Jul 2, 2009 - Wine Advocate

Wine Advocate - Issue 183 High Scoring Wines

All reviews by Jay Miller, Wine Advocate, - Issue 183, June 2009

Pasanau El Vell Coster 2006 "Aged for 18 months in 400-liter French oak. It offers up an alluring bouquet of pain grille, lavender, cinnamon, liquid mineral, incense, and blueberry. Layered and nearly opulent on the palate, it conceals enough ripe tannin for another 5-7 years of evolution. This succulent, sexy effort has a 60-second finish. Its drinking window will extend from 2015 to 2030. —94 points"

Tebaida P5 2006 "The 2006 Tebaida P5 was sourced from a single vineyard planted in 1905. A saturated opaque purple in color, it delivers a complex, captivating perfume of liquid minerality, lavender, incense, smoke, blueberry, and blackberry. Elegant on the palate, it has layers of sweet fruit, a silky texture, savory flavors, and a 60-second finish. This lengthy wine will provide pleasure through 2026. —93 points"

Veigas de Padriñan Albariño 2007 "The 2007 Veigas de Padrinan was selected from ungrafted vines over 80 years of age. It is a rounder, richer cuvee with serious depth and length. It, too, will provide pleasure over the next three years. —92 points"

Tebaida 2006 "The 2006 Tebaida was sourced from Mencia vines over 60 years of age and aged for 16 months in new French oak. Inky purple-colored, it offers up a complex aromatic array of toasty new oak, smoke, lavender, black cherry, and blueberry. Structured on the palate, this medium-bodied, suave effort will benefit from 4-6 years of additional cellaring and offer a drinking window extending from 2014 to 2024. —91+ points"

Alba de Bretón Reserva 2005 "The purple-colored 2005 Alba de Breton Reserva is 100% Tempranillo sourced from vines over 80 years of age. It was aged for 12 months in new French oak. Made in an international style, the nose gives up aromas of toasty oak, pencil lead, scorched earth, and assorted black fruits. Layered, extracted, and sweetly-fruited, this muscular effort will evolve for another 5-7 years in the bottle and have a drinking window extending from 2015 to 2025. —91 points"

Valenciso Reserva 2004 "The 2004 Valenciso Reserva is 100% Tempranillo aged for 22 months in one-third new French oak. Deep crimson-colored, it offers up an alluring nose of mineral, cigar box, incense, violets, and blackberry. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, the wine is layered, rich, spicy, and structured. With 4-6 years of additional cellaring it will show greater complexity in both aroma and flavor. Drink it from 2014 to 2024. —91 points"

Guelbenzu EVO 2006 "The 2006 EVO is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon blended with smaller amounts of Tempranillo and Merlot. Opaque purple-colored, it gives up aromas of mineral, scorched earth, incense, black cherry, and blackberry. Firm and muscular in the mouth, it will benefit from another 4-5 years to round out. It will deliver optimal drinking from 2013 to 2023. —90+ points"

Casar de Burbia 2006 "The 2006 Casar de Burbia is 100% Mencia sourced from 30+-year-old vines. The wine went through malolactic fermentation in barrel followed by six months in American, French, and Hungarian oak. Deep crimson-colored, it reveals a touch of cedar, spice box, violets, black cherry, and blueberry in its enticing bouquet. This leads to a layered, elegant wine with plenty of succulent fruit, good balance, and a fruit-filled finish. It can be enjoyed over the next six years. —90 points"

Casta Diva Cosecha Miel 2007 "The fortified 2007 Casta Diva Moscatel offers a fragrant bouquet of peach, apricot, and tangerine. Smooth-textured, sweet, and spicy, it will match well with fruit-based desserts. Drink it over the next 2-3 years. —90 points"

Condado de Haza Reserva Selección Roble Francés 2004 "The opaque purple 2004 Reserva Seleccion Roble Frances was aged for 22 months in new French oak. It sports an enticing nose of mineral, smoke, damp earth, blueberry, blackberry, and incense. Vibrant, racy, and medium to full-bodied, it remains tightly wound and in need of 3-4 years of additional cellaring to reveal its full potential. It will provide optimum drinking from now-2020. —90 points"

Eidos de Padriñán Albariño 2007 “The 2007 Eidos de Padrinan is a light gold-colored Albarino with an alluring nose of spring flowers, honey, and lemon. Smooth-textured, it has plenty of ripe fruit, crisp, lively flavors, and excellent depth. Drink this lengthy effort over the next three years. —90 points”

Guelbenzu Lombana 2006 "The 2006 La Lombana is 50% Graciano, 25% Tempranillo, and 25% Syrah aged for nine months in French oak. Deep crimson-colored, it exhibits a perfume of cedar, mineral, espresso, and black cherry. On the palate it is medium to full-bodied, dense, and concentrated. Savory fruit and ripe tannin contribute to a well-balanced, lengthy wine that will continue to unfold for several more years and offer prime drinking from 2012 to 2021. —90 points"

Muret 'Plata' 2006 "The 2006 Muret Plata is 80% Garnacha and 20% Tempranillo aged for eight months in American, Hungarian, and French oak. Dark ruby-colored, it is nicely perfumed with notes of mineral, incense, cherry, and blackberry. Sweetly fruited, medium-bodied, and well-balanced, it will evolve for another 1-2 years and drink well through 2016. —90 points"

Pasanau Finca la Planeta 2005 "The 2005 Finca La Planeta is composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 20% old vine Garnacha and aged for one year in new French oak. Deep crimson-colored, it presents an expressive nose of mineral, violets, black cherry, and black currant. Ripe, sweet, and racy on the palate, it will continue to blossom with another 3-5 years of cellaring. Drink it from 2013 to 2020. —90 points"

Muret 2007 “The 2007 Muret Oro is an unoaked cuvee of 100% Garnacha from steep slate hillsides. Dark ruby-colored, it has an attractive nose of fragrant cherries that jumps from the glass. On the palate mineral notes make an appearance along with a bit of tannin. This tasty effort will provide pleasure over the next four years —88 points”

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