93Points

“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.”