Abadia Retuerta Seleccion Especial 2012 Winemaker Notes

#12 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2016

Intense, mature nose with mineral aromas that give way to black fruit, such as blackberry and blackcurrant. Hints of licorice, redcurrant and cherries in liqueur on a backdrop of dark chocolate and subtle hints of a well-structured wood. Elegant in the mouth, well-balanced, voluptuous and silky, polished tannins with a wellbalanced acidity, long and lasting.

93 Points Critical Acclaimed by The Wine Advocate

The entry-level red and largest volume of Abadía Retuerta, the 2012 Selección Especial, is nothing like the initial oaky versions of it you might remember. This is produced as a blend of Tempranillo with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah from the 54 separate plots that they have identified in their 180 hectares of vineyards. This 2012 matured in French (60%) and American (40%) oak barrels for 14 months, a slightly shorter time than in previous vintages. The casks were one third new, one third second use and one third third use. This is the wine that has improved the most, and it’s now a fine, elegant wine with restrained power, true to the place where it’s born and the vintage when the grapes are harvested. This is the highly recommended wine from the winery. All grapes ripened properly in 2012 and the Cabernet feels very integrated; there are some spicy aromas intermixed with the wild berry aromas, developing some balsamic undertones, licorice and a little bit of toast. It is very subtle and nicely compact. The texture is very fine with dusty tannins, good acidity and freshness. It is long, balanced and supple, with power and elegance. The wine is approachable now and with stuffing to age. It is a great value and highly recommended.

93 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine Spectator

A polished texture carries harmonious flavors of black cherry, cola, licorice and mineral in this focused red. Well-integrated tannins and balsamic acidity lend this a balanced structure. Reserved but deep.

Bodegas Valderiz Ribera del Duero 2014 Winemaker Notes

Very dark, black currant color with rich and robust blue fruit on the nose. Full bodied with plums, vanilla and spice on the palate. Low acidity with nice balance and full ripe tannins on the finish.

94 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine Spectator

Dense and muscular, yet graceful, this red balances ripe blackberry and cassis flavors with savory black olive, bitter chocolate and mineral notes. The firm tannins are well-integrated, and lively acidity keeps this fresh through the spicy and floral finish. Drink now through 2028.Highly Recommended

Marques de Murrieta Rioja Reserva 2012 Winemaker Notes

Marques de Murrieta Reserva is the wine that best expresses our style, combining plots, varieties, training methods, soils, aspects, and attitudes of our Finca Ygay. They aim insistently at freshness and elegance, keeping the foundations of our style: Mediterranean character, American oak, finesse and balance, fruit and structure.

Pair with red meats, Iberian ham, grilled fish, stews, etc.

Blend: 77% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, 8% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo

95 Points Critical Acclaimed by James Suckling

Terrific aromas of currants, berries, cinnamon and perfume. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a dense palate. Superb length and refinement. Compact. Super length. Superb quality considering the price. More delicate and refined than the 2010. Precise.

92 Points Critical Acclaimed by The Wine Advocate

The blend of the 2012 Rioja Reserva is significantly different from previous vintages, with more Graciano and Garnacha. The blend was approximately 77% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, 8% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. After a very dry growing season, the harvest was saved by some rains at the end of September, which allowed the grapes to reach perfect ripeness. The wine also had a slightly longer upbringing, 23 months in American oak barrels and at least nine of those months were in new oak barrels. However, it seems like the oak is better integrated than in the 2011, and the fruit is fresher. The palate has one extra point in depth, with very fine tannins and especially good freshness that gives it a sense of great harmony.

Torre de Ona by La Rioja Alta Rioja Reserva 2012 Winemaker Notes

Medium-high depth, dark-cherry red with an intense garnet-red rim. Clean and bright. Intense aromas, typical of this Rioja Alavesa terroir, with notes of ripe berries (blackberries, blueberries and raspberry jam) against a background of spices, clove, aniseed, incense, tobacco, and mocha. Mild attack with medium body and nice structure. It is well-balanced with sweet tannins. A wine that stands out for its broad and silky aftertaste, where notes of ripe fruit and sweet spices complement those from painstaking barrel ageing.

The perfect match to all kinds of stews, casseroles and meat-based recipes. Also ideal with spicy sauces and medium-aged cheeses.

92 Points Critical Acclaimed The Wine Advocate

Last time I caught the 2012 Reserva just before it was bottled, so it was good to see the finished version with some time in bottle, and glad to see that it made it to the top of my range last year, with its modern but not excessive profile. Even though the tannins are fine, it could benefit from some more time in bottle and can stand up to hearty food. Just as a reminder, the wine was not produced in 2011 or 2013. 100,000 bottles.

91 Points Critical Acclaimed by James Suckling

Deep nose of dark fruit and inky and herbal notes. Flower petals, too. Medium body, soft yet slightly chewy tannins and a medium finish. Drink now or hold.

90 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine Spectator

Dark chocolate, tar and licorice notes lend a refreshing bitter edge to the ripe plum and currant fruit in this dense red. Structured but not heavy, with well-integrated tannins and balsamic acidity supporting the smooth texture. Drink now through 2025.

CVNE Rioja Reserva 2012 Winemaker Notes

Bright cherry color with some violet nuances. In the nose, red berries aromas remain over the oaky and balsamic notes from its ageing in wood. It shows an elegance in the mouth, yet very lively, with some spice back notes and a very balanced acidity.

93 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine Spectator

This sleek red offers cherry, licorice, mineral and smoke flavors that mingle harmoniously over light, firm tannins, driven by lively acidity through the savory finish. Discreet, but shows depth and intensity. Drink now through 2025.

93 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine & Spirits

If you love the pleasures of traditional Rioja, you may be as charmed by this wine as I am. It’s not flashy or insistent. In fact, it’s sort of homely in its simplicity, more about delicacy and finesse than complexity. This starts out on tight red berry scents, builds tension with cool acidity, then adds depth with gentle sweetness, so the wine feels both firm and lush. Kudos to CVNE for one of the most compellingly drinkable 2012s you can find.

Bodegas Ontanon Reserva 2005 Winemaker Notes

Reservas are produced only in vintages of exceptional quality, and the Ontañon Reserva comes from our most select vineyards on the slopes of the Sierra Yerga Mountains, just above the town of Quel in Rioja baja. The product of some of our oldest vines, Ontañon Reserva displays notes of deep, full fruit flavors but with ample acidity, minerality and earth notes drawn from the land where the fruit is grown. It has backbone, fine-laced acidity, structure and natural grape tannins that that will ensure its integrity for years to come.

Drink our Reserva with lamb, roast pork, game, mushroom risotto and meat-based pasta dishes.

Blend: 95% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano

93 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine Enthusiast

#44 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 of 2016

Fruity but also showing saddle, game and vanilla aromas, this reserva from a top vintage sees its whole exceeding the sum of its parts. Full and creamy on the palate, this tastes of barrel toast and earthy plum and berry. Smooth and impressive, this is as welcoming as it is complex and age-worthy. Drink through 2025.

91 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine Spectator

Smokey and sanguine notes frame a core of plum and dried cherry in this savory red, with accents of tobacco, mineral and earth. Maturing gracefully, with well-integrated tannins that give way to the spicy finish.

Marques de Vargas Rioja Reserva 2012 Winemaker Notes

Richly colored, deep black cherry hue with violet rims. Excellent combination of red berries like wild strawberries and raspberries with undertones of sweet liquorice. The palate is full-bodied and luscious with velvety texture. Great, well-balanced acidity together with silky tannins trigger warm velvety mouth feel. Exceptionally elegant wine, full of freshness and great complexity.

Blend: 85% Tempranillo, 10% Manzuelo, 5% Garnacha

91 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine Spectator

Black cherry, licorice, leafy and cocoa flavors mingle in this elegant, harmonious red, which has polish and density, with well-integrated tannins and fresh acidity.

Bodegas Monteabellon 14 Meses 2013 Winemaker Notes

Deep ruby red color with a purple rim. Elegant nose with black fruits and fresh spices. Great complexity , full flavored on the end with a pleasant aftertaste.

Pairs with meat like beef, pork and lamb, also excellent with aged cheeses.

90 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine Spectator

This red has a savory character, with tar, licorice and loamy earth flavors framing the core of black cherry fruit. Emphasizes structure, with muscular tannins and balsamic acidity. Drink now through 2025. 8,300 cases made.add content here

92 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine Enthusiast

This open-knit, yet chunky Toro features sweet, oaky aromas of plastic, mocha and baked plum. Concentrated and creamy on the palate, it tastes of chocolate, vanilla and savory blackberry. Full, chunky and bold but balanced on the finish; drink through 2023.

92 Points Critical Acclaimed by The Wine Advocate

More expensive is their 2014 Almirez, which spends much longer time in oak and comes from vines 15-65 years old in slightly higher elevations. I didn’t see much difference in this wine from its less-expensive sibling, although this one had more grilled meat and almost Provençal, Châteauneuf Du Pape-like blood characteristics, with blackberry and cassis, full body and a long, lusty finish. Some licorice also makes an appearance in this impressively constituted wine. Drink it over the next decade.

91 Points Critical Acclaimed by  Wine Spectator

This rich red is plush yet graceful, delivering expressive flavors of raspberry, cherry, cola and toast, supported by well-integrated tannins and fresh acidity. Big yet balanced, in the modern style.

Protos Crianza 2012 Winemaker Notes

Cherry color with garnet rim, bright and intense. On the nose, red fruit expression, powerful, elegant, dry stone, coca bean, creamy oak, hints of spices. On the palate, powerful, flavorful, fruity, good acidity, smoky aftertaste, toasty, long finish.

90 Points Critical Acclaimed by Wine Enthusiast

Oaky, malty aromas blend well with dusty black-fruit and coffee scents. This crianza from a ripe, warm year is full and layered, with solid acidity. Black plum and wild-berry flavors are a touch raw and edgy. It finishes with toasty, blackened flavors of spice and wood.

Sierra Cantabria Reserva Unica 2012 Winemaker Notes

Vivid ruby. High-pitched aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry and spicecake are complemented by a subtle smoky nuance. Zesty, precise sweet red berry flavors display very good depth and focus. Picks up a note of allspice with air and finishes with silky tannins and very good persistence.
Blend: 98% Tempranillo and 2% Graciano

91 Points Critical Acclaimed by James Suckling

A big, rich wine with some earthy depth. A little soft at the finish for this modern style, but solid and distinctive.

90 Points Critical Acclaimed by The Wine Advocate

The 2012 Reserva Unica spent 24 months in a combination of 60% French oak and 40% American oak. It was bottled without filtration and is an outstanding wine made from their vineyards that are over 30 years of age. Loads of unsmoked cigar tobacco, licorice, vanilla, blackcurrants and black cherries jump from the glass and flavors of this full-bodied wine that has light tannin in the finish. This wine is still youthful and likely to improve over the next few years and last for a decade or more. The final blend was 98% Tempranillo and 2% Graciano.

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