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Pintia Vega Sicilia 2006
NZD $129.95
Bodegas Pintia is owned by Vega Sicilia. Pintia is located further west along the Duero River inside the warmer D.O. of Toro. The estate owns 96 hectares of land. The first vintage released was the 2001. As for the 2006 Pintia, it is 100% Tinta de Toro aged for one year in new French and American oak. Opaque purple-coloured, it offers a complex perfume of grilled meats, pencil lead, spice box and blackberry. This leads to a full-bodied, ripe, layered wine with intense flavours serious complexity and phenomenal length, will cellar well for 8-10 years.
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Dominio de Eguren Codice 2003
NZD $21.95 NZD $19.95
Over the last 20 years, Spain has surged ahead as one of the leading producers of outstanding wine in the world. This is from Castilla, situated right in the middle of Spain where a combination of high altitude, continental climate, cold winters and hot summers are ideal growing conditions for outstanding wines. Made from old vine Tempranillo, exhibiting tobacco, leather, spice and medium to full bodied yet very fresh and clean. The 2003 was another fantastic vintage in Spain characterized by intense heat and optimum ripening conditions. A little on the young side now but will cellar for 3-4 years. Ideal with cheese, grilled meats and anti-pasto.
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Infinitus Tempranillo 2006
NZD $19.95 NZD $18.95
This is from the central plateau of Spain, Castilla, one of the largest producing areas in the world. Immense innovation has been going on here for the last 10-15 years, located at 2500ft. above sea level, the climate couldn't be better, cool nights, hot days, no vine disease, no rot on the grapes etc. This is made from 15-20 years old vines harvested at ultra ripeness, the wine is almost black in colour exhibiting leather, tobacco and dry spice. The palate is laced with cherries, blackberry with good weight and tremendous structure, minerality, focus and power could best define this wine. Drink now or cellar for 5-6 years.
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Protocolo Tempranillo N.V.
NZD $19.95 NZD $18.95
Our latest arrival of this extremely popular and superb value for money red that is just ideal for this time of the year. Excellent with red meats, casseroles, aged cheeses, just the kind of thing that you eat now. With the diversity of climate, altitude, soils and region, or in other words terroir, Spain is undoubtedly and has been for many years, the most exciting wine producing country in the world. Tempranillo, the long time king of grape varieties, can be grown and made into very different styles. This is from Calatayud, Aragén, a relatively new area which has been revolutionized in the last 10 years. This Tempranillo is extremely low cropped at about 43 hl per hectare. The wine displays a smoky, chocolate aroma with an incredible rich scent of cherry flavours and tobacco. On the palate it is ripe, integrated yet pure and quite spicy. Drink now or cellar for 3-4 years.
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Vina Real Reserva 2001
NZD $64.95 NZD $54.95
Another classic vintage in Rioja, the reserva version is aged in oak for a minimum of 2 years with a further 2 years aging in bottle before release, not many vineyards in the world can afford to take this approach, the idea behind it is that once released the wine can be drunk straight away. Full body with an array of Asian spice, wood smoke, leather and saffron yet remaining fresh with assorted black fruits. What I really like about it is the density and enormous middle palate reminiscent of a Grand Cru Burgundy, layers of flavour, ripe supple tannins, concentration and gamey. Drink now or cellar 6-8 years.
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Contino Reserva 2004
NZD $94.95 NZD $86.95
Not many vineyards in the world can boast the special terroir that Contino has, high above sea level with a very continental climate, very little humidity and a perfect ripening season. This is a wine that oozes power, elegance and finesse, made mainly from Tempranillo old vines from selected plots, it offers Saffron, soft leather, violets and mocha. Just incredibly full bodied, expressive and dense with an alluring perfume of lavender, minerals, opulent with an incipient complexity and persistence. This is for the cellar. Drink between 2010-2020....
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Vina Gormaz 2006
NZD $21.95
The 2006 Vina Gormaz Tempranillo, produced from 50+-year-old ungrafted Tempranillo vines, is as good a value as exists from the D.O. of Ribera del Duero. This unoaked wine is dark ruby-colored with aromas of earth, spice, mineral, plum, and black currants. This is followed by a medium-bodied, ripe wine, with layered flavors, light tannin, and good balance. This is another great example of the extraordinary wealth and depth of wines to be found in Spain over the last 20 years or so. A little young at the moment but still offering very fresh and clean matured fruit flavours that will develop for another 3-5 years.
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Vina Real Crianza 2004
NZD $34.95 NZD $32.95
2004 is one of the best vintages in Rioja in the last 30 years, mainly made from Tempranillo and a little Mazuelo, it offers an array of smoked paprika, lavender, espresso and mocha. Full body with an incredible middle palate, lovely ripe black fruits, racy acidity, terrific complexity, clean, focused and perfect purity.
Although you can drink it now it will also develop for 3-5 years at the price it is hard to pass, when you think that they would be many Pinot noir and Bordeaux blends around at double the price that generally speaking don’t go with food either, this is just a steal. Drink now or cellar 3-4 years.
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Numanthia 2005
NZD $136.95
Yet again we find that Spain is delivering unmatched value for money wines, their different regions are like a boiler room of ideas, innovation and creativity. In the last few years this particular Bodegas has been creating wines that are rated internationally alongside and higher than the very top Bordeaux and Burgundy yet at a fraction of the price. Made from 100 year old ungrafted vines planted at high altitude and yielding less than 1.5 tonne of fruit per acre. The wine was aged in new French oak for 18 months and bottled without fining or filtration. This comes from the area of Toro which is one of the upcoming areas in Spain. It is without doubt a revelation when it comes to the production of modern Spanish wine. The wine is concentrated, lean and focused with impeccable pedigree and definition. The quality ratio of this wine is unsurpassed, easily on par with any second growth from Bordeaux at roughly half of the price. The reviews speak for themselves. Will cellar for 10 years ...
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Gran Feudo Reserva 2001
NZD $25.95 NZD $23.95
Out of stock
Another example of the great search of quality by every Spanish region, this is from Navarra situated to the north of Rioja and made from a blend of Tempranillo with a little Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The 2001 vintage is one of the best vintages in the last 20 years and offers an array of smoked meats, leather, tobacco and cigar box with good acidity, depth and purity. A wine that at seven years of age is starting to drink magnificently but will also improve with further aging. A wine of this quality at $23.95 is virtually impossible to find....
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Cvne Imperial Reserva 2001
NZD $84.95
One of the true classics from one of the most prestigious Bodegas situated in Rioja. Made from 100% Tempranillo selected from its own vineyards. The 2001 vintage is one in a series of excellent vintages, the wine even though a little on the young side, has enormous potential. The bouquet is perfumed and scented with tobacco, leather and dry fruits, on the palate it shows incredible depth, structure, total balance and purity but the finish is long and firm lasting well over a minute. If we were to compare it to anything else you would need to go to the Grand Crus of Burgundy or super second growths from Bordeaux. Starting to drink very well now but will also cellar for 3 years plus. Drink it with chorizos and jamén serrano....
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Candidato Tempranillo 2006
NZD $18.95 NZD $17.95
Out of stock
This has to be the deal of the year and our latest shipment has just arrived! Made by the Martinez Bujanda family with a historic pedigree dating back to 1889 in Rioja, this though is made from the upcoming region of La Mancha in Central Spain. La Mancha is a high altitude area with a climate of extremes, the poor soils and sometimes arid conditions are indeed very well suited to Tempranillo that has been growing here for centuries even though under a different name. Candidato is fantastic, modern yet displaying terrific terroir, unmistakeably Tempranillo with its leather and tobacco flavours yet because of the vineyards altitude, it also displays great minerality. As we said, at the price we don't think that there is anything out there that even compares. Ideal with sausages, chorizo and of course queso manchengo (aged cheese from La Mancha). Drink now or cellar for 3-4 years....
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