July / August 2014: International Wine Review

Bodegas Altanza 2013 Blanco Rioja 88+ The 2013 Blanco is a blend of 55% Viura and 45% Sauvignon Blanc. It is very fresh and fruit with perfumed aromas of grapefruit, minerals and spice. It is crisp on the palate with excellent acidity and good extract on the finish.

Bodegas Altanza 2008 Lealtanza Reserva Club Rioja ($70) 91 The 2008 Lealtanza Reserva Club displays a lovely opaque red color and aromas of fresh dark cherry, toasted oak, and a hint of mint on the nose. On the palate it reveals bold dark red fruit, dark chocolate. rich, coconut-chocolate notes from the oak. Aged 18 months in French oak, it is nicely structured with a feminine texture and good tannic grip on the finish.

Bodegas Altanza 2010 Reserva Selección Especial Rioja ($44) 91 The 2010 Reserva Seleccion Especial reveals aromas of dark red cherry with notes of cacao and wood spice. Fresh on the attack and concentrated on the palate showing good dark red cherry, mocha, and a hint of underbrush. fine ripe tannins. Easy to drink and deli- cious.

Bodegas Altanza 2008 Lealtanza Reserva Selecciónde la Familia ($50) 91 The Reserva Selección de la Familia offers a bouquet of earth and spice box complemented by dark red cherry notes. This is a nicely concentrated wine, with a lot of well integrated oak, and still dry tannins. It’s silky smooth on the attack.

Bodegas Altanza 2008 Gran Reserva Rioja ($50) 91+ The 2008 Gran Reserva displays an opaque ruby colors and aromas of . mint and clove on the nose with notes of spice box, violets, dark red fruit. Aged 24 months in oak, it is big and soft on the attack and silky on the palate with lots of, dark red and black fruit, chocolate and toasted oak, and firm tannins with a rich long finish.

Bodegas Altanza 2008 Reserva Artistas Españoles ($100) 94 The Flagship of the winery, this 2008 Reserva Spanish Artist Collection is crafted from a selec- tion of the estate’s oldest vines and best fruit with extraor- dinary low yields of below 2 tons/ha. It offers aromas of black cherry, earth and mushroom, and is firmly structured with lots of oak on the palate and fine fruit overtones. Aged for 18 months in new French oak, it shows firm dry tannins at present but is still very young and will benefit from more time in the bottle.

LeAltanza 2008 Reserva Artistas Chinos Rioja ($100) 92 Fresh plum and dark red fruit define the character of this medium-weight wine. Aged for 18 months in new French oak, It is rich and full flavored and is nicely balanced on the palate with a soft texture and excellent concentration. Importer: The Artisan Collection, New York, NY

Bodegas Baigorri With 272 ha of estate vines in Rioja Alavesa, Baigorri makes a wide range of wines from the traditional Alavesa carbonic-macerated Tempranillo Tinto to the very rich, ripe and extracted Baigorri de Garaje. Its vines are old and sustainably farmed, while the grapes are hand harvested and carefully sorted. Developed by Jesús Baigorri and currently owned by businessman Pedro Martínez, the winery is perhaps best known for it modern, gravity flow winery. Designed by the architect Iñaki Aspiazu and located on the heavily traveled route between Logroño and Laguardia, the seven story, modern glass cube building is a popular tourist attraction in the Rioja Alavesa. Lead winemaker is Simone Arina Robles uses the latest technology, including small conical fermentation tanks of stainless steel. Annual production is about 600 thousand bottles. The wines are distinctly modern in character with lavish use of new French oak.

Bodegas Baigorri 2012 Cask Fermented White Wine Rioja ($40) 91 Yellow gold. Fresh and saline in character, this Baigorri Viura shows notes of lightly toasted almonds and honeyed stone fruit. It’s well balanced with good acidity and viscosity. Savory and delicious. A blend of bar-rel fermented Viura (95%) and Malvasia (5%).

Bodegas Baigorri 2007 Baigorri de Garage Rioja ($95) 92 Madein small lots, this “garage” wine is rich, dense and modern with a strong influence from 22 months in new French oak. It shows ripe dark red plum, tobacco spice, chocolate and coconut shavings, and herbs. The palate is smooth, fresh, and shows good depth, finishing with gritty tannins. We expected more flavor integration with several years in bottle. 100% Tempranillo.

Bodegas Baigorri 2007 Crianza Rioja ($30) 90 The 2007 Crianza displays a minty herbal nose with nice freshness on the palate. It reveals a silky mouth feel with good integrated fruit and oak flavors, and good extract on the finish.

Bodegas Baigorri 2010 Garnacha Rioja 90 The Garnacha follows in the modern Baigorri style with ripe, lush dark red fruit lavishly wrapped in heavily toasted oak. The result is rich flavor and a lush mouth feel with prominent coconut and chocolate notes that mask the Garnacha. Not a subtle wine but one that many will like.

Bodegas Baigorri 2006 Reserva Rioja ($48) 90 The quintessential Rioja Reserva showing a lot of toasted oak and dark cherry fruit complemented by notes of saddle leather, baking spices, and tobacco leaf. But a bit weak on the mid-palate and firmly tannic and dry on the finish. Needs to be decanted and would benefit from additional aging. 100% Tempranillo aged 18 months in French oak. Importer: The Artisan Collection, New York, NY

NOV/DEC 2013: INTERNATIONAL WINE REVIEW

The International Wine Review November/December Issue published “Report #39: The World of Grenache.” The Artisan Collection is proud to have nine of our wines receive stand out ratings. Please read more below:

Christian Leperchois 2011 Lunar Apogé Lirac Red 90+ pts

The Lunar Apogé 2011 Lirac Red is a blend of 50% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre and 25% Syrah. It reveals meaty, dark red fruit on the nose with hints of garrigue and truffles. It has ripe flavors on the palate with a velvet elegant texture, firm tannins and a pleasant finish. A delicious wine from low yielding, biodynamic mountain vineyards.

Christian Leperchois 2011 Lunar Apogé Cotes du Rhone 88 pts

The 2011 Lunar Apogé is a blend of 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre and 10% Cinsault. It offers aromas of blackberry fruit and herbs. It is medium weight and has a silky texture with good fruit intensity and firm tannins on the finish. Certified biodynamic and organic.

Coca I Fito 2012 Jaspi Maragada Montsant 88+ pts

The 2012 Jaspi Maragda is a blend of 55% Garnatxa, 25 Carinena, and 20% Syrah. It is sourced from 30 year-old vines and is aged for six months in French and American oak. Medium ruby in color it is light-bodied with aromas of dried cherry and oak on the nose. It offers a palate of red berry fruit with some earthy nuances, good acidity and firm dry tannins on the finish.

Coca I Fito 2010 Jaspi Negri Montsant 90 pts

The 2010 Jaspi Negri is a blend of 45% Grenache, 25% Carignan, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah. It displays red fruit and vanilla notes on the nose and has a lush palate revealing pure dark red fruit, good purity and length and firm, ripe tannins. Very good

Vinicola del Priorat 2011 Onix Classic Priorat 90 pts

The 2011 Onix Classic exhibits a dark ruby color and aro- mas of plum with hints of earth and meat. A blend of 50% Cariñena and 50% Garnacha, it is soft and lush on the palate with round firm tannins and a solid finish.

Vinicola del Priorat 2011 Clos Gebrat Priorat 91 pts

The 2011 Clos Gebrat is a delicious blend of 40% Grenache, 35% Cariñena, 15% Merlot, 5% Syrah and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It has an earthy mineral nose, a soft texture, and spicy dark red fruit flavors. It is rich with balsamic and mineral notes and is beautifully balanced and almost unctuous on the finish.

Vinicola del Priorat 2011 Onix Fusió Priorat 91 pts

Fusió is a lovely blend of 40% Garnacha, 20% Cariñena, and 40% Syrah. Sourced from 60+ year old vines, it displays dark red fruit and herbs with hints of earth and minerals. Aged four months in new French oak, it is soft and lush on the palate with ripe dark plum fruit, excellent balance, and a long finish.

Bodega Quo 2011 Quo Campo de Borja 89 pts

Dark ruby. Rich and concentrated black plum with outstanding purity of flavor. Light toasted oak and a hint of earth and licorice. Soft and velvet smooth with acidity plus, firm round tannins and dark fruit flavors on the finish. Well done. Great value.

Bodega Quo 2011 Old Vines Grenache Campo de Borja 90 pts

Dark ruby. A blend of 80% Garnacha from low yielding vineyards and 20% Tempranillo. Rich and concentrated black plum and raspberry. Light toasted oak and a hint of earth and licorice. Soft and velvet smooth with acidity plus firm round tannins and dark fruit flavors on the finish. Well done.

Additional Reviews

Additional Recent Reviews

Felix Callejo Family Reserve Seleccion 2003. 98 points. Wine Advocate.

Felix Callejo Family Reserve Seleccion 2004. 96 points. Wine Advocate.

Felix Callejo Family Reserve Seleccion 2005. 97 points. Wine Advocate.

Callejo Gran Reserva 1999. 94 points W&S. TOP 100 BEST WINES OF THE YEAR.

Callejo Reserva 2004. Ribera del Duero. 92 points Wine Advocate. 95 IWR

Callejo Crianza 2004. 94 points. Wine Spectator.

Callejo Crianza 2005. 93 points. Wine Spectator.

Callejo 4MB 2007. 90 points. Wine Advocate. Top 100 Value of the Year.

Lealtanza Reserva Miro 2001. Rioja Alta. 95 points. Wine Advocate.

Lealtanza Reserva Seleccion Especial 2001. Rioja Alta. 92 points. Wine Advocate.

Altanza Reserva Especial 1999. 93 points. International Wine Review.

Lealtanza Crianza 2004. 90 points. Wine Advocate. 91 points IWR.

Capitoso 2005. 88 points. International Wine Cellar

Conclave Esencia 2005. Rioja. 93 IWR

Cueto Seleccion 2005. Rioja Alavesa. 90 points. Wine Advocate.

Envite Crianza 2005. Rioja. 90 IWC

Carodorum Special Selection 2004. Toro. 95 points. Wine Advocate.

Carodorum Crianza 2004. Toro. 91 points. Wine Advocate.

Carodorum Issos 2005. Toro. 91 points Wine Advocate

Finca Munoz Old Vines Tempranillo 2005. 90 IWC.

Merum Grenache Old Vines 2005. Madrid. 92 points. International Wine Review.

Capricho Godello 2007. Bierzo. 91 points WIne Advocate.

Xestal 2003. Mencia. Bierzo. 93 points Wine Advocate.

Ucedo 2004. Mencia. Bierzo. 94 points Wine Advocate.

Merum Monastrell 2005. Jumilla. 90 points. Wine Advocate.

Dehesa de Cadozos 2004. Zamora. 90 points IWC.

Colina Verde Tempranillo Organic 2006. Rioja. 90 points IWC.

Cava Duc de Foix Brut Special Reserve. 93 W&S.

Cava Gran Gesta Brut Reserve. 90 WE. TOP 100 BEST VALUES OF THE YEAR.

Picres 2004. 90 points. IWC.

Abreviations Key  

IWC: INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR
IWR: INTERNATIONAL WINE REVIEW
WA: WINE ADVOCATE
W&S: WINE AND SPIRITS
WE: WINE ENTHUSIAST
WS: WINE SPECTATOR