bodega Ramon Ramos near Zamora, north-west of Madrid. In Toro the local red version of the Tempranillo grape is known as...”
-
El Lagar De Isilla, Ribera Del Duero, Gestación, Vinas Viejas, 2017
“We have never shipped this wine before from Lagar de Isilla but were really impressed this vintage. The Tinta del País (Tempranillo) vines are...”
Displaying Wines 1 to 13 of 13