I’ve had their SuperSonico bottling and there was something really off about it; most of the bottle went down the sink, which is rare here. I don’t think I ever posted a note on it, but I did allude to it once here.
I really cannot understate how different the Iguales bottling is from their entry level wines. I haven’t had quite the negative experience you have, but the Supersonico et al are all meaningfully lighter, fresher, more fun wines that aren’t meant to be taken as seriously. I don’t mind them and find them inoffensive, but am not personally a buyer.
That said, their mid-range garnachas, the Cerqueta and Tejera bottlings, are also quite impressive and worth seeking out (I am a buyer of them as well).
I’m sure all that is true, but there can be variability with ‘natural’ wines. Other than Foillard (via KLWM) I’m not willing to play in that space anymore. I can’t even deal with TCA afflicted cork losses, which is an unfortunate risk even for conventionally raised wines.
I wouldn’t remotely place the wines in that category.
Most wineries don’t have this on their home landing page…
It’s great if your merchant’s supply chain works smoothly for this type.
Maybe I’ve been unlucky or it’s dodgier in my region.
I’ve found that I need to be selective about who I open Gravonias for, which is a shame because I have quite a bit and I love it. Fortunately I have some friends (and fellow local Berserkers) who love it as much as I do, but it tends to be an acquired taste.
4 Likes
When lined up with multiple-bottles, somehow a good bottle of Lopez de Heredia white or rosé manages to end up among the top wines of the tasting.
2 Likes
While I find that to generally be true for the rosé, I’ve found that it can fail when L’Anglore Tavel or Clos Roche Blanche Pineau d’Aunis rosé is added to the mix.
3 Likes
I’ll gladly bring the L’Anglore and a surprise rose to a tasting like that! 
1 Like
As a big red meat kind of girl I just wanted to put in a good word for Vega Sicilia Pintia which I may have kept returning to this year… 
9 Likes
easily the best bottle of palo blanco i have tried. super clean with more modest reduction than other vintages that eventually gave way to delicate floral notes. beautifully dense palate with lemon pith and a super salty mineral tang.
3 Likes
Such an awesome special wine. Reminds me I need to restock a bit.
Went to a Spanish Restaurant in Vail and my adult son who is A/I obsessed put the winelist through Claud and asked for one that had bang for the buck and it came up with Comando G 2021 La Bruja. I sent the list to my buddy, Robert Alfert, and he made the same recommendation,so our decision was made. 100 % Grenache . Quite good and paired well with the meat dishes.
4 Likes
This is truly the most astonishing value I’ve come across in many years – available at several places in the NYC area for $10.99. Great concentration, juicy (crunchy, even, though with dark, not red fruit), good structure – just beautifully balanced.
I’ve never met a Ponce wine I didn’t like, from $20-$50, mostly Manchuela bobals, but this is remarkable. I’ve had too many over-the-top Spanish monstrells/mourvedres. This is all in balance. 14%.
5 Likes
Well I don’t say this lightly but this bottle 2023 was stunning in its depth and acid balance. Wondering how these will age but I have a good feeling. I mean come on this is Albarino for God sakes, @Sarah_Kirschbaum I should not be happy with you because now I will be spending a chunk of money to get more wherever I can find it but all I feel is the love 
thanks for the rec!
1 Like
Good Albariño can scratch the same itch as Chablis.
1 Like
And this one really did.
Jorge Olivera Negiro 2023
From the hills in the Aragon, 12% alc, 2/3 Moristel is taming the excesses of 1/3 Grenache. Dark fruit, spice, good acidity. Serious and attention catching, with a good flow.
2 Likes
Bought this from Last bottle years ago. Opened one and found it over the top. Really didn’t like it at all. Forgot about the second one until the other day. Shocked at how well it aged. It is a big wine but this one wasn’t OTT and was well balanced. Went really well with the local farm Tri-tip. Would consider buying again but see that price is over $100 now and while I really did enjoy it can find better at that price and lower.
2 Likes
In most cases, I’ve found Ribera del Duero wines to be quite a mouthful, big, oaky and deeply concentrated when very young.
But well-aged examples from Pesquera, for example, which while I still can’t describe as elegant, but the maturation seemingly transformed the retained ruggedness into a more classical wine mode that when blended with other secondary-tertiary characters always deepened my enjoyment factor.
I can’t speak much for Vega Sicilia wines, including Alion, as I’ve had limited examples in my lifetime, but have enjoyed all that I’ve had. I’d be quick to credit the pedigree and their known meticulousness in how they do things, in this case.
2 Likes