Spanish Icons Wine Collection

Mas Martinet Clos Martinet 2000, Priorat, Spain

Wine Advocate 94:

The Clos Martinet, is a brilliant offering from this increasingly fashionable appellation. Fatter, fleshier, and lower in acidity than the 1999, the 2000 Clos Martinet does not have the same precision, but it does reveal a more voluminous mouthfeel with gobs of fruit, oodles of glycerin, and a long, concentrated finish.

Rotllan Torra Amadis 2003, Priorat, Spain

Wine Advocate 94:

The 2003 Amadis is a blend of 30% Grenache, 35% Carignan, 20% Syrah, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was fermented in foudres and then aged in new French oak for 12 months. Nearly black in color with scents of hot tar as well as cassis, black raspberries, and floral nuances, this full-bodied beast needs 3-5 years of cellaring and should drink well for a decade thereafter.

Pintia 2005, Toro, Castilla Leon, Spain

Wine Advocate 95:

The 2005 Pintia, is 100% Tinta de Toro aged for one year in new French and American oak. Comparing the 2005 Pintia against the 2004, I prefer the aromatics of the 2005, which are beautiful – pure, lifted red fruit, briar, a touch of smoke and minerals. The palate is very well-balanced with supple ripe tannins and fine acidity. There is plenty of red-berry fruit here lending the 2005 an attractive fleshy texture, although there is something slightly foursquare about the finish, with hints of spice, black tea and cracked black pepper on the aftertaste. Still, this is the best of the mature Pintia wines.

Alion Alion 2003, Ribera Del Duero, Castilla Leon, Spain

Wine Advocate 96+, The Wine Front 95:

This is a very successful wine for a 2003 vintage, and although it does show some of that trademark raw tannin, I really like it. Aromas of sweet cherry, cassis, roast herbs, ash, mineral and toasty mocha oak. Rich, ripe and satisfying to smell. On the palate full bodied with lashings of sweet cherry and berry fruit, dried herbs, chocolate and a certain minerally earthy crushed rocks (don’t mind me..best I can do) sort of character. Ripe, open and fruity, it really floods the mouth. It has good acidity and plenty of slightly coarse chunky loose knit (but sweet) tannin and very good length finishing with a cherry and dried herb aftertaste. Top wine, excellent now, most likely even better later.(2008)