Tasted 24th May 2011

Gran López Garnacha/Tempranillo 2010 Campo de Borja, Spain 4.99
50% Garnacha and 50% Tempranillo, produced by Crianzas y Viñedos Santo Cristo, a cooperative that has been operating in the
Ainzón region of Spain for 50 years. The vineyards are located on free-draining chalk and clay soils in the foothills of Moncayo where the
climate is Mediterranean. Vines are 25 - 30 years old. 60% of grapes were machine-harvested and 40% hand-picked in mid-Oct.
Fermentation in epoxy tanks was followed by full malolactic. No barrel ageing. Winemaker is Roberto Perez and Norrel Robertson MW
works with him to blend the wine every vintage. Suitable for vegetarians. Alc 14%, TA 5.4g/l, pH 3.59, RS 1.9g/l. Available from Waitrose
Wine Direct and 250 branches.
Young and juicy aroma. Very young and simple taste. It’s fine, no more.

Castillo La Paz Tempranillo/Syrah 2010 La Mancha, Spain 6.99
70% Tempranillo and 30% Syrah planted on shallow clay-calcareous soils. The Tempranillo is from old bush vines (over 40 years old) with
low yields. The Syrah is from more recently planted, trellised vineyards. Traditional fermentation in stainless steel tanks with regular
pumpovers and temperature control. Following racking and pressing, the two varietals were stored separately in small concrete vats.
Tempranillo was partially oak aged in French and American oak. Alc 13.7%, TA 5.2g/l, pH 3.70, RS 1.4gl. Available from Waitrose Wine
Direct and 240 branches.
Quite a hot nose. Not particularly inviting. Astringent and plain.

Viña del Perdon 2000 Gran Reserva, Navarra, Spain 9.99
60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% old vine Graciano. The estate is near the town of Pamplona, and covers 2000ha with 210ha
under vine on picturesque hillsides. Some vines are approaching 50 years of age. Matured in a mixture of French and American oak for 36
months. Winemaker Milagros Rodriguez. Alc 13.5%, TA 5.4g/l, pH 3.49, RS 2.0g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 240 branches.
Pale brick red. Inviting American oak on the nose. Quite aged but still fresh and refreshing. A nice older style. Don’t buy it to lay down, but it’s lovely for a dinner party of wine lovers.

Baron de Ley Club Privado 2008 Rioja, Spain 8.65
100% Tempranillo from the dry limestone and clay soils of Rioja Baja. The vines are 20 - 30 years old and mostly bush-trained due to the
hot, dry Mediterranean climate in this part of northern Spain. The grapes were harvested by hand in late-Sept. Destemmed, crushed and
pressed via pneumatic press then 7 days of maceration on skins. Fermented with selected yeasts in stainless steel tanks for 12 days. Aged
in new American oak barrels for 6 months. Winemaker Gonzalo Rodriguez. Alc 13.5%, TA 5.1g/l, pH 3.63, RS 2.0g/l. Available from
Waitrose Wine Direct and 230 branches.
Very attractive tropical fruit aroma – full of life and interest. The American oak takes second place, which is good. A pretty oaky taste. Furry on the finish.

Baron de Ley 2006 Reserva, Rioja, Spain 11.29
100% Tempranillo from Rioja Baja. The vineyards are planted on alluvial soils, rich in clays and limestone, with clear Mediterranean
influence - more sunshine and less rain than in the western Rioja areas. Grapes were harvested late-Sept 2006 by hand. Long alcoholic
fermentation took place at 29°C for 14 days in stainless steel vats followed by full malolactic. 100% oak aged, with 20 months in American
oak followed by 24 months in bottle. Winemaker Gonzalo Rodriguez. Alc 13.5%, TA 5.2g/l, pH 3.68, RS 1.5g/l. Available from 11 July.
Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 137 branches.
Oaky, leathery nose. Quite a chocolatey taste – or is it coffee? The alcohol seems a little warm, as well.

La Rioja Alta Viña Arana 2004 Reserva, Rioja, Spain 19.99
95% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo from the Rodezno and Labastida areas of Rioja Alta and a winery founded in 1890. Vines are planted
on marlstone and a relatively late harvest took place after a cooler than usual ripening process. After fining and racking, the new wine
was transferred to 3-year-old American oak barrels (made in their own cooperage) in March 2005 for 3 years, with racking from barrel
to barrel every 6 months. Bottled Nov 2008. Suitable for vegetarians. Alc 13.0%, TA 5.7g/l, pH 3.65. Available from Waitrose Wine
Direct and 138 branches.
Spicy and appealing nose. Sweet fruit, plenty of vanilla. Very attractive. Very American oaky finish. Spicy as anything.

Baron de Ley 2001 Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain 19.99
100% Tempranillo from Rioja Baja. Vineyards are planted on chalky and alluvial soils, rich in minerals and limestone, with Mediterranean
influence. Grapes were harvested late-Sept by hand. Alcoholic fermentation lasted 9 days at 30°C in stainless steel vats and maceration
took 10 days with daily remontages. Complete natural malo. 100% oak aged in French and American new oak barrels for 24 months and
5 years in bottle. Winemaker Gonzalo Rodriguez. Suitable for vegetarians. Alc 13.5%, TA 6.3g/l, pH 3.55, RS 1.85g/l. Available from
Wine Direct and 20 branches.
Wow – what a beautiful nose! Really intense and inviting. Full and beautifully crafted taste. A hint of farmyard, which adds to the overall beauty for me. Delicious, if pricey. *

Muga Prado Enea 2004 Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain 33.49
80% Tempranillo, 7% Garnacha, 7% Mazuelo and 6% Graciano. Vines are on average 40-years-old, planted on clay, calcareous and
alluvial soils with a planting density of 4,000vines/ha and average yield of 30hl/ha. In 2004, the grapes were harvested by hand from 30th
Sept. Fermented in oak vats with regular cap-punching and macerated for 20 days. Aged for 36 months in American 225 litre oak barrels
and in bottle for a further 36 months. Alc 13.5%, TA 0.8g/l, pH 3.45, RS 2.4g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 3 branches.
Quite an intense colour for Gran Reserva. Very baked, old nose. Figgy and if I had a case of it I’d be drinking it as quickly as possible. Caramelised and still lovely, but dying in front of your eyes.

Blasón de San Juan 2007 Crianza, Ribera del Duero, Spain 12.99
100% Tinta del Pais (Tempranillo), grown in Berlangas de Roa in Ribera del Duero at an altitude of 850m on pebblestone and sand. Vines
are 15 - 30 years old with either bush training or guyot trellising, harvested between 15th - 25th October. Grapes were hand-picked into
18kg boxes with a yield of 1kg/vine. Fermentation took place in stainless steel vats for 15 days, with malolactic in third fill barrels. The wine
was aged for 12 months in 100% French oak barrels and was bottled following a light filtration. Winemaker José Spisso. Suitable for
vegetarians and vegans. Alc 14.50%, TA 5.18g/l, pH 3.61, RS 1.50g/l. Special Offer: £12.99 - £9.99, Save £3.00 from 25/05 to 21/06.
Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 20 branches.
Not much on the nose. Farmyardy, oaky taste. Quite good.

Mas d’en Gil Coma Vella 2007 Priorat, Spain 23.29
20% Cariñena, 20% Garnacha Peluda, 20% Garnacha Pais, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah and 5% Merlot from a family-run 125ha
estate in Bellmunt del Priorat. Most vines are 40 - 60 years old, planted on slate soils and the average yield is just 15 - 30hl/ha. Handpicked
in mid-late Sept at night and given 20 day maceration with fermentation lasting 7 - 10 days at 28 - 30°C in inox tanks. Malo for 15
- 20 days at 25ºC in underground tanks. 43 separate components then blended and aged for 12 - 14 months in 225l French oak barrels
(20% new, 40% 1 year, 40% 2 years old) followed by 7 months - 1 year in bottle. Alc 15%, TA 5.1g/l, pH 3.4, RS 1.6g/l. Available from
Waitrose Wine Direct and 127 branches.

Portugal

Cortes de Cima Syrah 2008 Alentejo, Portugal 11.49
100% hand-picked Syrah grapes from the Cortes de Cima estate, located near Vidigueira in the Alentejo. Harvested in Sept 2008,
fermented without stems under temperature control at less than 27°C , with frequent délestage, followed by extended skin maceration
to enhance varietal fruit characters, and to provide tannin structure and balance. Aged for 5 months in French and American oak
barrels. Winemaker Hans Kristian Jorgensen. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 14%, TA 5.2g/l, pH 3.69, RS 3.7g/l. Available from
Waitrose Wine Direct and 127 branches.
Not a lot on the nose. Warm alcohol and fruity Syrah. It’s OK.

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