Fine wines

Vinos Blancos

VINA TONDONIA RESERVA 1987 (RIOJA) (£38.00)
From one of the great names of this region. "This polished white is all silk and wax, delicate and smooth, with flavours of vanilla, dry pear and spice. A beautiful example of traditional Rioja." 90/100 The Wine Spectator

Vinos Tintos

CERVOLES, CELLER DE CANTONELLA 2000 (COSTERS DEL SEGRE) (£29.00)
Tempranillo, Cabernet, Garnacha & Merlot. Intense, purple black wine full of black fruit flavours, char-grilled spice and chewy tannins. Long, lingering finish.

"1780", CASTELL DEL REMEI 2000 (COSTERS DEL SEGRE) (£32.50)
Cracking wine, powerful & complex, aromatic. Classic Cabernet tones of lead pencil supported by plummy fruit laced with peppery notes. Luscious, full bodied, smooth texture. R. Parker scored the wine as 91/100.

MARQUES DE RISCAL GRAN RESERVA 1993 (RIOJA) (£34.00)
It has a mature ruby colour of medium depth, offers sweet vanilla on the bouquet and is remarkably complex on the palate with gentle oak and extremely well balanced dried fruit, before giving a gentle but firm, long vinous finish. It is one of those reds that one is tempted to sip and sip not to gulp.

MAURO 2005 (RIBERA DEL DUERO)(£39.00) 100% Tinto fino and aged in semi-new American oak. Dark and attractively perfumed, with a harmonious combination of damson like fruit and savoury oak, this is a great mature example of one of Spain's most famous wines.

MARQUES DE GRINON, PETIT VERDOT 2002 (DOMINO DE VALDEPUSA) (£38.00)
It is very rare to find single varietal Petit Verdot. This is a superb example of what this grape is capable. A dense wine showing a nose of liquorice and raspberry fruit, with a nice smoky edge. The palate displays lush, raspberry laced fruit and chunky tannins. Hugely concentrated and massive. Possibly the finest straight Petit Verdot in the world.

SAN ROMAN (TORO) (£45.00) 100% Tempranillo from Spain's 'happening' premium wine producing region. "Opaque purple in colour, the nose offers pain grille, smoke, vanilla, brooding black fruits and liquorice....layers of fruit, full tannins and exceptional depth and concentration" 92/100 The Wine Advocate

"904" GRAN RESERVA, LA RIOJA ALTA 1995 (RIOJA) (£52.00)
In a head-to-head of those two great Rioja vintages. I think 1995 is now starting to show even more promise than the 1994, although both are superb. Tope grapes (90% Tempranillo and 10% Mazuelo) are matured for five years in American oak and then rested in bottle for another two years before release. An absolute gem, still relatively youthful.

"EMERITUS" MARQUES DE GRINON 2000 (DOMINO DE VALDEPUSA) (£61.00)
The winery's super-cuvee, made from the estates most select Cabernet, Syrah and Petit Verdot. Intense, elegant and velvety, with markedly integrated ripe fruit and berry flavours. Very stylish, and lingers memorably. Showing beautifully at present.

ALION 1999 (RIBERA DEL DUERO) (£65.00)
"The brilliant 1999 reveals blueberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with tar, liquorice and earthy flavours. Medium to full-bodied with sweet fruit as well as excellent purity, it should drink well for a decade" 90/100 R Parker

FINCA DOFI, ALVARO PALACIOS 1997 (PRIORATO) (£75.00) Garnacha, cabernet, Merlot, syrah and carinena. The nose shows dark fruit, complex spices and oak influence. The palate is really interesting: it is dense, tannic and spicy but there is some lovely minerality and herby complexity. The minerality is particularly striking and the oak isn't at all dominant on the palate. Great wine from one of the great wine makers in Spain.

VINA TONDONIA GRAN RESERVA 1981 LOPEZ DE HEREDIA (RIOJA) (£80.00) Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazueloand graciano. Aged in oak barrels for no less than six years, it is then aged in the bottle for a further five or six years before release. With a ruby velvety colour and intense aroma, it is medium to full bodied, spicy and complex. Ideal with grilled meats and hearty fayre.

BARON DE CHIREL RESERVA 1995 (RIOJA) (£86.00) MARQUES DE RISCAL Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon in almost equal measures. Could be described as the first 'new age' Rioja. Almost the antithesis of the above two wines, its complex aromas of toasty oak, caramel and vanilla follow through to the mouth filling black fruit on the palate, balanced by firm, ripe tannins. This wine is ideal for accompanying red and white meat, roasts, game, poultry, rice dishes, bean stews, mushrooms, mature and blue cheese.

VINA BOSCONIA GRAN RESERVA 1976 (RIOJA) (£90.00) LOPEZ DE HEREDIA Like Tondonia, Bosconia is a single vineyard site. It is bigger, softer, more earthy and longer lasting (usually) than Tondonia "...really remarkable acid/fruit balance. Big, rich, pwerful and deep. Finishes extremely long and magically fresh" 96/100 Steve Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

VEGA SICILIA "VALBUENA" 1997 (RIBERA DEL DUERO) (£95.00)
80% Tinto Fino, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot & Malbec. Those lots of Vega Sicilia which are of high quality but not suited to extra long ageing are selected for Valbuena. The 1997 has a deep black colour with purple tints. The bouquet is elegant and complex , maintaining perfect harmony between the fruit and the wood. On the palate it makes a full, rich, satisfying mouthful with a very long finish.

CASTILLO YGAY GRAN RESERVA 1978 (RIOJA) (£120.00)
74% Tempanillo, 10% Garnacha, 12% Mazuelo and 4% Graciano. Bottled in February 1986, after nearly 7 years in American oak. Pronounced, orangey garnet, with a mature, dried fruit, pruney / oaky nose; palate: rich and generous, with suggestions of red fruits and admirably balanced oak; long and satisfying with very little tannin.

MAS LA PLANA 1981, TORRES (PENEDES) (£135.00)
Without doubt Spain's finest Cabernet Sauvignon. Its reputation began some 30 odd years ago, when the 1970 beat everyone (incl. Ch Latour, Lafite etc.) to win the Paris Wine Olympiad. It continues to be a sensation. The 1981 is actually a Torres family favourite. It is a polished mix of plum, blackberries, dark chocolate & cigar box. A perfect match for game and meat dishes.

AURUS 1996, ALLENDE (RIOJA) (£161.00)
Tempranillo with a small proportion of Graciano. This is Allende's super cuvee, and in fact they believe the '96 to be the greatest wine they have ever made. So ripe and rich it's almost sweet, with blueberry, blackberry and chocolate flavours this over ripe tannins. The Wine Spectator scored the wine as 94/100.

VEGA SICILIA "UNICO" 1985 (RIBERA DEL DUERO) (£240.00)
Tempranillo, Cabernet, Merlot & Malbec. Spain's most prestigoous wine estate, was founded in 1864 by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, and Unico is its greatest wine. It has a wide range of hints such as coffee, tobacco, lactic and fruit which are reminiscent of compote. Very well structured, opulent, complex and powerful. It has all the elegance of an aged wine, but maintain the liveliness of youth. Generous and complex. One of the world's great wines.

L'ERMITA 1997, ALVARO PALACIOS (PRIORATO) (£270.00)
80% Garnacha, 10% Carinena & 10% Cabernet. The Garnacha is from 100 year old vines from a single vineyard producing some of the lowest yields in Spain. They create a wine of intense concentration, ripeness fruit and depth. Arguably the finest individual red in Spain. Unbelievably good! The Wine Spectator scored the wine as 96/100.