Cosme Palacio y Hermanos

Vintage: 2004
Type: Rioja
Country: Spain



This Rioja is with smooth red fruit flavours and notes of vanilla and spice. Very nice to drink and recommended.

Lagunilla - Rioja Reserva

Vintage: YEAR
Type: Rioja
Country: Spain



An Excellent Rioja that won a decanter silver medal in 2005. It has an intense ruby colour with little give on the edge, which is not surprising given its age. The aromas are of dark berry and the flavour of rounded plummy fruit.

Lagunilla - Crianza

Vintage: 2006
Type: Crianza
Country: Spain



The 2006 Lagunilla crianza is an excellent wine made from 80% Tempranillo and 20% Grenache. The flavour is what you'd expect from a Crianza, young bold flavour and and excellent finish. The 2006 wine won an bronze decanter. Recommended.

Berberana - Reserva

Vintage: 2005
Type: Rioja
Country: Spain



This rioja was perfectly acceptable as riojas go. A little young, so it was quite acidic with a full, meaty body. I detected a bit of vanilla in the taste, which was quite pleasant.

The Gran Reserva from Berberana is much better.

Berberana - 2001 Gran Reserva Rioja

Vintage: 2001
Type: Rioja Gran Reserva
Country: Spain



An Excellent Rioja that has been aged well. Great bold full flavours and an excellent finish. A blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Grenache.

Baron de Ley 7 Vinas

Vintage: 2004
Type: Blend of 7 grape varieties
Country: Rioja, Spain



Wow x 10! This wine was for me the highlight of the Tesco Wine Fair 2009. As a fan of their Finca (2004), I knew this blended wine would put a smile on my face.

The seven grapes are blended just right to produce a wine that is worthy to age in oak barrels for three years before being tenderly laid down for a year in bottles. These seven grapes that are perfectly married are Tempranillo (of course!), Graciano, Garnacha, Mazuelo, Viura, Malvasia, and White Granache.

The tannins are rich and the concentration of the fruity flavours is just exquisite. Yummy, yummy! I predict a purchase of a case in my future. At almost £16 per bottle in store, you might think this is over-priced for a Rioja, but believe me, every drop is worth it. Not a red wine for beginners or girly white wine drinkers because they simply wouldn't know how to appreciate its complex formula.

More info here.

Campo Viejo

Vintage: 2006
Type: Rioja
Country: Spain




This wine is staple in the UK grocery stores. I found it a pleasant enough drink with a great bouquet and colour, though I found the flavour a bit lacking. Reasonable value for money.

Marques de Riscal

Vintage: 2004
Type: Rioja
Country: Spain



I bought a couple bottles of this wine on my return to England in Calais. It was fairly expensive (as Calais wines go), but it was on sale. What a great wine! Quite oakey, with great colour and bouquet. My only regret is that I didn't buy a case!

Museum Real

Vintage: 2003
Type: Tempranillo
Country: Spain



I have ordered this wine twice at the Fire Stables in Wimbledon and have not been disappointed. Full of oakey goodness, full bodied and an amazing aroma. Buy it you can find it!

Marques de Toledo

Vintage: 1999
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country: Spain - La Mancha



This is a gold medal winner at the Gran Seleccion 2007 Castilla la Mancha 2007, Spain. It does not disappoint. Nice and fruity with a great flavour and bouquet.

More info Here.

El Bombero

Vintage: 2007
Type: Carinena
Country: Spain



Apparently, this is one of the UK's best sellers. The only way I can explain this is that it is a whopping %15. The wine itself, after having a significant time to breathe, is nothing special. I would say that this is an easy drinking wine, but at %15 it will drop you on your ass if you're not careful. Worth a try, but nothing more.

More info here

El Beso

Vintage: 2007
Type: Red
Country: Spain - Valencia



This is a sweet red wine, and I'm not a fan of sweet red wines (unless it is a port). For me, there was no flavour other than the sweet and I was happy to let Eleanor finish the bottle (over the next few days) whilst I had some beer and scotch.

Baron De Lay

Vintage: 2004
Type: Tempranillo
Country: Spain



This wine is amazing. Great full bodied oaky taste with lovely vanilla and blackberry flavours. Highly Recommended!

More details here.

Castillo De Calatrava

Vintage: 2001
Type: Tempranillo
Country: La Mancha - Spain



This win was quite disappointing for the price. I found nothing special about it.

Castillo Alonso

Vintage: 2006
Type: Garnacha
Country: Spain



A nice drinking wine, I enjoyed this quite a bit. It had a great colour and was nice on the pallet.

More info here

Vina Mara

Vintage: 2003
Type: Rioja
Country: Spain



I enjoyed this wine, but Rioja is not a favourite type for me, thus I don’t really have a good base to compare this one. A nice change, with good flavour.

Palacio de la Vega

Vintage: 1999
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country: Navarra - Spain



A good wine. Nice undertones of fruit (blackcurrent?) with an enjoyable bright flavour.