567. Antech, Crémant de Limoux Cuvée Eugénie Brut, 2005 
566. Equipo Navazos, La Bota de Palo Cortado 21, NV (2011) 
565. Equipo Navazos, La Bota de Fino Macharnudo Alto 18, NV (2011) 
564. Equipo Navazos, La Bota de Manzanilla 22, NV (2011) 
563. D’Angelo, Aglianico del Vulture Riserva Caselle, 2003 
562. Château Fourcas Dupré, Listrac-Médoc, 1994 Reserva
525. Esporão, Alentejo Reserva, 2006
Another wine enjoyed over dinner in Avis, and another quasi-local one as well, from Alentejo. Came across as lighter than the 2003 Mouchão, though …
456. Ramos Pinto, Duas Quintas Douro Reserva, 2004
Another from the 3rd Optimor Case, and this a blend based primarily on Touriga Nacional. Deep, slightly opaque ruby colour; youthful, dense and with …
394. Luigi Bosca, Malbec Reserva, 2004
Good example of why Argentine Malbec is making a lot of friends in the Global wine market! Definitely trumped the Lagrazette Cahors for pleasure. …
La Rioja Alta: benchmark classical Riojas especially top flight Gran Reservas
La Rioja Alta, established in Haro in 1890, is certainly one of the major players in high quality, traditionally-styled Rioja. In their top pair …
Marqués de Murrieta: Rioja aristocracy built around Castillo Ygay
There are many Rioja bodegas with the vaunted title Marqués in their name – Riscal, Cacéres, Concordia inter alia. In the UK, those of …
CVNE: Combining volume and classical quality
CVNE, the Compania Vinicola del Norte de España, is popularly known as Cune (‘koo-nay’) in Spain – so much so that they adopted Cune …
Contino: Château-style Rioja and Graciano pioneers
Contino were the first Rioja bodega to be set up in the mode of a Bordeaux château, with estate grapes from vineyards surrounding the …
Roda: original modern face of Rioja and beyond
With a first vintage in 1992, Bodegas Roda were pioneers of the ‘modern’ Rioja style that emerged in that decade. Every aspect of their …
Bodegas Ysios: a Rioja to watch
I’d had a recommendation from one of the folks at Wines of Rioja to visit Ysios since it is close to Laguardia where we …
Ramón Bilbao: modern Rioja with altitude
Ruth and I first visited Ramón Bilbao just as tourists in 2014, when visiting Haro the first time. In 2018, by random allocation, we …