Wine Advocate (94)

The 2019 Hacienda Monasterio is floral, aromatic and precise, showing good but contained ripeness, with 15% alcohol. It's a similar blend as in previous years—80% Tinto Fino, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 2% Malbec. This is the first vintage they used their new 10,000-liter oak vat, so there are more lots fermented separately and then blended to create this cuvée that shows very good balance, juiciness, concentration, structure and power but with freshness and balance. Their idea is to gradually replace the Merlot with Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, but that's going to be a slow process. They have 12 different soils classified on the property, and in 2019 they selected different soils for each wine, something that was not done in 2017; there will be more changes in this direction in the future. 182,666 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2021.

Tim Atkin MW (97)

This superb Reserva from the textbook, cooler climate 2016 vintage is one of the best young wines I have ever tasted from Carlos de la Fuente and Peter Sisseck. Marrying Tinto Fino with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 40% new wood, this comes from a parcel with a very high limestone content, which adds freshness on these warm slopes. Scented, graceful and refined, it has cassis and blackberry fruit, graceful tannins, subtle wood and a long, tapering finish. Exceptional winemaking. 2023-32

Tim Atkin MW (97)

This superb Reserva from the textbook, cooler climate 2016 vintage is one of the best young wines I have ever tasted from Carlos de la Fuente and Peter Sisseck. Marrying Tinto Fino with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 40% new wood, this comes from a parcel with a very high limestone content, which adds freshness on these warm slopes. Scented, graceful and refined, it has cassis and blackberry fruit, graceful tannins, subtle wood and a long, tapering finish. Exceptional winemaking. 2023-32

Wine Advocate (95)

Somehow I didn't taste the 2017 Hacienda Monasterio, but I did taste the 2017 Reserva, which is quite impressive for such a challenging year in Ribera del Duero. They suffered less from the frost on the property, which is quite warm and usually frost-free. The wine has a seductive nose that combines raspberries and cranberries with herbs and flowers. It's ripe at 15% alcohol, but it does not show heat or alcohol. This is 80% to 82% Tinto Fino and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon that matured in barrel for some 20 months. It's medium to full-bodied, juicy, rich and velvety, with fine, chalky tannins. The wine really transcends the challenges of the vintage and delivers more than I expected. 35,000 bottles produced.

Vinous (94)

(78% tempranillo and 22% cabernet sauvignon; aged for 20 months in small French oak barrels): Deep ruby. Intense aromas of blackcurrant, cherry compote and licorice, with a suggestion of sexy oak spices. Supple and broad but lively, with ripe, sweet dark berry flavors lifted by juicy acidity. Smooth, sweet and seamless on the finish, which hangs on with outstanding tenacity and youthful tannic grip.

The top shelf expression of Hacienda Monasterio, the Reserva Especial is not produced every year and could be the equivalent of a Gran Reserva. It is typically a Temperanillo-dominated blend complemented with Cabernet Sauvignon. Quantities may vary but for the 2015 vintage, only 4,000 bottles were produced. Although sitting in bottle for years now, the estate doesn’t allow anyone to taste the wine until it's actually released, which is usually a few months later in the calendar year than its younger siblings.

Immerse yourself in the exquisite sensorial experience that is the La Rioja Alta, Ribera del Duero, Aster El Espino 2020. This remarkable wine originates from the famed Astér winery in Spain's Ribera del Duero region. Crafted under the meticulous supervision of La Rioja Alta's experienced winemakers, its signature reflects an authentic Spanish terroir.

Each sip of Aster El Espino 2020 offers pronounced notes of ripe blackberry and sweet spices, unveiling hints of earthy truffle complexity. Its maturation in French oak barrels lends it a soft tannin structure and a remarkably persistent finish. A perfect companion to your fine dining experience.

La Rioja Alta, Ribera del Duero, Aster El Espino 2020 is more than a beverage, it's an embodiment of Spanish passion and artistry in viticulture. Savour the pride of Ribera del Duero, where climate and soil merge to create viticultural miracles. A worthy addition to any discerning wine connoisseur's collection.

In the renowned Ribera del Duero region of Spain, epicentre of world-class Tempranillo, resides the magnificent Neo Ribera del Duero Neo 2009. Crafted by hallowed vintners Bodegas Neo, recognised for their dedication to tradition and artisanal exploration, this sumptuous red wine is a testament to their supremacy.

Neo Ribera del Duero Neo 2009 presents intense, richly layered aromas of black fruit, cocoa, and subtle spice, courtesy of its meticulous maturation in French oak barrels. The palate unfurls remarkable depth with concentrated dark fruit notes elegantly balanced by supple tannins and a hint of espresso and liquorice on the finish. The longevity of this wine is stupefying; the nuanced complexity unravels gradually with each sip and spans epochs in the glass.

Celebrate the pulsating rhythm of Spanish craftsmanship with the Neo Ribera del Duero Neo 2009, a symphony of depth and complexity tailor-made for the discerning oenophile.

Revered amongst the finest Spanish wines, Neo Ribera del Duero Punta Esencia 2009 is a true connoisseur's delight. Born in the renowned Ribera del Duero region, this vintage is the epitome of Neo's exemplary winemaking skills, embodying the rich Spanish terroir. Crafted from old vines of Tempranillo variety, this wine, aged in French oak barrels for 21 months, exhibits a remarkable complexity.

Neo Ribera del Duero Punta Esencia 2009 has an intense ruby hue and an intoxicating bouquet of ripe red berries, wild herbs, and toasty oak nuances. On the palate, it captivates with plush tannins, concentrated fruit flavours, and a lingering mineral-laced finish. This intricate blend of power and elegance is the hallmark of Neo's winemaking ethos and a tribute to Ribera del Duero's unique winemaking tradition.

Presenting the Neo Ribera del Duero Punta Esencia 2009, a masterpiece for those who appreciate the finest expressions of Tempranillo!

Produced by one of Spain's most influential winemakers, the Pesquera Ribera del Duero Gran Reserva Janus 2018 is a quintessence of meticulous viticulture practices at Alejandro Fernández's estate. Rooted in the emblematic Douro River Valley, this sophisticated wine is skilfully crafted from the region's indigenous Tempranillo grape. Aided by high altitude vineyards and exceptional terroir, the cultivation process bestows an admirable stand-alone character to the wine.

Adopting traditional winemaking approaches, the Gran Reserva Janus 2018 is matured for an unprecedented 24 months in French oak barrels. This lends an exquisite resilience to the wine, enveloping the palate with complex flavours of dark fruits, toasted oak and alluring hints of spices. Exhibiting an intense dark ruby hue, the hallowed Pesquera Ribera del Duero Gran Reserva Janus 2018 excites with its endearing richness, balanced complexity, and an extended finish that reminisces the essence of granite and limestone soil.

Wine Advocate (95)

Jorge Monzón considers 2020 to be an almost prefect vintage—cool and fresh, reminiscent of the great 2016. The pink 2020 Pícaro del Águila Clarete was produced with 35% Tempranillo, 35% Albillo Mayor and the rest other local grape varieties (Garnacha, Bobal, Bruñal, Monastrell, Tempranillo Gris, other Albillos, Garnacha Blanca, Pirules, Jaén, Moscatel, Malvasías...) found in the old vineyards. This is very different from your average rosé, more like a serious light red or powerful white that slowly fermented during 11 months and matured in barrel for 18 months. The orange-ish/pink wine is still young and lively, with some notes of toasted sesame seeds and a faint flinty reduction a little à la Coche-Dury, reminiscent of some vintages of their superb white. This was bottled without being racked, and perhaps that's why it has this nice reduction and could be the finest vintage to date. It has a strong chalky aftertaste from the limestone-rich soils, which makes it a terroir white, but it's also very marked by the style (which they updated from the traditional wines in Aranda in the old times) of a unique wine. It's balanced and mellow but not a shy wine, with 14% alcohol and a pH of 3.26. I've tasted 15+-year-old bottles of wines of this style, and they were still lively, so this one should not be shorter lived. Unique. Given my experience with past vintages, I'd wait a little before pulling the cork here. 8,358 bottles and 151 magnums produced. It was bottled in February 2022.

Wine Advocate (93+)

The youngest of the released wines I tasted is a red—the 2016 Pícaro del Águila Tinto. It is from what they consider to be one of the best and freshest vintages in recent times. This is produced with the vines from the warmer parts of La Aguilera, a cold place to start with (and in a cooler year). The old vines are planted with a mix that is dominated by Tempranillo but also contains some 5% other grapes. All the grapes are picked and fermented together with full clusters and natural yeasts in concrete and stainless steel vats. It matured in oak barrels for 13 months. This is fragrant, expressive, open, aromatic and really attractive. The palate is really balanced, with great freshness, fine tannins and a very pleasant mouthfeel—supple, balanced and with great depth. This is the best version of this bottling so far, and it seems like 2016 could be a great overall vintage, based on some other wines I sampled from cask (many of them have an extended élevage). 21,550 bottles and 624 magnums were filled unfiltered and unfined in November 2017.

Wine Advocate (93)

2017 was an unusually short crop as a result of terrible frost in April 2017, when thermometers reached -10 degrees Celsius in some places. The 2017 Pícaro del Águila Tinto, their entry-level and most approachable red, was seriously affected, of course. They lost some 60% of the volume, but the wine is incredible for the condition of the year. It feels a little more mysterious, not as expressive or open, a bit reductive perhaps, but the aromas are clean and don't show any excess ripeness. They did an amazing job eliminating all the raisins that didn't make it into the fermentation vat, and the extra workload has clearly paid off. The wine has some grip and fine, chalky tannins. 17,025 bottles and 487 magnums produced. It was bottled unfiltered and unfined and with just a little sulfur added in October 2018 after 12 months in oak barrels.

Wine Advocate (94+)

The youngest of the reds I tasted, the 2019 Pícaro del Águila Tinto is their most approachable red and is still serious, vibrant and aromatic with great length and still has good aging potential. They use the grapes from the warmest vineyards they have in the village of La Aguilera, form the northern part closer to La Horra, mostly Tempranillo but with some 5% of other varieties (red and white) interplanted in the old vineyards, fermented together with full clusters and indigenous yeasts and matured in French oak barrels for 15 months. Like the 2019 Clarete, this is young and tender and has more tension than I expected for a warmer year. It has less oak than previous years (only 10% or 15% new barrels), and the wine feels better balanced and is floral and aromatic. It's medium-bodied with a very fine texture, a pretty wine that drinks very well and doesn't reflect a warm year at all, as it has incredible freshness. A great Pícaro. They produced 69,852 bottles and 850 magnums, a notable increase in volume... while they increase the quality! It was bottled in February 2021.

Wine Advocate (95)

The juicy, velvety and aromatic red 2020 Pícaro del Águila Tinto is fine-boned and quite faithfully represents what they want to express with this cuvée; it's very tasty and has some chalkiness (perhaps through less ripeness than in years like 2018) with 14% alcohol and mellow acidity. The nose reveals some Côte-Rôtie-like notes of smoked meat and violets. 2020 delivered a good crop of healthy grapes that produced the finest wine to date for this bottling. This is superb, elegant and powerful, with everything in place (seems to be the signature of 2020) and perfectly integrated oak. 71,382 bottles and 1,979 magnums produced. It was bottled in September 2021.

Vinous (95)

Deep, bright ruby-red. Cherry, licorice and smoked meat at the outset; then exploded with raspberry fruit. Lush, smooth and silky, with lovely inner-mouth perfume. Highly complex flavors of raspberry, minerals, bitter chocolate and smoky oak convey an extraordinary sweetness without any excess weight. Expands wonderfully on the extremely long, aromatic finish, which features noble, palate-dusting tannins. From the recorked bottle, the wine again began with dominant smoky, tarry torrefaction notes, and within minutes was taken over by red berries and flowers. More classic than the '03, but the 2003 may be even richer.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2006 Pingus is a spectacular effort. A glass-staining saturated opaque purple, it delivers an other-worldly perfume of smoke, lavender, mineral, scorched earth, and an amalgam of kinky black fruits. Voluptuous on the palate in a measured way, it has superb balance, layered, complex flavors, ripe tannin that is entirely covered by the fruit, and a decade of aging potential. This monumental wine will evolve effortlessly for 10-15 years and offer a drinking window extending from 2016 to 2036.