I would go so far as to say that Pesquera can become elegant with age. I had a 2005 Tinto two years ago that showed very well, and had '94s, '95s and '96s roughly 15 years ago that had mellowed out nicely. I have to say, though, that none of the tintos were particularly complex, even with 20 years or age, and two or three bottles were mildly corked.
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I don’t recall to having had same vintage head-to-head among their different tinto labels, but I generally find the aged reserva and the Janus, the ones I had, to relatively provide more complexities than the (unmarked) crianza labels.
Bottle variability’s is a renowned issue with this bodega.
Well here’s something different - it’s a pleasant, refreshing drink… Apparently it’s wine, but not wine as I know it.
- 2023 Alfredo Egia Izaki (Creature) - Spain, País Vasco, Bizkaiko Txakolina (22/08/2026)
Bought this on a whim to fill up a mixed case, not realizing that it is a "natural" wine (i.e. made without recognising many of the lessons from the last couple of hundred years on how to make good wine).
On receiving it I noted that (unlike label pics from earlier vintages) this Spanish wine was actually bottled in France (see latest label pics), which is unusual, at least for non-industrial wines, but I guess if we're not worried about the wine-making lessons of the last couple of centuries then we shouldn't worry about the modern nation-state boundaries either.
The closure is cork covered in annoyingly hard to remove blue wax.
The wine appears a cloudy golden yellow - like a dodgy early morning sample.
The nose is yeasty, apples. Blind I would have said scrumpy, not wine. Actually if served in an appropriate glass, it even looks like scrumpy.
On the palate, yeast, apples, a hint of a sweeter fruit, quite clean (surprisingly so given the turbidity) and refreshing; slightly drying on the finish.
Overall, for me this is a surprisingly nice drink. It doesn't fit within the taste profile that I would normally associate with (grape) wine. For me, if it were labelled as a high alcohol scrumpy then I would say it matches what I would expect, and would be a rather decent example of that.
Having said that, ~US$29 for a pint and a half of high-strength scrumpy is somewhat on the high side. (85 points)
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•2018 Arizcuren Barranco del Prado
Well, to compare this with my beloved LdH Tondonia, this comes across as less traditional but still very Rioja. You sense new oak but it has none of the new American dill oak (I am not knocking that dill presence — when properly balanced I love it) sensibilities.
This still has a very primary and very deep fruit core to it. Tannins are still a little emphatic. It needs a few more years to integrate and then, on the basis of the fruit intensity, should have a very long plateau. Loved it. If you have any, bury them for another 5 years minimum and feel free to keep it for at least a couple of decades ( and probably a lot more) before decline
From CT review:
Finally, finally beginning to sing. Cranberry, blackberry, fig. Roasted rosemary, leather. This is at last just beginning to show what it is. Tannins are still fierce but finally starting to let you taste what’s behind them. Already fabulous but begging for at least another 5 years in the cellar. Yeah, it’s great now but … if you have any, just bury them for another 5 years at least and be rewarded with magic.
Score: 94+ and potentially meaningfully higher.
Relative to expectations: today, ++. In the fullness of time, with no doubt, +++
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Many years ago I had a friend who came back from Spain with a 1970 Vina Ardanza Reserva which was outstanding. It really drank like a great Burgundy. I still have the empty bottle on display in my cellar. GREAT bottle of wine.
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One of our last bottles of the 2011 Raul Perez Rara Avis Albarin Blanco, a rare indigenous grape. This unusual bottling is aged under flor, so has oxidative notes like sherry, while maintaining the overall profile of aged Galician white. From old vines with long elevage and some French oak, it’s deep and rich and saline and mineral and fascinating. Not every bottle is perfect now at age 15, and this one was at perhaps 85%, but still delicious and a food tool of extraordinary versatility. Note to any who seek it out, this is the white - he makes a red as well which is not as special.
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My second bottle of this Bodegas Bhilar Fincas Thousand Mils blanco. Oxidative in style and utterly unique. Worth seeking out. Funny that the cork says “thousand milks” - whoops!
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2025 Bodegas Exopto Rosé, Rioja
A blend of Granacha and Tempranilo and I make sure to grab a few bottles whenever my local merchant puts their stock on sale, normally around US$18.
Generous enough with some complexity to keep it an interesting everyday quaffer. Good value.
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Wow I had no idea how wonderful these higher end Albarino’s are! At 11 years old with its depth of fruit and bright acidity I will go out on a limb and say it has years of life and maybe improvement to go. Really a wow wine for me.
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I’ve had albariño from Pazo Señorans, maybe, only 2 or 3 times before and enjoyed them all. I can’t quite remember that my bottles indicated the month/year of bottling. Cool.
We opened this with a friend to celebrate his restaurant getting a 2 glass Wine Spectator award.
We loved it.
But, there’s nothing “Spanish” or “tempranillo” about it. You could put this next to any Napa Cab and be totally fooled. The color and extraction are turned up to 11 right from the second it comes out of the bottle.
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Did you see my note from earlier this year on the 2001 magnum of this? Fantastic! So I would say the 2015 most definitely has years and development ahead.
Thanks. That’s quite a dark golden color for a 2020.
Yeah, but didn’t smell or taste as developed as you’d think.
Featured in Norwegian disaster mini-series La Palma.
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Yes I did thank you! A recent travelogue posted reminded me of it. Got lucky and found some near me at a reasonable price. It’s so bright and alive just beautiful.
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My local store has these for $23. My wife and I are really enjoying Albariño this summer. Hadn’t tried it much in the past.
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