| 2016 |
Tezza |
Amarone della Valpolicella Valpantena |
A well-integrated wine with lovely notes of dried fruits and spices. Classic in style, it shows a lovely savouriness backed up by a soft, sweet fruity character. Well-proportioned and lively, the wine offers a juicy and savoury finish with great use of oak. Gold Medal |
Decanter |
96 |
 |
2022-07-25 |
| 2015 |
Tezza |
Amarone della Valpolicella Valpantena Riserva 'Brolo delle Giare' |
A complete wine: Freshness of fruits mingling lovingly with dried prunes, raisins, a touch of sweet spice, and dried herbs. Silver Medal |
Decanter |
90 |
 |
2022-07-25 |
| 2018 |
Marziano Abbona |
Barolo |
Aromas of plum and cedar with some cherry oak. Medium to full body, chewy tannins and a juicy finish. Nice depth of fruit for the vintage. Drink after 2024 and onwards. |
James Suckling |
93 |
 |
2022-07-25 |
| 2021 |
Pursued by Bear |
Rose 'Blushing Bear' Columbia Valley |
So delicate and pretty, this light-hued blush is fresh and vibrant, with watermelon, strawberry and spice flavors. Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now. 591 cases made. From Washington. |
Wine Spectator |
90 |
 |
2022-07-25 |
| 2020 |
Traslapiedra |
Tinto 'Vino de Desierto Marino' Paraje Altamira |
The 2020 Vino Tinto Traslapiedra is a blend of 80% Malbec and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon from Paraje Altamira, Uco Valley. Purple in color, the mildly expressive nose offers violet and blackcurrant with hints of blackberry, but the blend takes on added depth in the mouth with chalk and slightly reactive tannins that ride along with the mild but juicy acidity. |
Vinous |
90 |
 |
2022-07-18 |
| 2018 |
Bhilar |
Garnacha 'Phinca El Vedao' |
I found strong aromas of spices and herbs in the 2018 Phinca El Vedao, which comes from two plots in the El Vedao paraje in the village of Elvillar where there's a lot of Garnacha. It's 14.5% alcohol but has kept quite high acidity, close to seven grams. It's medium-bodied, fine-grained and tightly coiled, with a chalky sensation. It fermented with some 40% full clusters in concrete with indigenous yeasts and matured in 400- and 500-liter oak barrels for one year. 2,400 bottles produced. It's fresher than the 2016 I tasted last time. |
Wine Advocate |
93 |
 |
2022-07-18 |
| 2017 |
Bhilar |
Phinca Abejera' |
I tasted two vintages of many wines—a good way to compare the years—often 2017 and 2018. The 2017 Phinca Abejera has a more austere nose than the 2018; it's a blend of 55% Tempranillo, 40% Graciano and 5% Viura, with a lower percentage of white grapes than the 2018 and similar high ripeness at 15% but with a different point of balance, as the ripening was different, faster here, like this is riper and the tannins are a bit rougher. It does have the overall balsamic, vermouth-like character of many wines here. |
Wine Advocate |
93 |
 |
2022-07-18 |
| 2020 |
Bhilar |
Graciano 'Lagrimas de Bhilar' |
The peppery and floral 2020 Lágrimas de Bhilar Graciano is expressive, showy and approachable, with a soft texture and a caressing mouthfeel with some fine tannins. A lot more serious than the price suggests. It's 13.5% alcohol and has very good acidity. 10,000 bottles were filled in January 2021 after one winter in concrete tank. |
Wine Advocate |
91 |
 |
2022-07-18 |
| 2021 |
Commanderie de la Bargemone |
Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rose |
Bright, onion-skin color. Fresh and incisive on the nose, displaying red berry, citrus fruit and floral qualities and subtle mineral and spice flourishes. Juicy and sharply focused, putting forward lithe strawberry, blood orange and honeysuckle flavors that deepen through the back half. Finishes long and silky, with the red fruit and floral notes lingering. |
Vinous |
91 |
 |
2022-07-18 |
| 2021 |
Commanderie de la Bargemone |
Rose Marina 'Collection' Coteaux d'Aix en Provence |
Limpid orange. Displays expansive, spice-tinged redcurrant, cherry and blood orange scents, along with suggestions of pungent flowers and fennel. Bright and penetrating in the mouth, offering intense, mineral-laced red berry, citrus pith and honeysuckle flavors that smoothly blend concentration and litheness. Finishes impressively long and precise, with the blood orange and mineral notes repeating. |
Vinous |
93 |
 |
2022-07-18 |