Special Feature - Spain

K&L's Monthly Newsletter featuring the wines of Spain... Monday Mar 27th, 2017 [View in Browser]( [Special Sonoma Feature]( is hard to find another region that can deliver the same combination of value, variety ageworthiness, ready-to-drink vintages, and the sheer class and caliber that you'll find in modern day Spain. From Rioja to Priorat and well beyond, there is so much to explore in Spanish wine at K&L. Take this month's newsletter for example. Starting with sparkling wines, we delve into one of our favorite direct imports in Can Mayol's Loxarel. Next up, Rioja delivers three tremendous sub-$20 reds - two of which nabbed 95-point scores, while the other is a K&L best-seller and over a decade old. Priorat follows with one of the most unique and critically acclaimed projects in the world of fine wine in Terroir al Limit. Their wines beautifully represent what's new and exciting in Priorat with a sense of place, tradition - leaving many seeing the region in a whole new light. Our exploration of Spain continues through Rioja Blanco, Albarino, Cava, and even a bright and refreshing Malvasia from the Canaries. There's truly something for everyone in this month's newsletter. [View our electronic newsletter!]( Highlights this month include... Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2014 Mas Que Vinos "Ercavio" Tempranillo Roble Tierra de Castilla 90 $9.99 [View]( Mas Codina Cava Brut Reserva Penedès $12.99 [View]( 2010 La Rioja Alta "Viña Alberdi" Reserva Rioja 95 $17.99 [View]( 2005 Bodegas Casa Juan Señor de Lesmos Reserva Rioja 92 $19.99 [View]( 2010 Can Mayol Loxarel "Reserva Familiar" Brut Nature Penedes $19.99 [View]( 2012 Marqués de Murrieta Reserva Rioja 95 $19.99 [View]( 2010 Cune Gran Reserva Rioja 95 $24.99 [View]( 2007 La Rioja Alta "Viña Ardanza" Reserva Rioja 94 $29.99 [View]( 2011 Bodegas Muga "Selección Especial" Reserva Rioja 95 $34.99 [View]( 2013 Hacienda Monasterio Ribera del Duero Crianza 95 $34.99 [View]( Honorío Rubio "Añadas" Blanco Rioja (Elsewhere $50) 93 $39.99 [View]( 2012 Bodega Numanthia "Numanthia" Toro 94 $59.99 [View]( [2014 Mas Que Vinos "Ercavio" Tempranillo Roble Tierra de Castilla]( [2014 Mas Que Vinos "Ercavio" Tempranillo Roble Tierra de Castilla]( ($9.99) 90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2014 Ercavio Roble is pure Tempranillo that followed a classical vinification, fermentation in stainless steel, malolactic fermentation in cement and a short aging (six months) in used French barriques. The nose is very classic, too, nicely crafted, fine with a nice combination between berry and spice with subtle oak. It has a commercial profile in a very pleasant way. The palate shows very good volume and a fine texture with elegant tannins. It tastes like a much more expensive wine. This is superb value and a faithful representation of Tempranillo from La Mancha in a good vintage. (LG)" (06/2016) K&L Notes: In La Mancha, Ercavio clearly rules the roost in the production of top quality Tempranillo, known locally as "Cencibel." In this huge wine production area where volume producers far outnumber quality ones, Ercavio is a notable exception, focusing on careful viticulture and time tested, artisanal methods including ageing in amphora, to produce genuinely interesting, delicious, well priced wines that really immediatley impress for their intensity of flavor and terrific value. Vander Wall]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 11, 2017 While I was a fan of the 2013 vintage of Ercavio, the 2014 is even better! With riper, more generous fruit, this vintage strikes a great balance between soft, luscious fruit, good toasty oak, and a hearty structure. This is a big, bold style of Tempranillo, that is well-composed and drinks beautifully now. Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 10, 2017 This is the most serious Tempranillo I've seen from La Mancha. It is generously dark fruited, with hints of savory, wet tobacco underlying in the background and an impressive mineral thread running through the wine. Under $10 wines are occasionally tasty, even delicious, but rarely are they delicious and as seriously put together as this wine. I was impressed by the 2013, but this 2014 ratchets up the intensity while maintaining even more balance between the fruit, tannins and wood. The Wine Advocate review states "It tastes like a much more expensive wine," I wouldn't fault someone for finding that cliché, but if Luis Gutierrez says it then this praise is truly earned. I'm very impressed. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Mas Codina Cava Brut Reserva Penedès]( [Mas Codina Cava Brut Reserva Penedès]( ($12.99) Mas Codina is a 40 hectare estate in Penedès which dates back to 1681. This Brut Reserva Cava was hand-harvested from 20 to 30-year-old vines and estate bottled. Though it does not say it on the label, the current disgorgement is based entirely on the 2013 harvest. Vines are planted in calcareous and sandy clay soils which keep the wine minerally and lively. The wine undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle, and is aged on its lees for a minimum of two years before disgorgement. Varietals include Macabeo, Xarel-lo, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 100% hand riddled as well! Since we direct import this delicious Cava, it is arguably one of our best values in bubbly right now. (Joe Manekin, K&L Spanish wine buyer) Diaz]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 02, 2017 For my money, Cava like Mas Codina stands head-and-shoulders above more popular, expensive, but less polished sparkling wines. The bubbles are finer, creating a mousse-y texture on the palate, while the flavors of nectarine, baked apple, and subtle flowers are balanced and restrained in a way that avoids any cloyingness. At only $12.99, this is an incredible value with truly romantic expression perfect for any intimate occasion. Stevens]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 09, 2016 This is one of the best bottle of bubbles in the store for its price. The fact that we directly import this sparkler and that it is from Spain means that it drinks far and above its price point. This Cava is very clean and enhanced by bright acid while still having some weight and richness on the mouthfeel. A lovely balance of ripe fruit and citrus make this one that can easily turn heads at a party and is priced to keep a case around the house. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2010 La Rioja Alta "Viña Alberdi" Reserva Rioja]( [2010 La Rioja Alta "Viña Alberdi" Reserva Rioja]( ($17.99) 95 points James Suckling: "Ripe and intense aromas of strawberries and blackberries with hints of black ink. Savory notes, too. Full-bodied, chewy and focused with linear fruit and character. Very finely crafted. Drink or hold." (12/2016) 91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2010 Viña Alberdi is a Tempranillo blend from different vineyards from what they consider an extraordinary vintage. This wine is matured in American oak barrels built by their own coopers, the first year in new barrels and the second one in third-year barrels with four manual rackings. This is the younger of their wines, with even some red berry aromas and spicy oak, quite harmonious. The palate is lively, balanced and polished, with tasty flavors and bright acidity. Delicious. (AG)" (08/2016) K&L Notes: Founded in 1890, La Rioja Alta is one of the most experienced and universally respected wineries in Rioja. Viña Alberdi is La Rioja Alta's juiciest, most approachable Rioja to drink on the younger side. That said, it still is one of the standard bearers of great quality, affordable, traditional Rioja, aged for two full years in barrels produced on site by the company's own coopers. Based upon Tempranillo, this is always quite tasty but in a vintage as strong as 2010, it elevates itself to top value category. Westby]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 17, 2017 If you like medium bodied, earthy reds that go with food, this is a wine to buy a case of. Last night, Cinnamon and I had the Vina Alberdi from La Rioja Alta with a winter beef stew that I made. It was a stunning wine and a great combination. The savory dark Tempranillo fruit had just the right amount of rose like aroma to contrast its frame of cake like American oak and plenty of good acid to cut the rich stew. We found the 750ml size a bit small for something so easy to drink! Driscoll]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 15, 2016 The most important fact to know about the 2010 Alberdi is that it needs to breath. The difference between this wine thirty seconds after opening the bottle and thirty minutes is night and day. I decanted this beauty and was absolutely spellbound once the initial intensity blew off and the fruit opened up underneath. This is classic Spanish food wine, full of dark berries and chewy tannins. It's not a big juicy garnacha by any means, but rather an old school Rioja with finesse and style. It has restraint and on the finish there are lingering notes of wood and dark berries. Cook up a steak or a rack of lamb and dump a bottle of this in the decanter for some mighty fine living! --------------------------------------------------------------- [2005 Bodegas Casa Juan Señor de Lesmos Reserva Rioja]( [2005 Bodegas Casa Juan Señor de Lesmos Reserva Rioja]( ($19.99) 92 points James Suckling: "This has a beautiful depth of fruit with spice and dark fruits. Hints of parsley and cilantro. Full and super silky with a long and beautiful finish." (05/2013) K&L Notes: Composed of the same grapes in the same percentages as the Crianza, the Reserva is a barrel selection of wines that Angel feels can undergo longer aging in barrel and then in bottle. Aged a total of 27 months in barrels, then into concrete for more than a year, the Reserva also sees bottle aging until Angel deems it ready for release. This wine ramps up the intensity of the Crianza, with more pungent fruit as well as a real spicy and wild quality. In a vintage as good as 2005, this wine is likely to improve for quite a long time. As with many of the best Riojas, though, this wine is quite delicious right now if you want to drink some bottles while you wait for other bottles in your cellar to mature. Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 21, 2017 So, so, good, this 2005 Lesmos Reserva! Having recently re-tasted the wine, I can say that it still shows intense, bright fruit, all the while with great aged nuances as well. Piercing dark cherry fruits and dark chocolate aromas on the nose lead to some terrific flavors on the palate. Adding to the strong attack and mid-palate intensity is a lengthy finish, tinged with salinity and a subtle woodsy,/littoral quality. Rich, layered, and begging another sip, this tastes like it should be, conservatively 2-2.5x more expensive than it is. Drink now or cellar with confidence for another decade. Vander Wall]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 21, 2017 Consistently one of my favorite wines in our Spanish selection! This small winery in Laguardia is one of the gems that buyer Joe Manekin brings in directly from Rioja Alaveza. Thankfully for us, they have deep cellars, with plenty of older vintages like this 2005 to charm drinkers! 2005 was one of the greatest Rioja vintages in recent history, and this little Reserva wears its bottle age beautifully. The wine is full bodied with dark fruits and softened tannins, the aromas are of leather, exotic spice, and blackberry. On the palate the wine has great length, and still shows fresh vibrant fruit, with just the right amount of softening and mellowing influence from its time in the cellar. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2010 Can Mayol Loxarel "Reserva Familiar" Brut Nature Penedes]( [2010 Can Mayol Loxarel "Reserva Familiar" Brut Nature Penedes]( ($19.99) 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 these wines wonderfully distinctive and very exciting to drink. Featuring some of the property's oldest, most prized parcels of Xarel-lo grapes, the reserva familiar sees over six year on its lees. This is very impressive bubbly that we can honestly say gives a lot of Champagne at twice the price a real run for its money. [Christina Stanley]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 27, 2017 Made from a high percentage of old vine Xarel-lo, this is is a fine bubbled refreshing Cava at an even finer price point. Although refreshingly bone dry, this wine has a rich texture and aromas of orange creamsicle and baked meringue. Delicious! Vander Wall]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 14, 2017 Consistently one of the best values in bubbles in the store! Loxarel follows the traditional methode champenois, and spares no effort to create some of the best sparkling wines in the area. The Reserva Familiar rests on its lees for over six years, far more than the minimum in most Champagne houses, and with old vine fruit, grown in high-altitude chalky soils, this is a very serious product, which would hold up to the scrutiny of any Champagne aficionado. What I love about Loxarel is that though they follow the methode champenois, they feature classic Spanish grapes such as Xarel-lo, and the result is a thoroughly exciting wine with an exotic and aromatic quality all its own. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2012 Marqués de Murrieta Reserva Rioja]( [2012 Marqués de Murrieta Reserva Rioja]( ($19.99) 95 points James Suckling: "Terrific aromas of currants, berries, cinnamon and perfume. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a dense palate. Superb length and refinement. Compact. Super length. Superb quality considering the price. More delicate and refined than the 2010. Precise." (12/2016) 92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The blend of the 2012 Rioja Reserva is significantly different from previous vintages, with more Graciano and Garnacha. The blend was approximately 77% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, 8% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. After a very dry growing season, the harvest was saved by some rains at the end of September, which allowed the grapes to reach perfect ripeness. The wine also had a slightly longer upbringing, 23 months in American oak barrels and at least nine of those months were in new oak barrels. However, it seems like the oak is better integrated than in the 2011, and the fruit is fresher. The palate has one extra point in depth, with very fine tannins and especially good freshness that gives it a sense of great harmony. (LG)" (08/2016) K&L Notes: One of the two oldest Rioja bodegas, with a history dating back to the mid-19th century, Marques de Murrieta is not resting on its laurels. Rather, they continue to produce excellent wines, big hits with their customers and critics alike. They are fully self sufficient in grapes, taking advantage their large, contiguous vineyard just outside of Logrono, which boasts plenty of old vines, a variety of terroir from chalky clay to very stony parcels, and a climate that particularly favors not only Tempranillo but some of the region's finest Mazuelo. Marqués de Murrieta's 2012 Reserva is an overachiever, surpassing the overall quality of the vintage and perhaps even beating out the fantastic 2010. Schroeder]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 25, 2017 This reserva rioja is really starting to hit its stride. It is showing an explosion of well integrated flavors like cherries, redcurrant, cola berry, ripe strawberries, licorice and violets. The body is full and rounded by thick, silky tannins with a solid acid to reign everything in. 5 years in and great potential for further aging, this has edged its way to the top of my sub-$20 bang-for-my-buck category. Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 18, 2017 While we certainly have come to expect increasingly great wines from the venerable Marqués de Murrieta (their 2010 Reserva was one of our best selling wines of 2016) this 2012 maybe even tops that great wine. On the nose, rich cherry compote, red fruits, saddle leather, sweet spices and hints of new oak and cedar, combine for a classic Murrieta profile. Flavors of fresh and firm, bright fruits are more poised and bright than even the beautiful nose suggests - this must be the Mazuelo and Garnacha talking! Fantastic Rioja to buy/hold, buy and drink, or ideally, to buy/drink/hold! I would load up on this one. Despite the production volume this one never lasts us nearly as long as we would like. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2010 Cune Gran Reserva Rioja]( [2010 Cune Gran Reserva Rioja]( ($24.99) 95 points Wine Enthusiast: "*Editors' Choice* Certain wines exude a sense of elevated excellence. This one gets to that level via aromas of spice cake, baked plum and tobacco aromas. A stocky saturated palate is structured and built to age, while this tastes of cool blue fruits, herbs, coffee and chocolate. A smoothly textured finish deals cocoa and mocha notes. Drink through 2040. (MS)" (04/2017) 94 points Wine Spectator: " *Top 100 of 2016, Highly Recommended* This generous red shows a traditional character, with leafy, dried herb, tea and spice notes framing dried cherry, licorice and leather flavors. Firm tannins and balsamic acidity impart structure, and this shows plenty of depth, with a juicy, spicy finish. Drink now through 2025. (TM)" (06/2016) 91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2010 Cune Gran Reserva is a blend of 85% Tempranillo 10%, Graciano and 5% and Mazuelo, which matured in barrel for two years and in bottle for three. There is more American oak here with sweet spices, some roasted and tar aromas, with hints of leather and less finesse than in other Gran Reserva from the house; Viña Real, Imperial and Contino play in a different league. (LG)" (08/2016) K&L Notes: Cune is one of the historic wineries located in the famed "barrio de estación de trenes." Their Imperial bottlings still are some of the best examples of classic, ageworthy Rioja. That said, this entry level Gran Reserva has hit all the right notes of late, particularly with two great vintages in 2009 and the current 2010. Vidales]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 10, 2017 This is a super solid bottle of wine from Cune. Black cherry, blackberry and plum fruit fill the nose along with dried herbs, tobacco and bittersweet chocolate notes. On the palate, the fruit and earth notes are generous and balanced with fine tannins. This is drinking deliciously now! Driscoll]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 10, 2017 The Cune is a far more restrained and serious Rioja than the price gives it credit for. This isn't that soft and sultry little Tempranillo that loads up the fruit and oak up front for a short finish on the back. No, no, no! This is a structural, brooding, mouthful of everything we love about Rioja's rustic roots. There's a lovely amount of dried cherry fruit to bolster the wine, but it's accented with firm, but chewy tannins and secondary flavors of earth and spice. I keep telling Bordeaux drinkers that Rioja is their next great adventure (and it's a helluva a lot cheaper). Wines like the Cune show you can still find serious selections with age and depth that are cellar-worthy and will only get better with time. The 2010 Reserva has a lot in common with some of the medium-bodied Bordeaux blends at twice the price. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2007 La Rioja Alta "Viña Ardanza" Reserva Rioja]( [2007 La Rioja Alta "Viña Ardanza" Reserva Rioja]( ($29.99) 94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2007 Viña Ardanza Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo with 20% Garnacha, the Tempranillo from 30-year-old vineyards La Cuesta and Montecillo in the villages of Fuenmayor and Cenicero, and the Garnacha from old head-pruned vines at 600 meters altitude in Tudelilla, in Rioja Baja, from plots next to their Finca La Pedriza. Those should soon be mature enough to go into the wine (they were planted in 2004 and they will make it into the Ardanza blend from 2007-2008). The grapes are fermented separately with natural yeasts and the Tempranillo then matured in American oak barrels averaging four years old for 36 months, while the Garnacha matured in second- and third-use American oak barrels for 30 months. The nose is very fresh, with notes of beef blood, iron, cherries in liqueur, some subtle leather and spices plus notes of autumn forest and truffles. The palate is more lively and has some tannins that would feel better integrated with some food or a little bit of time in bottle It was bottled in November 2011. This will be released around September/October 2015, so by the time it hits the shelves it will be more polished. Great value for money. (LG)" (04/2015) 92 points Vinous: "Brilliant red. Lively, oak-spiced raspberry and cherry scents are complemented by candied rose and vanilla, with a smoky mineral topnote providing added lift. Sappy and seamless on the palate, offering juicy red fruit, mocha and coconut flavors plus a suggestion of sweet chewing tobacco. In a graceful, approachable style, finishing with strong, thrust and silky, late-arriving tannins. While this suave Rioja is quite enjoyable now, I'd give it some more time in the cellar so that the American oak is able to integrate with the wine's fruit. (JR)" (11/2015) Vander Wall]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 25, 2016 I am in love with the 2007 vintage of Vina Ardanza from la Rioja Alta! Upon release the bottle was a bit shy, showing plenty of structure and little fruit, but checking back in a few months later, I find the wine has opened up and become even more elegant and expressive than the well-loved 2005 vintage. 2007 as a rule was a little cooler, and therefore the wine shows a bit more high-toned acidity and structure, but this also lends a more subtle character to the wine. Although it is already showing some savory development, this wine certainly has the structure to age further. Drink some now and save some for a couple of years! Stevens]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 23, 2016 Absolutely classic Rioja, this is the kind of wine I can get into over and over again. Dried red fruit and tart cherry are well balanced by the spice and lively acid that give this wine drive. Although the 2007 vintage was a little cooler and did not have the ripeness of 2005 this wine benefits by having a little more elegance and focus. As much as I enjoyed the 2005 vintage I find I am responding as well to the new offering from them. Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 23, 2016 The 2007 Viña Ardanza is showing very well right now. While not necessarily a departure from the house style (if you've liked it in the past, I suspect you will continue to with this vintage), I will say that it shows a bit more development than normal, perhaps with a more dark fruited and savory profile. It seems like the Rioja Alta Tempranillo is more dominant in the 07. Vintage characteristics aside, Viña Ardanza is one of the true bargains in the wine world, a wine which spends three years in barrel, another three in bottle, and is produced from fruit which hails from time tested vineyard sources (many owned by the winery). When it comes to Rioja, this is the one that, perhaps more than any other, I can depend upon to be delicious in California, satisfying in Spain, wonderful now or fantastic after aging. A must-have for me. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2011 Bodegas Muga "Selección Especial" Reserva Rioja]( [2011 Bodegas Muga "Selección Especial" Reserva Rioja]( ($34.99) 95 points James Suckling: "A complex nose of dried strawberries with slate and white-truffle undertones. Hints of Spanish cedar. Full body, juicy tannins and bright acidity that follows through to a long, clean and earthy finish. A great wine that shows structure and complexity. Drink or hold." (12/2016) 93 points Vinous: "(aged for 26 months in French oak casks) Bright ruby. Fresh red berry, cherry, mocha and floral scents are complicated by suggestions of cola and vanilla. Intense black raspberry, bitter cherry and rose pastille flavors deepen and pick up a sweet hint of mocha on the back half. The lively, emphatically fruity, impressively long finish displays very good finishing clarity; dusty, firming tannins lend shape and gentle grip. (JR)" (01/2017) 93 points Wine Spectator: "This red has a firm backbone and a solid texture, with harmonious flavors of plum, blackberry, licorice, cocoa and espresso. Concentrated yet graceful, showing alluring mineral and floral notes on the finish. Drink now through 2026. (TM)" (03/2017) Juelsgaard]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 07, 2017 This Muga offers up an incredible richness and expression and is in my opinion one of the best Riojas in the store. The palate and rich and fruity while the oak adds structure and depth to help round out the wine. The fruit is juicy and deep and is highlighted by some bright acidity that helps balance tannins. This wine has some great weight, not too ripe or grippy, but eloquent and striking. Don't miss this. Vogel]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 07, 2017 I have a new obsession with Riojas and this Muga is bringing me in deeper. The prominent nose is filled with fresh red fruit, baking spice and dry earth. The smooth but impactful structure is elongated on the side palate with flavors that match the nose. A mix of dried herbs and deep, engulfing fruit adds a vivid strength to the finish. This is a gorgeous food wine that is easily enjoyed now! --------------------------------------------------------------- [2013 Hacienda Monasterio Ribera del Duero Crianza]( [2013 Hacienda Monasterio Ribera del Duero Crianza]( ($34.99) 95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The wonderful 2013 Crianza from Hacienda Monasterio is one of the great successes from a challenging vintage that resulted in a heterogeneous collection of wines, where you can find the best and the worst. 2013 was a shorter vintage and they didn't do a Reserva or Reserva Especial that year, so the very best grapes from their estate vineyards went into this Crianza. In fact, they sold 40% of their production in bulk. The final blend was 80% Tempranillo and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and they didn't use any Merlot this year. It's a very precise vintage, with symmetry and a chiseled mouthfeel coupled with very good acidity, a little higher than in 2014 and with half a degree less of alcohol. The Monasterio vineyards are south-facing, the warmer exposure in the northern hemisphere, so they have an advantage in cooler years such as this 2013. Since 2012, the vineyards are organically certified, even if they have always been worked that way; the only difference is that they are now officially certified. The fruit is red rather than black and the tannins are super fine and elegant, providing for that laser-cut precision. This is clearly among the best wines from the vintage. In a way it reminded me of the 1996. The severe selection resulted into 134,560 bottles, way below the average, and it really paid off. Bravo! The south-facing vineyards from Hacienda Monasterio are an advantage in cooler vintages, and their 2013 Crianza, from a late and cold vintage, shows it. (LG)" (02/2017) 94 points James Suckling: "So polished and silky with a wonderful texture. Full to medium body, ultra-fine tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Dark berry and hints of mineral too. Hard not to drink now but better in 2017." (07/2015) 92 points Vinous: "Opaque ruby. Deeply perfumed aromas of black raspberry, blueberry, floral pastilles and smoky minerals, with hints of cured tobacco and vanilla in the background. Seamless and appealingly sweet, offering energetic red berry and cola flavors and a touch of five-spice powder on the back half. Gains weight with air and finishes on a smoky note, with sneaky tannins adding shape. (JR)" (12/2015) --------------------------------------------------------------- [Honorío Rubio "Añadas" Blanco Rioja (Elsewhere $50)]( [Honorío Rubio "Añadas" Blanco Rioja (Elsewhere $50)]( ($39.99) 93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The NV Añadas is a solera of Viura wines from the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 vintages, aged for an average of five years in barrel and bottled in July 2012. It's a fascinating, deep golden colored white that reminded me of the whites from Marqués de Murrieta and López de Heredia; it has those diesel-like aromas, hints of chamomile, dry flowers, honey wax, nuts, orange peel and pollen. The wine matured in 225-liter barrels of new and used French and American oak, and 5% Bulgarian acacia wood. The palate is fresh with lively acidity, pungent flavors and incredible richness. This is a great discovery, a wine that goes back to the old tradition of long aging in barrel. 1,500 numbered bottles were filled. (LG)" (08/2016) K&L Notes: 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, and chooses to turn them into classic, traditional white Rioja. "Añadas" is a blend of primarily Viura with some Malvasia, and contains several vintages or "añadas" blended together. This wine was bottled in 2012, with several years of aging in barrel followed by another several in bottle prior to release. Think Tondonia for this bottling. (Joe Manekin, K&L Spanish & Portuguese wine buyer) Diaz]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 26, 2017 A blend of several vintages aged for about five years in barrel, Anadas is a rare example of classically made white Rioja that belongs among the ranks of Lopez de Heredia. Sporting a darker, more traditionally coppery color than most Rioja Blanco found today, it shows equally traditional on the palate. The rich, waxy texture is apparent up front, and the flavors of orange, honey, tea leaves, and salty nuts remind one of the best Viuras this region has to offer. If you miss the Rioja Blancos of old, Honorio Rubio is here to restore your faith in the category. Vander Wall]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 09, 2016 Probably one of the more interesting white wines I've tasted this year, Honorio Rubio's "Anadas" is a fascinating mix of traditional, age-worthy white Rioja, and Sherry-influenced solera-style blending. With the use of one Acacia barrel, among many oak barrels, and a blend of several vintages, this wine is quite soft and aromatic, presenting both nutty, floral, and beeswax notes. On the palate the wine is certainly soft, but also lacking in a heavy, glycerol-dominated feel. Rather it retains a tangy acidity, probably from the younger fruit in the blend. If you are looking for something completely new in white wine, and quite fascinating, this is the bottle for you! Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 09, 2016 This is the big boy, the solera aged Viura which in style and spirit is amongst the most reminiscent of LdH Tondonia Blanco of any white Riojas I have ever tasted. This wine is fantastic, cutting a broad swath across the palate with intense yellow skinned fruit flavors, fresh acidity, and an old time, traditional flavor profile. Like Honorio's other white wines, this is clearly not for everyone but I suspect it will have some seriously loyal fans who quickly gobble up the few bottles we bring in. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2012 Bodega Numanthia "Numanthia" Toro]( [2012 Bodega Numanthia "Numanthia" Toro]( ($59.99) 94 points James Suckling: "I love the dark fruits, licorice and stone character on the nose. Full body with dusty tannins that are firm and silky. Fresh and linear with wonderful length. Pretty clarity." (07/2015) 93 points Vinous: "Dark purple. An explosively perfumed bouquet displays scents of ripe dark berries, incense and vanilla, with an intense floral nuance adding lift. Stains the palate with potent black and blue fruit liqueur and violet pastille flavors, with zesty acidity providing spine and lift. Smooth tannins build slowly and steadily through a strikingly long, focused finish, with the dark fruit and floral notes repeating. I was surprised by this suave wine's forward character but suspect that it will be even better with another five-plus years of bottle age. (JR)" (12/2015) 92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The eponymous 2012 Numanthia is sourced from vineyards ranging from 60 to 100 years of age across the Toro appellation (they have around 100 hectares of vineyards... spread across 100 separate plots!). The wine matured in brand new oak barrels for 22 months. The aromas are mostly oak related with some toasted sesame seeds, sweet vanilla and cinnamon, some licorice and chocolate, and a core of very ripe black fruit. The oak is obviously of very good quality, but at the moment it dominates the wine and with time what emerges is still toffee, smoke and coal. The palate reveals a very young wine that is dense, tremendous, with high dry extract, concentrated, powerful, and full of dusty tannins and oak-related flavors. This beast needs a good couple of years to be tamed down by the bottle. This is a bodybuilder of a Toro -- oaky and highly extracted in its style. (LG)" (10/2015) --------------------------------------------------------------- [K&L]( 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 Missed an offer? Check out recent opportunities at our [Email Archive]( page. Follow us on [Twitter]( [Instagram]( and read more [On the Trail (K&L Blog)]( "Best wine Web site in the US" - Wall Street Journal "Great for rare and hard-to-find wines." - Time "The cellar to search first." - Smart Money "Best Wine Web Site" - Publishers of The Wine Spectator This email was sent to {EMAIL} [Click here to manage your e-mail settings]( with K&L Wine Merchants or alternatively, [click here to unsubscribe from all mailings](