90 pts. (tastes like 93pts), The Wine Advocate, April 2010
2011 Flor de Englora "Garnatxa"(Montsant) Reg $17 / Now 12.99
"The 2011 Flor de Englora "Garnatxa" comes from 35-year-old vines and sees no new oak. It has a ripe dark plum and cranberry-scented bouquet that is quite dense and powerful, with touches of undergrowth emerging with aeration. The palate is crisp and animated on the entry with a citric thread of acidity interwoven through a ripe cranberry, pomegranate and wild strawberry fruit profile. The tannins are edgy and brittle, lending fine tension, while the finish is a little abrupt, but by then you are already satisfied. This is a very fine, natural Montsant red. Drink now-2016."
- 90 pts., The Wine Advocate, April '12
2008 Tobia Seleccion Crianza (Rioja) Reg $22 / Now $14.99
80% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 10% Garnacha, with malolactic and aging in French and American barriques for 19 months. Very, very dark purple. Superb nose. Complex, spicy wood. Brilliant juicy mouth. Unfiltered. - 90 pts., Viver el Vino 2012
2009 Aduna Crianza (Rioja) Reg $22 / Now $14.99
Aged 12 months, half in French and half in American oak barriques, about 16% new. 100% Tempranillo. Very, very deep pure purple. Sexy, very pure nose. Sweet, elegant wood. Lush and well integrated. Beautiful mouth. Hi-toned fruit. Excellent, subtle oak notes. Suave.
2004 Luis Canas Reserva (Rioja) Reg $28 / Now $16.99
Yes, 2004. The 2004 Reserva reflects the greatness of the vintage. Purple in color, it reveals aromas of smoke, Asian spices, incense, blackberry, and licorice. Dense and layered on the palate, it will benefit from another 2-3 years of bottle age. Drink it through 2019 if not longer.
- 91 pts., The Wine Advocate
2010 "Damana 5" (Ribera del Duero) Reg $18 / Now $13.99
100% Tempranillo. 16 day fermentation-maceration then five months in American and French barriques. Almost opaque purple. Powerful nose. Very pure with deep morello cherries. Sweet entry in the mouth with bright acids. Very, very deep mouth with excellent cut. Wood in the back. Superb.
.
2011 Poveda "Tumans" (Alicante) Reg $14 / Now $9.99
A special cuvée. Pure Monastrell done entirely in tank. Dense purple, this old vine Monastrell is very dark, deep purple in color. Nose is rather lush, with fast, sweet purple fruit and ripe cherries. Palate is fresh and juicy with ripe, supple cherry fruit and crisp tannins. Very impressive, fully taming the powerful Monastrell into a lush, delicious bottle at a great price.
2010 Bodega Ego "Betola" Tinto (Jumilla) Reg $14 / Now $9.99
A blend of 40% Monastrell, 30% Syrah, 15% Petit Verdot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Very dark, saturated purple color. Very hi-toned nose, juicy, almost Cab. Franc nose. Pure, bright, deep and focused red-purple fruits in the mouth with light tannins and good acids. Another lovely value.
2010 Albarino Vanidade (Galicia) Reg $20 / Now $14.99
"The 2010 Albarino Vanidade was fermented and aged in stainless. It is a step up with its fragrant aromas of lemon meringue and spring flowers, savory, spicy palate, and generous length. Drink it over the next 4 years. "
- 90 pts., The Wine Advocate, June '11
2011 Altavins "Almodi Petit" (Terra Alta) Reg $16 / Now 12.99
The 2011 Almodi Petit (red) is a blend of 34% Syrah, 28% Garnacha, 20% Carinena and 18% Merlot grown from old bush vines and, like the white, it sees no oak. It has a very intense bouquet of blackberry, blueberry and a touch of crushed violets that is fresh and very pure. The palate is full-bodied and beautifully balanced with succulent dark cherry and black currant fruit, laced with Chinese five-spice and a dash of white pepper towards the long finish. This is one of those wines where you have to double-take when you see the price. Highly recommended. Drink now-2015.
- 90 pts., The Wine Advocate, April '12
2011 Borsao Garnacha (Borja) A steal @ $9.99
"On taste alone, this beauty could easily sell for $30-50 a bottle" - Robert Parker
- 90 pts., The Wine Advocate, Oct '12
2009 Black Slate Porrera (Priorat) A value in Priorat @ $23.99
We love Priorat! Mineral. Cedar. Black Cherry. Cooler climate part of Priorat. Weighty, but fresh.
2011 Bodegas Breca Garnacha de Fuego (Catalayud) $13.99
Just when you think you've tasted the wine world's greatest values, along comes the Bodegas Breca. This amazing wine boasts a dark ruby/purple color along with a sweet kiss of jammy black cherries intertwined with crushed rock notes that give the wine an undeniable minerality. As it hits the palate, a full-bodied, voluptuous texture takes hold and the flavor profile moves towards blacker fruits (ripe raspberries and black currants) intermixed with camphor and forest floor.
- 92 pts., The Wine Advocate
ORIN SWIFT "E" New! $17.99
Here is a Dave Phinney original-same OS style, in a fantastic package for only $18! Garnacha from Priorat, Carinena from Ribera and Tempranillo from Rioja. This will FLY, so hurry!
2004 Fernandez Rivera Dehesa La Granja (Castilla y Leon)
Reg$25 / Now $19.99
"The 2004 Dehesa la Granja offers similar but more expressive aromatics, is rounder and more supple on the palate, and has outstanding depth, concentration, and length. It is more forward than the 2003 but should offer a similar drinking window. It will be at its best from 2010-2020. " WOW
- 92 pts., The Wine Advocate
2007 Baron de Magaña A deal @ $24.99
"A sensational offering from Navarra, the 2007 Baron de Magana is an intriguing blend of 35%
Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Tempranillo and 10% Syrah aged 14 months in primarily new
oak. It is Bordeaux like with lots of black currant and cherry fruit intermixed with notions of forest, underbrush and barrique. Full-bodied, dense, rich and intense, this impressive red combines elegance and concentration in a stylish, nicely-priced package"
- 94 pts., The Wine Advocate
2011 La Cartuja Priorat Very limited and only $19.99
"A spectacular offering from Priorato that sells for a song, the 2011 La Cartuja, aged for eight months in 50% new and 50% used French oak. The wine possesses phenomenal minerality along with notes of crushed rocks/wet steel, graphite, blueberries and raspberries, medium to full-bodied flavors, and sensational purity, texture and length. It should drink nicely for a decade or more."
- 93 pts.,
The Wine Advocate
