Spain

Tasting Notes for Finca Allende Calvario - Allende, Finca, 2005:
The 2005 Calvario comes from a single vineyard planted in 1945. It is 90% Tempranillo, 8% Garnacha, and 2% Graciano aged for 16 months in new French oak. It delivers an alluring perfume of toasty new oak, wild black berry, black cherry, and floral notes. Layered and with serious depth, the wine has great concentration and balance. Give it 5-7 years in the cellar and drink it through 2035. The Wine Advocate Feb 08
Parker Points: 95
Drinking Period: 2013-2035

Tasting Notes for Priorat Idus - Llach, Vall, 2005:
The 2005 Idus is composed of 42% Carinena, 20% Merlot, 15% Garnacha, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Syrah and spent 16 months in seasoned French oak. Dark garnet-colored, it offers up a complex perfume of wood smoke, tobacco, mineral, wild blueberry, black cherry, and black currant. This leads to a full-bodied, opulent, full-flavored wine with lots of extraction, sweet, ripe fruit, well-concealed tannins, and at least 6-8 years of aging potential. This lengthy, gratifying effort should drink well through 2030. The Wine Advocate Feb 08
Parker Points: 94
Drinking Period: 2014-2030

Tasting Notes for Quincha Corral - Mustiguillo, Bodega, 2000:
Fashioned from a blend of 85% Bobal, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Tempranillo aged 16 months in 100% new French oak, and bottled with neither fining nor filtration, the 2000 Quincha Corral exhibits notes of bittersweet chocolate, creme de cassis, earth, and jammy red and black fruits. Full-bodied and long, with moderately high tannin, it is a distinctive, singular style of wine that merits 2-3 years of cellaring. The Wine Advocate Feb 2003
Parker Points: 91
Drinking Period: 2005-2015

Tasting Notes for Regina Vides, Magnums - Hermanos Sastre, Bodegas, 1999:
The 1999 Regina Vides is extremely full-bodied, unctuously-textured, and super-sweet. It boasts blackberry, coffee, chocolate, and cassis aromas as well as flavors. This outstanding Spanish red should age effortlessly for two decades. The Wine Advocate Aug 01
Parker Points: 92-94
Drinking Period: 2001-2021

Tasting Notes for Vega Sicilia Valbuena - Vega Sicilia, 1997:
The dense ruby/purple-colored 1997 Valbuena reveals a deep, sweet nose of black fruits intermixed with earth, leather, smoke, and fruit cake. There is sensational texture on the palate, seamlessly integrated tannin and acidity, and moderate quantities of oak. While young, it is already showing exceptionally well. The Wine Advocate Feb 2003
Parker Points: 91
Drinking Period: 2003-2015