Our Top Selections from Spain

Now Available From K&L Wine Merchants... Monday Mar 12th, 2018 [View in Browser]( [Special Spanish Feature]( our Spanish wine buyer, Joe Manekin, notes in the introduction to this month’s newsletter, “The diversity of Spanish wine is off the charts.” This truth doesn’t merely apply to the impressive diversity of regions within Spain ([Rioja]( [Ribera del Duero]( [Priorat]( [Rias Baixas]( [Penedes]( - to name a few), but also to the myriad of stylistic approaches within each of these regions. It seems with each passing vintage, we encounter a new and innovative winemaker who is pushing the envelope and re-defining what it is to be Spanish wine. This bounty is a boon for the passionate wine drinker as at every turn there’s something new and exciting to explore. Of course, Spain is also a region that’s very much steeped in tradition with scores of producers crafting wines according to the tried and true practices their predecessors employed. For those yearning for wines made in the “old school” way, Spain has plenty to offer. As the savvy collector will already know, Spain also offers unparalleled value. When compared to the wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Piedmont, and Tuscany, even the most celebrated bottings remain surprisingly grounded. When you add all this together, the wines of Spain should be at the top of the list for every wine drinker as nowhere else will you find such extraordinary wines so reasonably priced. The wines highlighted here and within the newsletter only scratch the surface of what Spain has to offer, but they do offer an excellent launching point and give one a sense of the diversity and grandeur of this remarkable region. [View our electronic newsletter!]( Highlights this month include... Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2016 Bodegas Lanzaga "LZ" Rioja 91 $14.99 [View]( 2016 Borsao "Tres Picos" Garnacha Campo de Borja 92 $14.99 [View]( 2013 Can Mayol Loxarel Garnatxa Blanca Brut Nature Classic Penedes 90 $14.99 [View]( 2005 Bodegas Puelles Gran Reserva Rioja 90 $19.99 [View]( 2014 Dominio del Águila "Pícaro" Tinto (Previously $30) 93 Price: Hidden [View]( 2011 Los Autores "El Brujo" Reserva Rioja 90 $24.99 [View]( 2014 Honorío Rubio "Lías Finas" Blanco Rioja $29.99 [View]( 2014 Olivier Riviere "Ganko" Rioja 94 $39.99 [View]( 2015 Bodegas El Nido "Clio" Jumilla 92 $44.99 [View]( 2015 Clos Erasmus "Laurel" Priorat 95 $49.99 [View]( 2005 Vega Sicilia "Unico" Ribera del Duero 97 $299.99 [View]( [2016 Bodegas Lanzaga "LZ" Rioja]( ($14.99) 91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The unoaked red 2016 LZ is produced with a blend of head-pruned Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano from the village of Lanciego. It fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats for 15 days and matured in tank for four to six months. This is super expressive, from an unusual year that delivered quality and quantity, a rare combination. It's a superb, characterful, approachable Rioja with a completely different profile, fruit-driven with notes of licorice and an absence of wood, more in the style of a wine from Marcel Lapierre than what most people expect from a label that says Rioja. Superb value too. (LG)" (02/2018) K&L Notes: Produced by the owner of the famous Rioja estate, Remelluri, this latest cuvée from Telmo Rodriguez reflects his eye for terroir, innovation, and the strong desire to move the great region of Rioja forward. Here we have an unoaked blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Graciano from the village of Lanciego, a wine that is incredibly detailed, expressive, and drinkable — deceptively simple yet impeccably made. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2016 Borsao "Tres Picos" Garnacha Campo de Borja]( [2016 Borsao "Tres Picos" Garnacha Campo de Borja]( ($14.99) 92 points Vinous: "Opaque ruby. Powerful aromas of black currant and candied cherry pick up incense, vanilla and exotic spice nuances with air. Deeply concentrated dark berry and spicecake flavors are complicated by notes of smoky minerals and floral pastilles, while a subtle peppery quality adds spiciness. Supple tannins give shape to the very long, smoke-tinged finish, where the floral note echoes strongly. (JR)" (05/2017) Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 31, 2017 Perhaps more than any other wine in the section, Borsao has introduced so many drinkers to great value red wine, Spanish style. Translation: this wine has loads of ripe, mixed berry fruits, an underlying earthy/smoky savory quality, and an attractive veneer of spice and toast due to a short time spent in oak. As always, there is a lot to like, particularly for fans of richly fruited wines and/or those who are just starting to explore the diversity and value of Spain's wines. One of our most popular Grenache (Garnacha) based wines. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2013 Can Mayol Loxarel Garnatxa Blanca Brut Nature Classic Penedes]( [2013 Can Mayol Loxarel Garnatxa Blanca Brut Nature Classic Penedes]( ($14.99) 90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Produced with Garnacha Blanca grapes, the new 2013 Garnatxa Blanca Brut Nature (they use the Catalan spelling of the grape) is the first I know of produced with the variety. It's sourced from vines grown at high altitude (for Penedès), 800 meters, from 30-year-old plants kept in contact with the lees for no less than 15 months. The nose shows some developed aromas with some leesy complexity and a balsamic touch of camphor, as well as an intriguing note of diesel that develops with time in the glass. The palate shows creaminess, I guess the bubbles, plus the variety and good, incipient complexity. Nice, with a different personality. 6,000 bottles produced (LG) 90+" (10/2016) K&L Notes: We present to you the latest and greatest bubbly from "Mr. Loxarel" himself, Josep Mitjans. This is Garnatxa Blanca, from high elevation sites, with roughly 15 months on its lees. Clean and bright like all their wines, it is also mineral and very easy to drink! Can Mayol, which bottles under the trademarked name "Loxarel," is a winery that has farmed organically for 15 years. The Mitjan family, owners of Can Mayol, also employ some biodynamic treatments. They keep animals, including chickens, a horse, and a donkey named Garnatxa. While the focus is on "Brut Nature" (no dosage added) sparkling wine production, they also produce some very interesting still wines. In their chalky, high-altitude vineyards (above 2,400 feet for their highest vines, among the highest in the Penedès D.O.), Xarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir thrive and pick up an incredible minerality, which makes their wines wonderfully distinctive and very exciting to drink. Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 14, 2017 Maybe about seven years ago I tasted a few of the bubblies from Loxarel at a Spanish wine trade show in San Francisco. Ever since then I have been hooked. I have consumed so many bottles across their dizzying array of products, and built up so much product conviction along the way, that I would put these up against any sparkling wines in the store. This is the first vintage of Garnatxa Blanca, and the only bubbly made from this grape that I have yet to try. Loxarel's trademark fine bubbles combine with slightly weightier fruit from the high elevation Garnatxa blanca grapes to create something that is equal parts food friendly and refreshing. Bruno]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 14, 2017 This wine from Loxarel is quite unique as it the first year the winery has vinified a sparkling from entirely Garnatxa Blanca. The grapes were harvested from high elevation vineyards in Cataluyna in excess of 2,600 ft and spent at least 15 months of aging on the lees. The wine is also both certified organic and biodynamic. Aromas of white flowers, unripe apple, pear, and white nectarine followed by fresh herbs. A delicious blend of ripe stone and orchard fruit flavors on the palate. Weightier than expected; bubble texture is delicate. Lively acidity with a distinct saline, mineral finish. The salty minerality makes it a great accompaniment with seafood options like oysters and anchovies --------------------------------------------------------------- [2005 Bodegas Puelles Gran Reserva Rioja]( [2005 Bodegas Puelles Gran Reserva Rioja]( ($19.99) Wine Club Price: $16.99. 90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Gran Reserva can also do with some decanting in advance as it has some reductive aromas when first poured after opening. After that it has some notes of hung game, spices, beef blood, iron, tea leaves and peat showing mostly as tertiary aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, with a fine thread of acidity going through its spine that is laced with fine tannins. It is quite easy to drink and quite a good price for a Gran Reserva. (LG)" (04/2015) K&L Notes: A K&L Direct Import! Jesús Puelles is one of the most talented vignerons in Rioja. Hailing from a long line of vineyard worker/owners, Puelles knows the terruño in his little slice of land in the Rioja Alta town of Abalos. All of the grapes for his red wines come from his own 26 hectares, on chalky clay soil, all within the Rioja Alta village of Abalos. Felix, Jesús's older brother, handles the winemaking (as well as packing all our orders--gracias, Felix!) Utlizing a blend of roughly 50-50 French and American oak barrels, generally of 1-4 years of age for the Gran Reserva, this is a juicy, brightly fruited Gran Reserva, even at 12 years of age, though it shows the hints of spice and leathery savor we love in classic, well-made Rioja. Fresh, focused, and generously fruited, yet ultimately textbook Rioja, this is what we have come to expect from Casa Puelles and why I believe these continue to be among our most popular Spanish wines. Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 31, 2017 Quite a simple breakdown for this wine: Great vintage (check); fantastic producer (also check), carefully bottle aged for you by our DI partners and 8th generation vineyard owners in the Puelles clan (yes!) The result is a wonderfully savory, sumptuous, beautifully balanced traditional Rioja that is delicious now and will continue to drink well for years ahead. At under $20, this might just be our best value in aged red wine in the store. Bruno]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 09, 2017 Hailing from a great vintage in Rioja, this delivers a whole lot of wine for under $20. Prunes, tomato jam, blackberry, and cherry intermingle with hints of vanilla, leather and red licorice. Dried red fruit and lengthy, plush savory notes are accompanied by a long finish. Texturally, this wine is rich but possesses a lively acidity that dances on the palate. Complex as it is crowd pleasing, this wine is perfect for your next dinner party with friends and family. Turk]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 06, 2017 Puelles is a classic Spanish producer that in previous releases has straddled the line between modern, fruit-forward drinkability and more traditional dusky Rioja. The 2005 a killer vintage feels like a throwback to the older style, more restrained than the powerful 2004 but just as enjoyable. There is balance here, with a distinct savory quality, but Tempranillos bright cherry fruit still shines through, with hints of tobacco and leather on the finish and noticeable (though well-integrated) oak. Puelles is a Direct Import that truly is a crowd pleaser: a rich but easy going Gran Reserva that sings with quality, unbelievably only $20. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2014 Dominio del Águila "Pícaro" Tinto (Previously $30)]( [2014 Dominio del Águila "Pícaro" Tinto (Previously $30)]( Price: Hidden 93 points James Suckling: "Delicate and floral with a ripe dark-fruit character and hints of charcoal and vanilla. Full body, elegant yet firm tannins and a fruity finish. Lots of wood but this is stylish. Needs time to soften. Better in 2019." (12/2016) 92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2014 Pícaro Tinto is Tempranillo with some 5% Albillo and selected from vineyards where the soils have a higher content of clay. This is always produced from the same vineyards since the initial vintage, 2012. 2014 could sometimes feel a little austere and sometimes a little reductive. This 2014 is terribly balanced, something that was easier to achieve in this vintage than in 2015. The tannins are present and perhaps the effect of the stems (they do not own a destemmer here) could amplify that. Dominio del Águila went straight to the top quality of Ribera del Duero, and their wines improve each year. (LG)" (02/2017) K&L Notes: This is a winery to watch, a relative newcomer that’s receiving high praise from consumers and critics. It’s a great example of Spain’s shift away from over-the-top, bombastic reds in favor of more balanced, food-friendly offerings. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2011 Los Autores "El Brujo" Reserva Rioja]( [2011 Los Autores "El Brujo" Reserva Rioja]( ($24.99) 90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "There is a line of wines produced by notable winemakers, the first of which was produced by Ezequiel García "El Brujo," a historic winemaker at CVNE. The 2011 Los Autores Nº1, Reserva, Ezequiel García is the last wine he ever made before he passed away in August 2017. The wine was produced at Bodegas Olarra, where he worked after he left CVNE in 1974. They kept 50,000 liters in an oak vat of a field blend of 82% Tempranillo, 8% Mazuelo, 2% Viura and 8% Garnacha from Viana in the style García liked. This is a very classical Rioja, developed and tertiary with hints of sweet spices, balsamic, cigar ash and incense, spicier as the wine spends time in the glass. The palate reveals pungent and very spicy flavors and a polished texture with resolved tannins. (LG)" (02/2018) K&L Notes: Los Autores is a new, specialty negociant label charged with finding some of the most exclusive, compelling, unusual and traditional bottlings of Rioja on the market. We are excited to bring these wines into the United States, with the help of our friend, partner, and long-time Rioja resident María Alvarez. Future editions of Los Autores will always be available in tiny quantities; in this case 2,520 bottles. For the inaugural bottling, the last wine ever made by Rioja legend Ezequiel "El Brujo" García, we have a timeless, traditionally styled, Reserva wine: primarily Rioja Alta fruit from long-time contracted mature vineyards in top sites, fermented in tank, racked into seasoned barrels generally 8-10 years of age, where the wine stays for 36 months prior to blending, a long rest in tank and then ageing in bottle. 82% Tempranillo, 8% Mazuelo, 8% Garnacha, 2% Viura. Think somewhere between La Rioja Alta "Viña Arana" and Lopez de Heredia "Viña Tondonia" in aromatic and palate profile, though released just a little bit younger. Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 26, 2018 Often, our wine reviews will lead with the value proposition at hand: an extremely limited production, terrific value for money, the complexity of aromas and flavors. In this case, I find it necessary to open with an introduction of one of the more towering personalities in the wine world (or in any world, for that matter) I have ever met: Ezequiel "El Brujo" García. El Brujo studied with the great Bordeaux oenologist, Emile Peynaud. He made the incredible Cune wines of the 1960's. He was responsible for fine tuning Cune's Monopole white, a wine which absolutely dominated in its day (and a style which has become fashionable once again). He also became a friend of mine later in his life, someone who would enthusiastically discuss Rioja history, his experience informally advising wineries (amongst them, Lopez de Heredia), and really anything related to the region's local traditions and culture of wine. I love the name of this Rioja, Los Autores, because it was crafted by a true auteur. Ezequiel drew the image on the bottom right hand side of the label. He had an intimate understanding of the vineyards which would form the blend, as well as an idea of what proportion of the various grape varieties should be involved (typical of El Brujo's wines, there are important components of Mazuelo, Garnacha, and even white Viura grapes included). Finally, Ezequiel also selected the well seasoned, 8-10 year old barrels that the wine would age in for 36 month Diaz]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 08, 2018 The final wine crafted by Rioja's legendary Ezekiel "El Brujo" Garcia (he passed in 2017 after a full life and winemaking career) is expectedly great. Made in a traditional style that resembles the best of the region (Lopez de Heredia, etc.) this gorgeously crafted (and inexpensive) bottling is essential for fans of the region. This shows a beautiful breadth of flavor, with plenty of cherries to blanket the savory herbs, anise, stewed tomato, cedar, and crunchy leaves, while comfortable acidity and fine grain tannins provide integrated, supportive backbone. Bruno]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 22, 2018 A quintessentially classic Rioja. This wine holds the name El Brujo, which roughly translates to "the wizard." This was the nickname bestowed upon winemaker Ezequiel García, who made the legendary CVNE Riojas of the 1950's-1970's. This 2011 Reserva was selected by García from top vineyards in both Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Alta. The aging process was performed in the traditional manner (3 years of aging prior to release, with at least 1 year of aging in oak barrels). The wine leads initially with aromas of dill and vanilla. A bouquet of cocoa powder along with notes of fresh cherries, berries, and plum also reveal themselves. A distinct dusty minerality shines on the palate along with elevated acidity, and flavors once more of plum; some cherry coulis, leather, and savory notes too. Quite nicely balanced. A fantastic wine; especially as an accompaniment to food. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2014 Honorío Rubio "Lías Finas" Blanco Rioja]( [2014 Honorío Rubio "Lías Finas" Blanco Rioja]( ($29.99) Honorío Rubio is a Riojano white wine specialist. In a land best known for its incredibly age-worthy reds, among many die-hards out there it is undoubtedly the traditional whites which represent Rioja's finest and most original wines. These days, outside of Lopez de Heredia (whose whites are increasingly difficult to find) and the odd older bottles of Ygay Blanco, traditional white Rioja is tough to find. That's why we are so excited to be selling the wines of our newest DI producer, Honorío Rubio. Based in the high altitude Rioja Alta village of Cordovín, Honorío Rubio has spectacular Viura and Malvasa vine holdings, planted in iron rich clay soils, and chooses to turn them into classic, traditional white Rioja. Lias Finas reminds me a bit of a less oaky, more steely and Burgundian Viña Gravonia. Mineral, saline, yellow fruited and somewhere at the crossroads of Roulot, Equipo Navazos Manzanilla and a bygone era of oak aged Rioja whites. (Joe Manekin, K&L Spanish & Portuguese wine buyer) Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 20, 2018 Our second vintage of the lias finas, the 2014 is similarly driven by an old fashioned aesthetic towards white wine making in Rioja. That and lees, lots of lees. No stirring, simply a large amount acccumulated in a concrete tank. There is barrel ageing too of course, though the oak is nicely integrated and will continue to meld into the background as Lias Finas continues to age in bottle. Aromas and flavors of quince, apricot, and gentle oak spices present themselves over a broad, rich textural frame, which makes this wine complex, delicious, and very food friendly. While this isn't quite as much of a throwback style as his multi-vintage Añadas blend, it certainly is a nod to the old days when patiently barrel aged white Riojas were more the rule rather than the exception. Highly recommended. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2014 Olivier Riviere "Ganko" Rioja]( [2014 Olivier Riviere "Ganko" Rioja]( ($39.99) 94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "I almost fell out of my chair when I smelled the 2014 Ganko. If the 2012 was voluptuous and heady, this 2014 is austere, cool, precise and chiseled. It has a slightly reductive nose with an intense stony/mineral sensation. There are floral notes, wild berries and some exotic spices. The blend has changed and it's now a 50/50 blend of Garnacha and Mazuelo, which provides acidity and a vertical sensation like no other vintage of Ganko in the past. This is all from the village of Cárdenas in the Alto Najerilla in Rioja Alta, from high altitude, old vines on sandy soils in a zone where only a bunch of small plots remain because it's hard to work. Rivière believes in this area to the point that he has purchased land to plant vineyards on some of the slopes. More than acidity, there is a sensation of freshness, which for me seems to come in good part from the soil. I'm really impressed. I'd love to see this wine in ten years' time...Pretty amazing value. (LG)" (08/2016) Jancis Robinson: "Garnacha, Mazuelo. Very old vines from Cardenas village within Rioja Alta. Old vines and very limited yields. Long but delicate maceration during fermentation. 4,000 bottles produced.Great delicacy and deep nose, beautifully light-hearted showing ripe cherries, violets, touch of dry herbs and great class. Precisely delineated with delicate fruit balancing the velvety tannins. Soft, light and in some way burgundian. A new approach and interpretation of the region that I particularly like. It seems that the nose will gain complexity with age. 17.5/20 Points (FC)" (02/2017) K&L Notes: Olivier Riviere is part of the talented next generation of Rioja, a member of the "Rioja n' Roll" collective, and definitely someone who is making some of Rioja's most interesting wines these days. A blend of Garnacha and Mazuelo sourced from Cardenas (Rioja Alta), in iron rich red soil over sandstone. The wine is fermented with whole clusters and then spends 16 months in foudre. Very fresh and mineral, fragrant, high toned stuff! Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 05, 2017 Original, category defying wines are difficult to place. This is definitely the case for the most distinctive Spanish red I have tasted year to date, the 2014 Olivier Riviere "Ganko." Unlike our other featured Riojas, this one has no tempranillo whatsoever, instead consisting of Garnacha and Mazuelo grown in high elevation vineyards, kind of way out in the sticks on the southern, Sierra de la Demanda side of Rioja Alta. Olivier brings his Beaune training and French sensibility to this wine, which comes across as incredibly bright and perfumed, fresh and high toned but structured and serious as well. In a wine world where Barbaresco meets a fresher style of southern Rhone wine, you will find this wholly original, subtly spicy, intense, freshly fruited Rioja. It is beautiful now, though likely to improve for at least another 7-8 years. For the Rioja completist or simply anyone who is curious, I think you will find a lot to like in this beauty. Highly recommended. Majeski]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 27, 2017 Funny, when I saw this wine's stark black and white label my brain ran through reels of old Japanese monster films from the 1950s, those fabulous Toho Production classics like Rodan vs. Gamera or Ganko Fights Godzilla. OK, I know "Ganko" didn't really fight Godzilla, but it turns out the word means "stubborn," a nickname that winemaker Olivier Riviere acquired from his clever Japanese importer. Olivier inhabits his own skin, and like Ghidra or Godzilla, is not one to waver, but fortunately his singular Rioja wines are anything but abrasive or indelicate. Grown at altitude on very old vines, the result is a wine of veritas and virtue, brimful of lustrous, high toned fruit--pomegranates, red berries, minerals and lovely potpourri spice. Hardly a kaiju behemoth, but all the better for that! And yes, the ending is guaranteed not to disappoint. Astonishing performance from a cast, er, bottle of one... Laurie]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 05, 2017 "Pretty" is a descriptive term I use, and know I should refrain from, but when I come across a wine like Olivier Riviere's Ganko, it's one of the first things that comes to mind. Aromatic, bright, lifted red fruit, fresh, herbaceous...just pretty. It's elegant, light and delicate but still carries some structure. It's refined and drinks just like the 1er Cru village Rioja Olivier considers this to be. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2015 Bodegas El Nido "Clio" Jumilla]( [2015 Bodegas El Nido "Clio" Jumilla]( ($44.99) 92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Tasting two completely different vintages of the same wine is very revealing, and having the 2015 Clio next to the 2014 showed how each of them revealed the character of the vintage. 2015 is a very complete and balanced year, resulting in classic, powerful wines with concentration and balance, and all that is needed to age in bottle. This is a similar blend as the 2014, mostly Monastrell with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for almost two years in French and American oak barrels. The oak is there, but it feels like the fruit is able to integrate it with some more time in bottle. In general, there is a lot more balance and freshness than in the 2014, and the character of the Monastrell is a lot more noticeable than the Cabernet. This should develop nicely in bottle. (LG) 92+" (12/2017) K&L Notes: Looking for a consistently over-achieving, full-bodied red? How about this for a track record? Past vintage scores from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 2003 - 96 points; 2004 - 97 points; 2005 - 95 points; 2006 - 95 points; 2007 - 94 points, 2008 - 94 points, 2009 - 90 points. The wine is a blend of 70% old vine Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon that was barrel-aged for 22-26 months in French and American oak. It bears Clio's hallmark opulence, with bold aromas and flavors, a thick, dense palate, and a long finish. A powerful, decadent wine. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2015 Clos Erasmus "Laurel" Priorat]( [2015 Clos Erasmus "Laurel" Priorat]( ($49.99) 95 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2015 Laurel comes from the younger vines of the estate and is 80% Garnacha, 15% Syrah and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in larger oak vats, concrete tanks, and amphorae, it boasts a deep purple color as well as perfumed notes of resinous herbs, blackberries, liquid violets and pepper. Its rich, concentrated, and voluptuous, yet pure and elegant on the palate. Its undoubtedly the finest vintage of this cuvée Ive tasted, and the good news is that there are close to two thousand cases produced!" (02/2018) K&L Notes: This cuvée from the iconic Clos Erasmus (one of the founding Priorat group of "Clos") is always a great value and bellwether for the vintage. On the nose, juicy mixed berry and red cherry fruits lead to a fresh and structured palate, with generous and bright fruit flavors. A blend of primarily Garnacha with some Syrah, Laurel is a wine made in a combination of used Burgundy-shaped barrels as well as some components in amphora. Less showy than the producer's "Clos," but a fantastic expression of the Priorat and, to some palates, the tastier and more interesting of the two wines, particularly when young. One of the great Priorats for under $50. Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 27, 2018 If we were tell you that you could get a wine with a nearly identical varietal make-up, from similar terroir and made by the same winemaker as a recently awarded 100 pointer - let a lone a 100 pointer with an extensive track record of high 90s to 100 point ratings - at roughly 25% the retail, would you be interested? Moving on from that rhetorical question, I must say that Laurel is a special bottle of wine. It is a dense, richly fruited and mineral accented embodiment of the Priorat, made from biodynamically farmed grapes, carefully fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in used barrels with a few amphoras thrown in for good measure. Real Priorat from one of the region's founding pioneers in Daphne Glorian, who is still humble even as she continues to makes some of the world's most highly coveted wines. This wine is as delicious an introduction into the Priorat as you are likely to find anywhere. Bruno]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 04, 2018 This is the second label for Clos Erasmus, and it does not disappoint. Aromas on the nose include a variety of dark and red fruits such as wild berries, blackcurrants, and red plum. A bouquet of dried flowers, rosebud, potpourri, spice, chaparral, and earthenware. The palate surprises with a nicely elevated acidity that cuts through the richness and plush fruit present. Flavors of blackberry, black cherry, and pomegranate along with some herbal notes. A little bit of an extra push from the alcohol on the finish. Chewy tannins and an overall voluptuous nature of the wine lend it to being a natural choice for certain food pairing choices, in particular grilled meats. I highly recommend for this to be decanted for at least 30 minutes (an hour is preferable) to let the wine aerate and reach its full potential. Quite a lovely and truly unique wine --------------------------------------------------------------- [2005 Vega Sicilia "Unico" Ribera del Duero]( [2005 Vega Sicilia "Unico" Ribera del Duero]( ($299.99) 97 points Vinous: "Saturated ruby. Explosively perfumed aromas of fresh ripe red fruits, floral oils, pipe tobacco and incense take on sexy vanilla and woodsmoke nuances as the wine opens up. Densely packed yet shockingly lithe on the palate, offering intense cherry liqueur, red currant and spicecake flavors given spine by a core of juicy acidity. Shows superb energy and clarity, finishing sweet, smoky and extremely long; velvety tannins add gentle grip. (JR)" (05/2017) 96 points Wine & Spirits: "The N-122 runs like a spine across Ribera del Duero from east to west, separating the Vega Sicilia winery from the Unico vineyards across the road. Those vineyards face north, on undulating slopes rich in chalk, and give wines that can live for decades. Thats the case for this 2005. The concentration of this vintage was so great that Vega Sicilia held the bottles back an extra couple of years; now, that patience has been rewarded with a beautiful, enchanting complexity of aromas and flavors that encompass earth, spice, roses, black fruits and minerals. It still feels tense and energetic, a lively, radiant Unico that will continue to develop for at least a decade in bottle--even though now, sitting in front of a half-empty glass, it is difficult to imagine how it can be better. It can." (06/2017) --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on: Check Out Our Blog: [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [On the Trail (K&L Blog)]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [My Account]( | [Wine Clubs]( | [Events]( |[Gift Cards]( | [Accessories]( | [Shipping]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Missed an offer? Check out recent opportunities at our [Email Archive]( page. Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637) Email: wine@klwines.com K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA Click here to manage your e-mail settings with K&L Wine Merchants or alternatively, [click here to unsubscribe from all mailings]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [K&L](