Olé Imports

SPANISH SELECTION BY OLE IMPORTS

1. JUAN MANUEL BURGOS 2000 AVAN CEPAS CENTENARIAS RIBERA DEL DUERO RED 92 POINTS
Is a Rhone-like, a limited cuvee produced from 100-120 year old Tempranillo vines. Tiny yields resulted in a big bouquet of beef blood, black currants, cherries, dried herbs, pepper, and spice box. Dense, chewy, and intense, this stunning Spanish red needs another 2-3 years of cellaring. It should drink well for 12-15 years.

2. JUAN MANUEL BURGOS 2000 AVAN CONCENTRACION RIBERA DEL DUERO RED 90? POINTS
Is a wine of great intensity. Rich but closed, revealing animal fur and rubbery notes intermixed with impressive quantities of crème de cassis and blackberries, this full-bodied monster needs several years of bottle age. Hopefully, everything will come together in this big, impressive 2000 and its distinctiveness will not turn out to be a negative. Forget it for 4-5 years, and keep your fingers crossed.

3. JUAN MANUEL BURGOS 2001 AVAN NACIMIENTO RIBERA DEL DUERO RED 91+ POINTS
A 100% Tempranillo aged in French oak, the deep ruby/purple-colored is the best value of this trio. Powerful notes of espresso roast, roasted meats, sweet black currants, and emerge from this primary, young, juicy 2001. With loads of character as well as an exuberant, flamboyant personality, it may merit an even higher score with additional bottle age. Enjoy it over the next 10-12 years.

4. COOP. SAN ISIDRO 2002 CARRIL DE COTOS TINTO LA MANCHA RED 88 POINTS
Terrific value, a 100% Tempranillo made and aged in tank, is a succulent, juicy, explosively fruity effort fashioned from nearly 100-year old vines. Revealing succulent licorice and berry fruit characteristics, it may be Spain’s answer to a high class California Zinfandel. Enjoy it over the next 2-3 years.

5. MARQUES DE VARGAS 1999 RIOJA RIOJA RED 89 POINTS
Exhibits spicy, cedar, sweet cherry, new leather, and dried herb characteristics in its fruit-driven, fleshy personality. A blend of 75% Tempranillo and the rest Grenache and Manzuelo, it spent 23 months in a combination of Russian, French and American oak. Drink it over the next 5-7 years.

6. MARQUES DE VARGAS 1999 RIOJA HACIENDA PRADOLAGAR RIOJA RED 92 POINTS
Is a selection of the fines barrels in the cellar. Its deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by a dense, slightly international bouquet revealing plenty of new oak, loads of black fruits, graphite, espresso roast, and dried herbs. Great fruit in the attack leads to a beautiful mid-palate, medium to full body, and a long, heady finish. Consume it over the next decade.

7. MARQUES DE VARGAS 1999 RESERVA PRIVADA RIOJA RED 90 POINTS
An elegant, Graves-like earthy, mineral character is accompanied by notes of dried herbs, cherries, and red currants. It is best drunk over 5-7 years.

8. MARQUES DE VARGAS 2000 RESERVA PRIVADA RIOJA RED 90 POINTS
Offers up pure, sweet black currant and cherry fruit, nicely integrated toasty new oak, and hints of smoke, licorice, and Provencial herbs in a spicy, medium-bodied, stylish format. This modern-styled Rioja should drink well for 7-10 years.

9. PAZO SAN MAURO 2002 ALBARINO RIAS BAIXAS WHITE 88 POINTS
Delicious dry white from Galicia, exhibits white peach and apricot characteristics, fresh acidity, and a heady finish.

10. PAZO SAN MAURO 2001 ALBARINO SANAMARO RIAS BAIXAS WHITE 90 POINTS
Spectacular, boasts aromas of liquid minerals intermixed with tropical fruit and honeysuckle offered in a medium-bodied, well-delineated, crisp, complex style. My experience suggests Albarino should drunk young, so enjoy both of these cuvees over the next 12 months.

11. FRANCESCA VICENT ROBERT 2000 ABAT DOMENECH PRIORAT RED 93+ POINTS
Impressive offering from Priorat, more beefed up, with loads of raspberry and blueberry fruit along with a striking minerality, is a blend of old vine Grenache and Carignan, and young vine Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged 12 months in French oak. Dense, rich, and elegant, with great purity as well as ripeness, medium to full body, and a layered palate fell with surprising lightness for its intensity. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2015.

12. FRANCESCA VICENT ROBERT 2000 LO PIOT PRIORAT RED 90 POINTS
Impressive offering from Priorat, 1,308-case blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 10 months in French oak. It displays a complex aromatic profile of crushed stones, rose petals, and sweet black cherries as well as blueberries. Refreshing, elegant, and ethereal with a character not unlike a racy grand cru red Burgundy, this deep ruby/purple-colored, refreshing, vigorous 2000 should be consumed over the next 7-10 years.

13. VINOS PINOL 2000 L’AVI ARRUFI TERRA ALTA RED 88+ POINTS
A blend of Grenache, Tempranillo, and Cabernet Sauvignon, the tightly closed 2000 L’Avi Arrufi reveals plenty of new oak (16 months in French and American wood will cause that). Medium-bodied, with goods purity, abundant fruit, and a tannic structure, it requires another 1-2 years of cellaring. Drink it over the following 7-8 years.

14. VINOS PINOL N.V. MATHER TERESINA TERRA ALTA RED 90 POINTS
An outstanding effort, it exhibits a deep purple color, medium to full body, toasty new oak notes (it was aged in cask), and a long, concentrated finish. I do not like the idea of a non-vintage designation, but this is a serious red that should continue to age well for 7-8 years.

15. VINOS PINOL 2001 PORTAL TERRA ALTA RED 88 POINTS
The 2001 Portal spent only 3 months in French oak, it is a blend of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Syrah, 10% Tempranillo, and 20% Grenache. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by exuberant notes of red as well as black fruit, and a touch of oak. While not complex, it offers loads of plump fruit, good glycerin, and a heady finish. It should be consumed over the next 3-4 years.

16. COOP Germandat 1999 FILL DES TEMPS CRIANZA TERRA ALTA RED 87 POINTS
A good bistro-styled red, the 1999 Fill des Temps Crianza is a blend of equal parts of Grenache and Carignan. Surprisingly chocolaty, but soft with medium-bodied cherry and currant flavors, this elegant, fruit-driven 1999 is best drunk over the next several years.

17. COOP Germandat 2001 VALL DE BERRVS TERRA ALTA RED 91 POINTS
A blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Carignan, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2001 Vall de Berrvs boasts a dense purple color as well as a heady perfume of kirsch liqueur and licorice. Layered, full-bodied, pure, and already accessible, it will last another 7-8 years. It reminded me of a modern-styled southern French Cotes de Rhone.

18. COOP Germandat 2000 TEMPS GRAN SELECCIÓN TERRA ALTA RED 88 POINTS
The elegant 2000 Fill de Temps Gran Seleccion is similar to the Vall de Berrvs, but lighter and more spicy, with more noticeable tannin. It does not possesses the depth of fruit or richness of the Vall de Berrvs. It should be drunk over the next 4-5 years. These three wines present good values.

19. BODEGAS VIZCARRA RAMOS 2000 CRIANZA RIBERA DEL DUERO RED 88 POINTS
A good value!. Is a 2,500-case cuvee made from 100% Tempranillo and aged 14 months in French and American oak. It reveals a deep ruby/purple color along with sweet black cherry and cola-infused fruit, smoke, toast, and coffee characteristics. Dense, chewy, and succulent, it is best drunk over the next 4-5 years.

20. BODEGAS VIZCARRA RAMOS 2001 CELIA RIBERA DEL DUERO RED 91 POINTS
Is a 100% Tempranillo cuvee aged 21 months in new French oak. A deep plum/purple color is followed by aromas of melted licorice, figs, black currants, and smoke. This heady, full-bodied, concentrated Rioja exhibits impressive extract, sweet tannin, and well-integrated acidity. Consume it over the next 10-12 years.

21. BODEGAS ANTONIO CANDELA 2000 BARAHONDA BARRICA YECLA RED 88 POINTS
Innovative Spanish importers are seeking out more and more Value priced, Mourvèdre-dominated wines from Yecla. Barahonda Barrica 2000, A blend of 70% Mourvèdre (called Monastrell in Spain) and 30% Cabernet Sauvignonaged three months in French and American Oak. It possesses a deeper ruby color as well as chocolatey, black currant, and blueberry notes. Elegant and medium-bodied with surprising class for a wine in this price range, it will provide enjoyment over the next 1-2 years.

22. BODEGAS ANTONIO CANDELA 2002 BARAHONDA TINTO YECLA RED 86 POINTS
Innovative Spanish importers are seeking out more and more Value priced, Mourvèdre-dominated wines from Yecla. This 2002 Barahonda Tinto (100% tank fermented and aged Mourvèdre) is a big, fruity medium-bodied, elegant example that is best consumed over the next 1-2 years. While not complex, it is a satisfying, attractive, delicious red meant for uncritical quaffing.