Red
Palacios Remondo 2016 Quiñón de Valmira Rioja
Nearly translucent ruby, with rose, lilac and jasmine unfolding around redcurrant, raspberry and rhubarb. Mint, white pepper and a restrained caramel note add complexity. The palate is filigreed yet concentrated, combining generous texture with striking freshness and intensity. Finely drawn rather than heavy, it carries its floral red fruit through a harmonious, elegant finish.
Albamar 2020 O Esteiro Tinto
Eucalyptus and pine needles lead a distinctive, savoury nose, with the blend's delicate fruit kept light and lifted. The palate is sharp, fresh and finely drawn, showing restraint rather than weight. Caiño, Espadeiro and Mencia give it an Atlantic edge, with herbal detail and bright acidity carrying the finish. Serve lightly cool with grilled sardines, charred vegetables, pork or mushroom dishes.
Bodegas Artazu 2007 Santa Cruz de Artazu
Ripe red berries open with cream, warm spice and a light touch of leather. Concentrated berry fruit carries through the palate, framed by juicy acidity and a firm but measured structure. Savoury detail emerges on the finish, adding depth without overwhelming the fruit. Serve with roast lamb, braised beef or grilled mushrooms.
Lopez De Heredia 2010 Vina Tondonia Mg
A classic mature Rioja with dried cherry, orange peel and red plum, layered with cedar, tobacco, vanilla and sweet spice. The palate is refined and graceful, with silky, resolved tannins and bright acidity giving the evolved fruit freshness. Subtle oxidative and savoury notes carry through the long finish. Decant gently and serve with lamb, mushrooms or aged cheese.
Viñadores de Gredos 2018 Cuesta del Tejar Garnacha Cebreros
Black raspberry and cracked pepper lead a dark, expressive nose, with violet and slate-like mineral notes emerging as the wine opens. The palate is intense yet silky, balancing power with delicate extraction and supple, nuanced tannins. Freshness keeps the fruit precise, carrying peppery spice and mineral depth into a long, quietly dramatic finish.
Suertes del Marqués 2017 El Lance 7 Fuentes
Blackberry, cherry and wild strawberry open the nose, joined by crushed stone and a lift of wild herbs. Light to medium-bodied yet supple, the palate carries juicy red and dark fruit over fresh acidity and finely shaped tannins. Volcanic mineral character brings tension to a dry, lively and savoury finish.
Castell d’Encus 2014 Quest
Peppery and herbal on the nose, with cassis, blackberry and a cool minty lift over restrained oak. The palate is silky and intensely savoury, its dark fruit carried by ultra-fine tannins and a fresh, poised line. Dark spice gathers through the finish, leaving an elegant mountain-grown red with concentration, clarity and remarkable composure.
Las Moradas de San Martín 2018 Las Luces Vinos de Madrid
Cherry-coloured and aromatic, with wild berries, balsamic herbs, liquorice and grapefruit lifted by a clear note of thyme. Broad and unctuous on the palate, it carries the mineral stamp of dry-farmed granite soils without losing freshness. Excellent natural acidity balances the depth, leading to an elegant, persistent finish with a subtle bitter edge.
Viña Ane 2019 Autor Eduardo Monge Rioja 1.5L (Magnum)
Perfumed raspberry and black cherry lead, sharpened by fine baking spice and cracked pepper. The palate is medium-bodied and composed, with an easy lift of acidity carrying the fruit through long, firm but polished tannins. Harmonious and finely judged, it finishes with lingering cherry, spice and quiet oak warmth rather than overt weight.
Hammeken Cellars 2013 Tosalet Vinyes Velles Priorat
Cranberry, red cherry and blackberry lead a concentrated aroma, joined by tobacco, cocoa and eucalyptus. The palate is full and structured, with firm, ripe tannins giving shape to the dark fruit. Slate and cracked pepper add a savoury mineral edge, while liquorice brings depth through the middle. The finish is long and warming, carrying fruit, spice and cocoa in a composed, persistent line.
Lopez de Heredia 2013 Vina Tondonia Reserva Rioja
Dried berry and restrained black fruit open with wild herbs, balsamic lift and sweet spice. The palate is rich yet finely controlled, with a smooth, developed texture held by firm, elegant tannins and chalky grip. Cedar and vanilla sit quietly behind the fruit, leading into a layered, savoury finish. Serve with roast lamb, braised beef or aged manchego.
Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5° 2008 Ribera del Duero
Serious and tightly drawn, with dark cherry and black fruit joined by blood orange, dried herbs, forest floor, black tea and a subtle balsamic note. The palate is long rather than broad, driven by juicy acidity, fine tannins and a firm mineral edge. Savoury and precise through the finish, it rewards decanting and pairs well with lamb or slow-cooked beef.
Caves Sao Joao 1996 Dao Porta dos Cavaleiros
Still structured, with red fruit and vanilla set against an integrated tannic frame. The palate is light and mature, yet sound bottles retain good colour, a composed texture and a clean finish. Bottle variation is pronounced, with some examples appearing fresher than their age and others more fragile. Stand upright, open carefully and assess before deciding whether to decant.
Caves Sao Joao 1992 Dao Porta dos Cavaleiros
Dark fruit and forest-floor aromas lead to dark cherry, mixed berries, leather and a light balsamic edge. Soft tannins give the palate an easy, mature shape, while surprisingly bright acidity keeps the fruit defined and the medium-length finish fresh. Stand upright before opening and pour carefully around sediment; the balance suggests a bottle holding its age with quiet assurance.
Caves Sao Joao 1990 Dao Porta dos Cavaleiros
Flint, steel and damp earth lead into autumn leaf, tarragon, cherry pit, espresso, tart red berry, fresh cigar tobacco and damson plum. Lean and elegant rather than fruit-driven, the palate has clean, softened acidity and an austere, savoury line. A short decant helps it open. Serve with duck, grouse or salmon, and handle the mature cork and sediment with care.
Caves Sao Joao 1987 Porta dos Cavaleiros Tinto
Complex fruit aromas lead a full-bodied, richly structured palate, with the depth expected of a mature Dão red. Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Jaen and Alfrocheiro form the blend, giving the wine a layered, traditional profile. Handle the bottle gently, stand it upright before opening, and serve with roast lamb, braised beef, mushrooms or firm cheese.
Caves Sao Joao 1985 Dao Porta dos Cavaleiros
Mature dark cherry and red berry sit beneath tobacco, pencil lead, graphite and dark chocolate, with damp earth, mushroom and leather adding further savoury depth. Medium acidity and resolved tannins give the palate a gentle, evolved shape, while hints of mint, dried flowers and cured meat carry the finish. Bottle variation is expected; stand upright and decant carefully around sediment.
Caves Sao Joao 1982 Dao Porta dos Cavaleiros
Light garnet with pronounced bricking opens slowly into dried red cherry, currant, hickory, mulch, wet hay, sweet cedar and worn leather. The palate is mature but alive, with resolved tannins and medium acidity carrying savoury red fruit, tobacco, coffee bean and cigar-box detail. Give it twenty to thirty minutes in the glass; stand upright beforehand and open carefully, as older corks may be fragile.