Volcanic Wine Awards | 25th anniversary events | The Jancis Robinson Story

Our spring 2019 collection – Spain

Wednesday 20 March 2019
Huecha Valley

The first of a series of geographical collections of tasting notes – 186 in this case. For the other articles in this series, see our guide to spring collections.

Spanish wine is on such a roll at the moment, as many of these tasting notes attest. The beautiful picture on the right of the Huecha Valley in Aragón, north-east Spain, is from the Consejo Regulador of the Campo de Borja DO. 

The 188 tasting notes below are grouped by colour and are in alphabetical order by producer (sur)name. 

 

WHITES 

Pale-medium gold. Lemon rind and a touch of thyme, with some...

Albillo Mayor, barrel-fermented very slowly and aged around 33...

Albariño from Salnes. Stainless steel.
Pale lemon. Nutty lees...

Super-inviting nose: creamy and zesty at the same time. Very...

Fermented in concrete.
Slightly wild grassy/herbal nose. Dry but...

Xarello, Macabeo and Chardonnay. Unoaked but made to age...

90% Xarello, 10% Riesling at 400 m on predominantly limestone...

Certified organic. Estate grown and bottled.
Tropical fruit...

Certified organic. Three months in French oak barrels.
Strong...

Smells like warm baked apples and golden pastry on cold slate...

100% Garnatxa Blanca. Eight months in oak.
Honeyed, toasty, smoky...

70% Garnatxa Blanca, 30% Viognier. Four months in oak,
Smells...

An easy glass of liquid Golden Delicious apples and Sweet...

Rodrigo Méndez is the man behind the small Galician estate...

A blend of Hondarrabi Zuri with a little bit of Hondarrabi...

Sustainably farmed vineyards, no herbicides or systemic products...

Honeysuckle and lychee juice, almost as if, on first sniff, it...

Quite spicy on the nose. And quite spicy on the palate! Szechuan...

Ripe peaches, broad and confident out the glass. Notable...

Albillo Real (lower-acid Albillo), fermented in big barrels...

100-year-old Godello, one year in barrel. Only 800 bottles. ...

70% Viura, 30% Malvasía. Stainless steel.
Very pale gold...

Mostly tank fermented but part in old 500-litre barrels.
...

Single vineyard Albariño, fermented in old chestnut 800-litre...

Single vineyard. Fermented in an old 2,000-litre wooden vat. ...

120- to 140-year-old, pre-phylloxera Verdejo from plots in...

180-year-old, pre-phylloxera Verdejo from a single, low...

180-year-old, pre-phylloxera Verdejo from a single, low...

Organically farmed Xarello (85%) and Sauvignon Blanc (15%) grown...

Organic wine and biodynamic farming. Old vines. After a light...

Organic wine, biodynamic farming, no addes sulphites. Fermented...

Made specially for this London restaurant. From Salnes, right...

Like the St Jacques cuvée this is a blend of different ...

100% Doña Blanca. People didn’t like early vintages of this wine...

Albilla de Manchuela/Albillo de Albacete. Seven small...

100% Verdejo.
Steely, freshly citric fruit. Pleasant creaminess...

50% Viognier, 50% Chardonnay.
Smells like hard candy and stale...

Equal parts Palomino, Albariño and Treixadura. All in tank. ...

From higher sites (500 m approx) on gneiss and weathered slate...

Limestone soils, single vineyard in the north of the...

A ‘regional’ blend, of fruit from different sites. Tank sample...

Fragrant, like gently poached peaches with elderflowers and...

West-facing volcanic vineyards. Mostly Listán Blanco plus...

90% Listán Blanco (aka Palamino) and 10% Albillo on volcanic...

90% Pedro Ximénes, 10% Muscat of Alexandria. Fermented and...

Their new négoce label. 75% Grenache Blanc, 25% Macabeo...

In a blue, Alsace-flute bottle, which seems strange for a...

Certified organic, from a vineyard 750 m above sea level.
In a...

Crisp and slightly vegetal, like an unripe melon, with acidity...

100% Verdejo on infertile sandy soils. Six hours of maceration...

100% Merseguera. Stainless-steel, low-temperature fermentation...

All in tank.
Tangy green-apple fruit. Zesty apple and...

Aged in a mix of flextank and 500-litre barrels.
Lighty...

100% Verdejo.
Nettles and oranges on the nose. Rounded but with...

ROSÉS 

Organic blend of old-vine Tempranillo and Albillo. Fermented...

Certified organic.
Bright fuschia pink. Strawberry candy...

50% Tempranillo, 50% Merlot. Planted 813 m above sea level...

Semi-dry, joven, on the back label. 
I wish I could deduct points...

100% Tinta de Toro. Young vines in soils with light clay. Ligh...

100% Tempranillo.
Deep fuchsia pink and in a heavy, clear-glass...

REDS 

Village wine from Cadalso de los Vidros in the Sierra de...

Village wine from Cenicientos in the Sierra de Gredos. 65- to...

Single plot from San Martín de Valdeiglesias, labelled ‘Dances...

100% Tempranillo from 60- to 80-year-old vines. 18 months in...

100% Tempranillo from 80- to 100-year-old vines. 20 months in...

Deep garnet, with a touch of brick. Black tea and truffle...

Mostly Tempranillo. 33 months in French and American oak...

Mostly Tempranillo. 33 months in French and American oak...

Tempranillo with around 5% other local varieties. Fermented in...

Two years in French oak.
Woody spice, malt and roast plums on the...

Dark, sweet, gorgeous damson nose. A little balsamic, a little...

Odd combination of meaty and jammy on the nose, but sumptuous...

18 months in French oak.
More meaty on the nose – makes me think...

Smelling of drains and old meat to begin with, but it blew off...

Smells like stewed apricots and sun-dried tomatoes. Rich and...

Very very heavy bottle: 1.98 kg when full of wine. Stewed fruit...

Aged in small but older French oak. Then a year in tank, which...

Planted 1950s. Unoaked and fermented in tank and concrete.
Deepi...

New modern bodega supplied by an old mountain-vineyard in Rioja...

Mid crimson. Clean, light nose. Much fresher than its stablemate...

Old-vine Tempranillo grown at 920 m above sea level. 
Really...

Old-vine Tempranillo planted above 920 m. 
Bitter-chocolate nose...

Inky and sweet-purple smelling then massive and inky and...

An equal blend of Monastrell and Cabernet Sauvignon. Four...

Garnacha, and the name means 'supple'. Sandy soils. Aged in...

Thin-skinned but tannic variety. Fermented in tank and aged in...

A blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. 12...

Bramble fruit, smoked meat, fine tannins and bright acidity with...

Less immediately fragrant than their Can do Sil, but still very...

Garnacha Tintorera and Monastrell. Organic certified.
Rich and...

Half the vines are 80–120 years, a blend of many different...

Mencía from three vineyards, very old vines, clay and sand...

Beautifully textured and seductive fruit. Very persistent and...

Garnacha on granite at 850 m.
Very pale garnet. Especially pale...

Certified organic.
Sweet black cherry and framboise with bit of...

I can only assume this is a blend of vintages as there is no...

From Ribeira Sacra, but labelled as Vino de España.
Understated...

Heavy bottle. Clove oil, cinnamon lift on the nose, and much...

60% Garnatxes, 30% Syrah, 10% Carignan. 12 months in oak.
...

Aromatic, violets and berries. Absolutely fizzing with purple...

Easy drinking, bright but simple palate. A bit of olive tapenade...

Apparently the first 'natural' wine in Priorat. Biodynamic...

Organic wine made from biodynamic grapes. No added sulphites. 85...

Biodynamic and vegan. The name reflects the fact that they think...

90% Trepat, 10% Grenache, all in tank. Bright label all...

50% Tinto Velasco, 50% Syrah. Aged in French oak.
Sweet, lavender...

100% old-vine Morate on granite.
Pale colour, more like a...

Ramón Estev (working with Bodegas Marañones). Old-vine...

Seven parcels of Garnacha and one of the local Morate. All old...

Another single-vineyard wine. 50% stems.
Mid cherry red...

Mencía from seven villages. 40% stems.
Mid crimson...

Mid-deep ruby-purple. Needs coaxing from the glass, but there’s...

Mid-deep garnet with a touch of haze. Plenty of black-tea and...

Mainly Cariñena, planted 1939 just after phylloxera.
Mid...

Magnum. 50% Garnacha, with the remainder Syrah, Cariñena, and...

60% Garnacha, with the remainder Syrah, Cariñena, and some...

100% Garnacha on licorella.
Medium ruby with a hint of...

100% Tempranillo from 75-year-old vines. 20 months in new...

90% Tempranillo, 10% other varieties (i.e. Cabernet Sauvignon)...

From Rioja Alavesa. Vines at 500-750. This is made from the...

From Rioja Alavesa. 90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano from the San...

Organic wine from biodynamically farmed young-vine Garnacha...

100% Tempranillo from a single finca. 10- to 12-day...

95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano, 2% Garnacha. Three years in used...

100% Tempranillo. Special selection. Four years in used...

Old vines and field blend.
Lightish crimson. More dusty...

From the higher village of Punxeiro.
Light cherry red...

In Galicia but outside any specific DO. Continental with...

First vintage in 2001. 100-year-old vines from a 0.5 ha parcel...

Planted at 400 m elevation (north facing), clay soil with lots...

Mencía from many different plots. Warm vintage too but harvest...

Mencía. Frost shrunk the crop. 2017 was the earliest vintage...

Perez explains: ‘In 2005 (after working for the family business)...

Lower parcel planted at 300 m elevation with two different soils...

Planted in the 1930s. Macerated for three months with the stems...

20 ha plot planted at a high elevation. Over a hundred different...

Three-ha plot with nine different owners – clay and very porous...

Single-vineyard wine from the village of Rapolao. The vineyard...

The only one of his wines that is 100% Mencia. Three-month...

80% indigenous Moravia Agria (on limestone) and 20% Garnacha ...

100% Bobal on limestone. Carbonic maceration in big open tanks...

From a 1-ha single vineyard. Mainly Bobal with a few other...

Pre-phylloxera Bobal at 900 m on sandy soil. Carbonic...

Darker and more stony on the nose, less sweet-fruited than the...

Mid garnet. Ripe and sweet, but still very fresh, on the nose...

Gorgeous, tangy dark and red fruit. Smells wild and full of...

Dark cherry colour. As well as the fresher fruit of the 2010...

Telmo Rodriquez's first vintage on his own. 
Deep cherry red...

Telmo Rodriquez arrived in 2010 so he blended this wine that...

Javier Zaccagnini has sold his shares in Aalto to focus fully...

100% bush-vine Tempranillo from 60- to 100-year-old vines in...

80% Mencia, the rest a blend of local varieties. Fermented in...

Comes in a white box and a very odd square, blue bottle. 100%...

Sharp, slightly bloody red fruit on the nose, cranberries and...

12 months in oak barrel and minimum 12 months in bottle
Grilled...

16 months in oak barrel and minimum 10 months in bottle.
Inky and...

Listán Negro on sandy soil, facing north and east at 480–520 m...

Listán Negro. Same soils and winemaking as Candio but this is...

A blend of five local grape varieties, whole bunch for the 30%...

Listán Negro, aged in old 500-litre barrels. 50% whole bunch. ...

Listán Negro on clay soil, facing north and east at 380–420 m...

Listán Negro, unoaked, low SO2. This wine is part of the...

North-facing Cariñena on slate. Much cooler site and harvested...

Equal parts Garnacha and Cariñena. Whole bunch, fermented in...

Their new label, a 'social project' buying grapes from seven...

100% Petit Verdot in a short, heavy bottle with broad...

Three months in American oak.
Plummy fruit on the nose, but...

Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah grown 750 m above sea...

100% Toro de Tinta, 80-year-old bush vines on sandy soils with...

100% Tinta de Toro, bush vines in gravel and clay with light...

100% Tinta de Toro. Eight months in French oak barrels.
Velvety...

Single vineyard, certified organic.
There's a Mediterranean...

Single vineyard, certified organic.
Spicy red nose. Deep fruit...

Smells of violet confectionery. Strangely perfumed, as if the...

Alto Turia. Tempranillo, Syrah, Merlot.
A strange nose, a...

Alta Turia. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot. 
Tea leaves and...

Very heavy, environmentally unfriendly bottle sealed with red...

Coloured like Pinot Noir, with an aroma a bit like Nebbiolo, and...

Unoaked blend of several vineyards.
Sweet red-fruited...

Interesting nose that is both ripe and perfumed, very ripe red...

100% Garnacha. Single vineyard chosen for freshness. 25% whole...

100% Garnacha. Their oldest vines, some pre-phylloxera.
...

12 months in French oak.
Strawberry fruit, smelling light and...

Become a member to continue reading
会员
$135
/year
每年节省超过15%
适合葡萄酒爱好者
  • 存取 289,059 条葡萄酒点评 & 15,892 篇文章
  • 存取《牛津葡萄酒指南》《世界葡萄酒地图集》
核心会员
$249
/year
 
适合收藏家
  • 存取 289,059 条葡萄酒点评 & 15,892 篇文章
  • 存取《牛津葡萄酒指南》《世界葡萄酒地图集》
  • 提前 48 小时获取最新葡萄酒点评与文章
专业版
$299
/year
供个人葡萄酒专业人士使用
  • 存取 289,059 条葡萄酒点评 & 15,892 篇文章
  • 存取《牛津葡萄酒指南》《世界葡萄酒地图集》
  • 提前 48 小时获取最新葡萄酒点评与文章
  • 可将最多 25 条葡萄酒点评与评分 用于市场宣传(商业用途)
商务版
$399
/year
供葡萄酒行业企业使用
  • 存取 289,059 条葡萄酒点评 & 15,892 篇文章
  • 存取《牛津葡萄酒指南》《世界葡萄酒地图集》
  • 提前 48 小时获取最新葡萄酒点评与文章
  • 可将最多 250 条葡萄酒点评与评分 用于市场宣传(商业用途)
Pay with
Visa logo Mastercard logo American Express logo Logo for more payment options
Join our newsletter

Get the latest from Jancis and her team of leading wine experts.

By subscribing you agree with our Privacy Policy and provide consent to receive updates from our company.

More Tasting articles

The Chapelle at Saint Jacques d'Albas in France's Pays d'Oc
Tasting articles 从轻盈精致的普罗塞克 (Prosecco) 到波尔多膜拜级葡萄酒和红色仙粉黛 (Zinfandel),这25款葡萄酒中有适合每个人的选择...
Benoit and Emilie of Etienne Sauzet
Tasting articles 这是第 13 篇也是最后一篇进行中品鉴文章。有关此年份的更多信息,请参阅 勃艮第 2024 年份 – 我们的报道指南。 索迈兹...
Simon Rollin
Tasting articles 这是第 12 篇也是倒数第二篇进行中品鉴文章。有关这个年份的更多信息,请参阅 勃艮第 2024 年份 – 我们的报道指南。 夸尔酒庄...
Shaggy (Sylvain Pataille) and his dog Scoubidou
Tasting articles 13 篇进行中品鉴文章中的第 11 篇。有关此年份的更多信息,请参阅 勃艮第 2024 年份 – 我们的报道指南。 阿涅丝·帕凯酒庄...

More from JancisRobinson.com

Sam Cole-Johnson blind tasting at her table
Mission Blind Tasting Whether you’re studying for a wine exam or just want to learn how to get more out of your glass...
Vignoble Roc’h-Mer aerial view
Inside information 克里斯·霍华德 (Chris Howard) 对法国西北部新兴复兴葡萄酒产区两部分探索的延续。上图为洛克海酒庄 (Vignoble Roc...
Three Kings parade in Seville 6 Jan 2026
Don't quote me 1月对于专业葡萄酒品鉴来说总是繁忙的月份。今年詹西斯 (Jancis) 提前做好了准备。 2026年有了一个真正愉快的开始,尼克 (Nick...
The Sportsman at sunset
Nick on restaurants 尼克 (Nick) 否认了经常针对餐厅评论家的指控。并重访了一家老牌最爱。 我们这些写餐厅评论的人总是会面临这样的问题:他们知道你要来吗...
White wine grapes from Shutterstock
Free for all 在较为奇特的葡萄品种中备受青睐的选择。本文的简化版本,推荐较少,由金融时报 发表。 与甚至仅仅10年前相比...
Otto the dog standing on a snow-covered slope in Portugal's Douro, and the Wine news in 5 logo
Wine news in 5 此外,潮湿天气使加利福尼亚25年来首次摆脱干旱,并在杜罗河谷的葡萄园留下积雪——这让保罗·西明顿 (Paul Symington) 的狗奥托...
Stéphane, José and Vanessa Ferreira of Quinta do Pôpa
Wines of the week 如果说有一个国家在性价比葡萄酒方面表现出色,那一定是葡萄牙。这又是一款支持这一理论的葡萄酒。价格从 7欧元,11.29美元, 20英镑起...
Iceland snowy scene
Inside information 本月的冒险之旅中,本 (Ben) 前往北方的丹麦、瑞典和挪威。 我们抵达了一个国家,那里的北欧棱角被一层洁白的雪毯所柔化。蓝白色的...
Wine inspiration delivered directly to your inbox, weekly
Our weekly newsletter is free for all
By subscribing you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.