Products

90 points Wine Advocate
The 2022 Breca has ripeness and 15% alcohol but also a leafy twist on the nose. It's sultry and juicy, with abundant, fine tannins and a dry finish. It was produced with fruit from old vines on different soils—slate, clay and limestone—fermented with uncrushed grapes and matured in second- and third-use 500- and 600-liter barrels for 16 months.

Intense Tempranillo character is apparent in a concentrated, deeply colored red wine. Saturated red fruit grips the palate, leaving a long and sweet finish that promises excellent development in the bottle. Aged 15 months in barrique.

The four bodegas that comprise Alejandro Fernandez’s wine legacy, and constitute Grupo Pesquera, share a passion for winemaking that has perfected over time. The strong bond to this great winemaker’s homeland is also reflected in the group emblem: the symbolic Archway and Tower of Pesquera de Duero, the characteristic label on his mythical Tinto Pesquera wines. Numerous awards endorse our wines; awards reaped throughout our 40 years of experience in winemaking. It is, without doubt, a dream come true for Alejandro Fernandez whose maxim was always to own a bodega and make fine wines. Today it could be said that reality has surpassed the dream and that Alejandro, his bodegas, and his wines have earned worldwide recognition and appreciation.

A bright, straw-yellow colour with intense aromas of fresh fruit. Notes of citrus fruit and aromatic herbs come through with an elegant varietal character. Dry with lively acidity, which enhances its fruit expression, and with length and intensity of flavour. Characteristic Albariño vibrancy.

The Palace of Fefiñanes has been inextricably linked with wine since the 17th century, and it was in the early 20th century that the winery was established as a commercial company. In 1928, the Albariño de Fefiñanes brand and label were created and a truly pioneering project was begun. The unique Albariño grape variety, grown in the Salnés valley, has always taken centre stage in our
wines. We have devoted the utmost care and attention to this variety, ensuring that its special character, extraordinary varietal expression and its uniqueness are perfectly preserved.

92 points James Suckling
Crushed seashells, chalk, salted lemons and sliced apples on the nose. Bone-dry salinity brings out plenty of briny austerity on a textured, medium-bodied palate. Pithy and gastronomic in the finish. I like the fact that this is not a fruity but rather a bony albarino. Bring on the oysters!

Brilliant ripe black cherry red colour with good depth. Fruity aromas with elegant notes of fine wood. Velvety in the mouth with a long finish.

Organic

100% Garnacha from Navarra, planted between 1890 - 1960. Grapes are lightly crushed and cold macerated before primary fermentation. The wine is transferred to French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation. Aged for 7 months in second-use French oak barrels.

These reviews are on the previous vintage (2021).

95 points Tim Atkin
Vivid garnet color. Juicy and spicy on the palate with red fruit and black and white pepper flavors. Accents of coffee and minerality. Elegant, fine, and delicate, but supported by firm tannins.

92 points James Suckling
Lifted, peppery nose with red fruit. Strawberries, red cherries and plenty of white pepper and peppercorn funk. Juicy and pretty intense on the medium-bodied palate with tight, dusty tannins and a long, tangy finish. Quite elegant and spicy, although it can be mono-dimensional for some. Drink now.

Organic / Biodynamic

This review is on the previous vintage.

93+ points Wine Advocate
The 2023 Clos Lojen is even more of a bargain than in previous years, as the price is the same and the quality is even higher!! It started being produced with 40-year-old vines, but those are by now 60 years old (I saw some of them, and they were REALLY impressive!); so, there's more depth and complexity; the vines are wiser (they've been tended nicely...) and manage to keep the freshness and approachability. They started harvesting the last week of August, and the result was 12.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.65 and 5.4 grams of acidity. The full clusters fermented in 4,500-liter oak vats and matured in foudres of different sizes—4,500, 10,000 and 15,000 liters—and lasted six months. The wine is fruit-driven, juicy, complex and spicy, balanced and tasty, textured and with a chalky feeling. This is way beyond what the price might suggest. 52,000 bottles produced in 2023. It was bottled between April and June 2024.

Organic / Biodynamic

94 points Wine Advocate
The 2023 La Casilla fermented with full clusters and indigenous yeasts in 4,500-liter oak vats and matured in those vats and some 600-liter barrels for nine months. It has incredible freshness, 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.6 and 5.5 grams of acidity. It's complex and serious, a lot more complex than Clos Lojen, despite the small price difference, and it has notes of berries, herbs and flowers, plenty of aromatic Mediterranean herbs and very good freshness and acidity, fine tannins and very good overall balance, ideal with food. It's serious but easy to drink. It's more Rhone than Burgundy. It was bottled in June 2024 and 15,000 bottles were produced. I tasted a bottle of the 2005, their first vintage, and the wine was fully mature, even if the style was different (it has 14.5% alcohol), more extractive and with more oak.

Winemaker Notes:
"Cherry colour with garnet rim, bright and intense. Red fruit expression, powerful, elegant, dry stone, coca bean, creamy oak, hints of spices. Powerful, flavourful, fruity, good acidity, smoky aftertaste, toasty, long finish."

In 1927, a group of 15 vine-growers banded together to create the Cooperativa Ribera del Duero (which translates as "Bank of the Duero River"). They were the first to make a wine called "Ribera del Duero", and as regional pioneers, eventually gave their name to the DO when it was created in 1982. Generations later, this cooperative is producing some of the most highly acclaimed wines in Spain under the name "Protos", meaning "First" in Greek.

In 2008, Protos reached another milestone with the completion of its state-of-the-art winery by renowned British architect Richard Rogers. A modern architectural gem, the winery is built into the mountain just beneath Penafiel Castle, at once complementing and contrasting the ancient landmark.

LOCATION OF VINEYARD
Protos has two wineries in the heart of the Ribera del Duero: Penafiel (near Valladolid) and Anguix (near Burgos). Their third winery, La Seca, is where they make Verdejo in the neighboring Rueda DO near Valladolid. Protos owns 100 hectares of vineyards around its wineries and has partnerships with several local growers who supply additional grapes.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY
Protos has the unique distinction of offering wines from two DOs, producing fresh, aromatic Verdejos from Rueda in addition to varietal Tempranillos from Ribera del Duero. Harvesting is entirely manual, and production is gathered in 20-kilogram boxes (just over 44 pounds) to aid in ensuring only completely healthy, whole grapes reach the fermentation tanks. Protos has also implemented an extensive R&D program to test the effects of different types of barrels on its wines.

In both DOs, Protos leverages its generations of winemaking experience, cutting-edge technology, and philosophy of "Quality above all" to produce exceptional wines.

Jose Serrano Carlos Guzman graduated from the L??Ecole Nationale Superieure Agronomique in Montpellier, France, with a degree in viticulture. Following graduation, he served as winemaker and technical director at several estates, including Bodega Cooperative de Morales de Toro (DO Toro), Bodegas Marques de Riscal (DO Rueda), and finally Bodegas Roqueta (DO Pla de Bages). He became Winemaker Director at Bodegas Protos in 1999.

90 pts Wine Spectator
A smooth texture masks good concentration in this juicy red, with a firm structure. Ripe cherry and plum flavors mingle with coffee and toasty notes, showing touches of herb and loamy earth.

92 points James Suckling
Quite an understated and traditional bottling of Rioja, showing red and black berries, hints of dried mushroom, peppercorns, dark earth and tobacco on the nose. Chewy and juicy on the medium-bodied palate, showing a fresh array of berries and plums. Drinkable now, but better from 2025.

The Eguren family of Teso la Monja are one of D.O. Toro's most important pioneers, having cofounded Bodega Numanthia-Termes with Jorge Ordóñez in 1997. Numanthia was the first exhaustive fine wine project to resuscitate Toro since before phylloxera. Toro is one of Spain's most historic winemaking regions. Tempranillo originated in the Duero Valley, and many ampelographers believe that it originated in Toro, where it is known as Tinta de Toro. These ancient clones of Tempranillo were responsible for Toro being celebrated as Spain's finest winemaking region during the Middle Ages. Toro was also Spain's only region to completely resist phylloxera due to its sandy soils. Teso la Monja is the Eguren family's new interpretation of Toro after Numanthia, where they sought to produce a more refined and restrained expression of Toro by focusing on northern facing vineyard sites planted on clay soils covered in canto rodado.

Rigorous sorting at the winery. The clusters are fully destemmed, and the whole berries ferment (inoculated with yeast cultured from their vineyards and cellar) in 15,000L stainless steel tanks with temperature control. Malolactic fermentation in tank and in neutral French barrique.

6-8 months in neutral French barrique

93 points James Suckling
Fine spices, blackberries, cocoa powder and graphite. This is juicy and flavorful on the palate, with a full body and a heap of dusty tannins. Tight, structured and pretty long.

92 points Vinous
The 2022 Tritn originates from Toro and has been barrel-aged for up to eight months. Garnet in color. The ripe fruit aromas include blackberry and sour cherry above a backdrop of wild herbs. Rich and indulgent, the firm yet polished tannins and balanced acidity contribute to a long-lasting and overwhelmingly satisfying palate. This is truly a Toro red.

Organic / Biodynamic

Aged for 8 months in French oak barrels to bring out the tinta del país, this Valdehermoso is full of character, with intense aromas of well-ripened wild fruits and underlayers of spice and a certain smokiness. It is well-rounded on the mouth, with much of its body coming from smoothly presented tannins. It is very fruity with a hint of wood, and has a pleasant, lingering finish.

(50% Xarel??lo, 30% Macabeo, 20% Parellada)."My favorite of the two sparkling Cavas is the non-vintage Brut Reserva Cava. Made from a classic blend (for this area) of Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada planted in limestone and clay soils, the wine spends 24 months on its lees before disgorgement. It is an excellent value for consumers looking for alternatives to French Champagne. Lemon/lime, crushed rock and white currant notes are present in this crisp, elegant, refreshing, zesty, dry sparkler. Hints of wheat thins and brioche add complexity.

Organic / Natural 

100% Espadeiro
These were the last grapes arriving at the cellar. They were sourced from Rui Paiva, nephew and neighbor of our friend, Prof. Fernando Paiva, in the nearby town of Lixa. Upon arrival at the cellar, the grapes were destemmed and moved to a stainless-steel tank to start a pellicular macerarion for three days at 4C. At this point 500gm/kg of ground chestnut flowers are added and mixed into the mass and the grapes are then pressed and returned to the stainless-steel tank for the fermentation to start and dept at 15¨¬C. Before the fermentation ends the unfinished wine is racked and bottled with 18g/l of residual sugar for the fermentation to finish in the bottle. It is not disgorged and has the natural sediments left in the bottle. There was no SO2 added to this Pet Nat!

Organic / Natural 

Vinhao 50%, Alvarelhao 20%, Arinto 30%
Grapes are harvested by hand and upon arriving in the cellar are destemmed and moved to amphoras (talhas) to start fermentation and maceration. At this point ground chestnut flower is added (500mg per 1000kg) and mixed into the mass.The whole vinification process is very simple with very low intervetion. The red grapes and 10% of Arinto had a five day maceration  then pressed and moved to an amphora to ferment. The other 20% of Arinto was pressed and the must was moved to a stainless steel tank to ferment at 5¨¬C. Atfer 27 days at this temperature, the residual sugar of the Arinto reached 17g/l, was then blended with the red wine and bottled for the fermentation to finish in the bottle.

Bonanza Chardonnay is highly enjoyable and a true expression of the Bonanza name. This Chardonnay is not typical, meaning it is not made in a buttery, oaky style. Instead, it is bright and fresh, with a vibrancy that brings out the natural goodness of the varietal.

Bonanza is a California Cabernet Sauvignon that speaks to the simple pleasures of day-to-day life. Created by Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards this wine is delicious accessible and enjoyable over a meal. Its made from the bonanza of our great state vineyard sites that hold potential to produce good Cabernet but are often overlooked. Features flavors of luscious fruit dark chocolate and silky tannins.

Winemaker Notes:
Bonterra was founded on a philosophy that farming organically produces the purest, most flavorful fruit. This holistic approach balances the land and surrounding habitat of wasps, birds and wildlife to produce wines of unmatched flavor and distinction. The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon offers hints of black pepper, vanilla spice and rich berry-plum flavors.

Organic

"This Pinot Noir has aromas of strawberry, raspberry and cola accented with hints of oak spice and vanilla. In the mouth, this wine is rich with nice soft tannins and flavors of berries, vanilla and spice that fade into a lovely long finish." Winemaker notes

Sourced from Mendocino County appellation, this cool coastal region has a longer growing season, thus creating a bright, fruit forward Pinot Noir. After harvest, the fruit was gently de-stemmed and moved to small open-top fermenters for a three-day cold soak. It was then inoculated with select yeast strains for fermentation. The cap was punched down 2-3 times daily to reach the desired color and level of phenols. After a gentle pressing in a basket press, the wine was settled and transferred to French oak barrels where it underwent malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged in French oak for nine months and then fined with organic egg whites prior to bottling.

Winemaker Notes:
"There is no mistaking the New World style of this wine. Intense aromas of grapefruit, citrus, kiwi and fresh cut grass greet the nose. As you drink, the crisp acidity gives the wine a fresh vibrant feel with flavors of grapefruit, lime zest and grass. It closes with flavors of melon and a nice tart finish."

Our Sauvignon Blanc celebrates the fresh lively spirit of organic viticulture and the crafting of this wine truly begins in the vineyards. This fruit comes from exceptional organic growers who share our philosophy and care deeply about the land they farm. For each vintage, we blend fruit from two distinctive, yet complimentary, growing regions in Mendocino and Lake counties. We pick fruit at a variety of sugar levels and add a touch of Muscat and Chardonnay to get a complex layering of flavors, then cold ferment in stainless steel to preserve the crisp fruit aromas.

#53 on The Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023.

91 points Wine Spectator
A dry, aromatic white, with mouthwatering acidity and a chalky underpinning, this refreshing sipper shows notes of nectarine, lime blossoms, pink grapefruit granita, fresh tarragon and pickled ginger. Very appealing. Drink now through 2025.

100% Muscat of Alexandria. The oldest variety in the Muscat family and one of the few remaining genetically unmodified vitis vinifera cultivars remaining in the world today. The Phoenicians transplanted this grape from Alexandria, Egypt to Malaga approximately 2,800 years ago. Over 50 small vineyard plots planted in the Axarquia Malaguena, primarily surrounding the village of Almachar. Given the steep inclinations (up to 70°) and the lack of trellising, terraces, or mechanization, these are the most extreme vineyards in Europe. Vineyards planted Between 1946-1975. Traditional dry-farmed goblet trained bush vines. Cultivated by hand, with minimal human intervention. No organic matter or soil whatsoever. Solid slate rock and decomposed slate with a small percentage of white quartz.

Aged on the lees for eight months before bottling. The lees are racked over the wine weekly.

Winemaker Notes:
A pungent and complex wine displaying intense pink grapefruit, white nectarine, passion fruit and guava characters on the nose. The richly-textured palate features grapefruit and tropical characters with an underlying grassy character and minerality, all bound by a crisp acidity that leads to a lingering finish.

Perfect with clams, green-lipped mussels or cold-smoked salmon.