Red Wine

Ca’n Verdura 2021

Tasting: Tomeu Llabrés' Ca'n Verdura project aims to reinvigorate plantings of indigenous Mallorcan varieties that have lost ground on the island to French varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. This intriguing light bodied red has delicious flavours of red berries, bramble fruits, balsamic notes, and Mediterranean herbs.

Bodega: Ca’n Verdura

Region: D.O. Binissalem-Mallorca

Grape: Mantonegro, Callet, Monastrell, Merlot, Syrah

Aging: 50% in oak for 6 months, 50% in stainless steel for 6 months

Vintage: 2021

Alcohol: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

Martínez Lacuesta Crianza 2018

Tasting: Classic Rioja from a traditional producer of Rioja Alta. Ripe black fruits, black cherry, cassis, and blackberries all combine with smooth, silky tannins, and sweet vanilla and spices.

Bodega: Bodegas Martínez Lacuesta

Region: D.O.Ca Rioja

Grape: Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo

Aging: 18 months in American oak, then 6 months in bottle

Vintage: 2018

Alcohol: 13%

Closure: Cork

El Primer Beso Tinto Fino 2022

Tasting: The outstanding wines of Alejandro Moyano are as poetic to drink as the labels and their names would suggest. An award-winning winery, self-sufficient and completely off the electricity and water supplies vinifies the organically grown Tinto Fino – the local name for Tempranillo – with the minimum of handling. El Primer Beso – The First Kiss – is certified organic, medium bodied with oodles of soft, ripe, morello cherry fruit, raspberry, and lovely underlying graphite minerality.

Bodega: Bodegas y Viñedos Valdemonjas

Region: D.O. Ribera del Duero

Grape: Tempranillo (Tinto Fino)

Aging: 6 months in cement tanks

Vintage: 2022

Alcohol: 14%

Closure: Cork

Broquel Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Tasting: Rich, perfumed, with a good balance between depth and power. Aromas of cassis and raspberry jam. Elegant touch of smoke, roasted pepper and chocolate. Soft, complex and with a very long finish.

Bodega: Bodega Trapiche

Region: Mendoza

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon  

Aging: 9 months in French oak

Vintage: 2013

Alcohol: 14.5%

Closure: Cork

Ramón Bilbao Crianza 2019

Tasting: Medium bodied, a nose of vanilla, red and black fruits leading to a palate of beautifully balanced oak, acidity and fruit, blackberries, cassis, coconut, graphite and bay leaf

Bodega: Bodegas Ramón Bilbao

Region: D.O.Ca

Grape: Tempranillo

Aging: 14 months in American oak followed by 12 months in bottle

Vintage: 2019

Alcohol: 13.5%

Closure: Screw cap

Ibai Alde Crianza 2019

Tasting: Classic crianza Rioja, bright and brash red fruit led by strawberries and red-currants, concentrated red plum and cedar spice.

Bodega: Bodegas Ramírez de la Piscina

Region: D.O.Ca Rioja

Grape: Tempranillo

Aging: 15 months in French and American Oak, followed by 8 months in bottle

Vintage: 2019

Alcohol: 14%

Closure: Cork

Trapiche Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Tasting: Classic Cabernet Sauvignon, black fruit, spice, and solid tannin.

Bodega: Bodega Trapiche

Region: Mendoza

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

Aging: 6 months in French oak

Vintage: 2020

Alcohol: 12.5%

Closure: Cork

Lágrimas de Graciano 2020

Tasting: An elegant yet powerful grape varietal as the red fruit shines through along with some spice.  Graciano – rare in monovarietal form – makes extremely expressive wines, a perfumed nose of violets and rose leads to a delicious palate of spiced blackberries, cassis and distinct mineral undertones. This is a rare and appealing wine.

David Sampredo-Gil’s Bodegas Bhilar has slowly become one of the most respected small wineries in Rioja. His vineyards are bursting with life due to the biodiversity he encourages using organic and biodynamic farming. Based in the subregion of Alavesa around the town of Elvillar (Bhilar is the Basque word for Elvillar), he makes an array of exceptional wine that stun his fans year after year. 

Bodega: Bodegas Bhilar

Region: D.O.Ca Rioja

Grape: Graciano

Aging: 6 months In concrete vats on lees

Vintage: 2020

Alcohol: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

Trapiche Varietals Syrah 2020

Tasting: Ripe plums and damsons, blackberries, soft supple texture, but with plenty of body.

Bodega: Bodega Trapiche

Region: Mendoza

Grape: Syrah

Aging: 6 months in French oak

Vintage: 2020

Alcohol: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

Rejadorada Roble 2019

Tasting: This wine has an intense, cherry red colour with violet nuances. On the palate, this Tempranillo reveals its balanced aromas, that are strong and broad. The light roasted notes from the gentle aging in the oak barrel for 6 months are perfectly balanced in tannin structure. Highly enjoyable!

Bodega: Bodega Rejadorada

Region: D.O. Toro 

Grape: Tempranillo (Tinta de Toro)

Aging: 4 months in French and American oak

Alcohol: 14%

Closure: Cork

Ramon Bilbao Limitada Crianza 2020

Tasting: From a classic producer of fine, elegant Rioja, the Edición Limitada is an alternative expression of fruit used to make their flagship ‘Mirto’ wine. The palate is long and intense with beautifully balanced acidity and polished tannins. It has pronounced black fruit, plums, blackberries, piquant spices and notes of dark cacao nibs.  

Bodega: Bodegas Ramón Bilbao

Region: D.O.Ca Rioja

Grape: Tempranillo

Aging: 15 months in new French oak, then a further 12 months in bottle.

Vintage: 2020

Alcohol: 14%

Closure: Cork

Solaz Bio Tempranillo 2022

Tasting: Intense red berry fruit with fruits of the forest notes in support. Certified organic.

Bodega: Bodegas Osborne

Region: V.T. Castilla y Leon

Grape: Tempranillo

Aging: Stainless steel

Vintage: 2022

Alcohol: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

Mas dels Frares 2021

Tasting: An example of the stylistic direction change that has occurred in Priorat over the past decade or so, producers are eschewing big extractions, and lots of new oak in favour of more restraint and elegance. A powerful wine with poise and intelligence, black fruit, spiced black plum, cassis, a touch of fresh tobacco and molasses.

Bodega: Vinícola del Priorat

Region: D.O.Q. Priorat

Grape: Garnacha, Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah

Aging: 12 months in French oak

Vintage: 2021

Alcohol: 15%

Closure: Cork

Ennak Plus 2021

Tasting: Organically grown in Catalunya’s south in a protected biosphere reserve. Bursting with plum, blackberry, black pepper, herbs, sweet vanilla and toasted cedar.

Bodega: Celler Jordi Miró

Region: D.O. Terra Alta

Grape: Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha Tintorera, Merlot, Tempranillo

Aging: 12 months in French oak

Vintage: 2021

Alcohol: 14%

Closure: Cork

Buen Rollo 2020

Tasting: Tinta de Toro, although Tempranillo, is generally considered a DNA variant of Tempranillo, it has smaller berries and thicker skins so makes much bigger wines than Tempranillo in the Duero valley generally does. Dense and full bodied, rich and concentrated black plum, mulberries, tobacco and fresh leather. Brooding dark and intense, but with surprisingly polished tannins.  

Bodega: Dominio del Bendito

Region: D.O. Toro

Grape: Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo)

Aging: 4 months in French and American oak

Vintage: 2020

Alcohol: 16%

Closure: Cork

Familia Pacheco Selección 2020

Tasting: Medium plus-bodied. Fresh, fragrant red fruited nose. Palate showing roasted plums, oak characters and crisp acidity. Mouth-filling, rich and dense with a good persistent finish.

Bodega: Viña Elena

Region: D.O. Jumilla

Grape: Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah

Aging: 7 months in French oak

Vintage: 2020

Alcohol: 14.5%

Closure: Cork

Kπ Amphora Garnacha 2019

Tasting: Light bodied and delicate, it shows ripe purple berries, scrub herbs and granite minerality. Fermented and aged in clay amphora, grown organically, un-fined and unfiltered with minimal sulphites added.

Bodega: Daniel V. Ramos

Region: Sierra de Gredos

Grape: Garnacha

Aging: 9 months in amphora

Vintage: 2019

Alcohol: 14.5%

Closure: Cork

Matsu El Recio 2021

Tasting: Tinta de Toro, although Tempranillo, is generally considered a DNA variant of Tempranillo, it has smaller berries and ticker skins so makes much bigger wines than Tempranillo in the Duero valley generally does. This is a beast of a wine! Dark, very full bodied, rich, and concentrated with amazing complexity. Powerful flavours of dark earthy black fruit, new leather and fresh tobacco with baking spices in support.

Bodega: Bodegas Matsu

Region: D.O. Toro

Grape: Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo)

Aging: 18 months in French oak

Vintage: 2021

Alcohol: 14.5%

Closure: Cork

Dehesa del Carrizal Syrah 2020

Tasting: Did someone say Northern Rhône? As they do here in Australia, there are certain French varieties that make excellent wine in Spain too, Syrah being one of them. D.O. Pago is a single site appellation, awarded to estates of exceptional, consistent excellence. D.O. Pago Dehesa del Carrizal is south of Madrid in the foothills of the Sierra de Toledo. A classic expression of Syrah, full bodied, plums, damsons, cassis and blackberries all wrap around a core of toasted oak and extremely well-balanced tannins. In 8 years of importing this wine, we think this is the best vintage yet!

Bodega: Dehesa del Carrizal

Region: D.O. Pago Dehesa del Carrizal (Sierra del Toledo)

Grape: Syrah

Aging: 14 months in French oak, followed by 18 months in bottle

Vintage: 2020

Alcohol: 14.5%

Closure: Cork

Aljibes Cabernet Franc 2018

Tasting: The classic Loire Valley and Bordeaux varietal that also makes exceptional wines in its adopted home of Spain. From Finca Los Aljibes in Albacete, it shows everything you would expect from the varietal, medium body, bright tannin and fresh acidity, floral notes of rose and lavender, with light black cherry, bell pepper, blackberries and herbs.   

Bodega: Finca Los Aljibes

Region: V.T. de Castilla

Grape: Cabernet Franc

Aging: 16 months in French oak

Vintage: 2018

Alcohol: 14%

Closure: Cork

Supernova Negre 2021

Tasting: Light to Medium-bodied wine with bright & juicy cherry, black-cherry, raspberry and very light earthy notes, liquorice & dried redcurrant. Tannins are soft and plush.

Bodega: Ca'n Vedura

Region: D.O. Binissalem-Mallorca

Grape: Mantonegro

Aging: 10 months in French oak

Vintage: 2021

Alcohol: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

Cifras Garnacha 2020

Tasting: A juicy medium bodied palate of dried mulberries, blackberries, soft plush texture, with delicious well rounded tannins and hint of dry scrub herbs.

Bodega: Bodegas Exeo

Region: D.O.Ca Rioja

Grape: Garnacha

Aging: Fermented in then aged 12 months in ceramic eggs, with 10% of the wine in oak

Vintage: 2020

Alcohol: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

Ramirez Seleccion Crianza 2020

Tasting: This is powerful, characterful Rioja at its finest.Aromatic incense infused wood aromas, muscular red fruit, ripe spice accented raspberry and redcurrants, complex flavours and layers of spices, tobacco and leather.

Bodega: Ramírez de le Piscina

Region: D.O.Ca Rioja

Grape: Tempranillo

Aging: 15 months in French and American oak followed by 12 months in bottles

Vintage: 2020

Alcohol: 14%

Closure: Cork

Hacienda López de Haro Gran Reserva 2014

Tasting: Elegant, complex and refined, lashings of dried mature blackcurrant and bramble fruit with delicate spices, cassia bark, star anise and angelica. Although a very classic oak driven Gran Reserva, it is well balanced, with exceptionally plush texture and balance.  

Bodega: Bodega Classica

Region: D.O.Ca Rioja

Grape: Tempranillo, Graciano

Aging: 30 months in French and American oak, followed by 36 months in bottle

Vintage: 2014

Alcohol: 14%

Closure: Cork