Events

Organic

Review is on the previous vintage.
92+ points Wine Advocate
The 2020 Monastrell is pure Monastrell in this exceptional vintage for the grape (in previous years it had up to 20% Garnacha, but there was little Garnacha in 2020). The grapes come from sandy vineyards on the valley floor, and they fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and a shortish maceration. The wine matured in 500-liter oak barrels and 5,000-liter oak vats for nine months. In 2020, there were more grapes from old vines that were used before for the Vino de Finca, which was discontinued. This wine is very aromatic, elegant, expressive and reaching a level I have not seen before in this wine. It's refreshing, light, balanced, nuanced, with velvety tannins and very clean, really transcending its price point. Balanced is the word, and it's also available and affordable and sets the tone for the 2020s.

94 points Jeb Dunnuck
Raised all in 500- and 600-liter barrels (all used), the 2021 Breca has a Châteauneuf du Pape-like bouquet of black raspberries, licorice, peppery herbs, and spice. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, rich, voluptuous, concentrated Garnacha with fine tannins and a great finish.

#79 on The Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023!

91 points Wine Spectator
An elegant red, with fine tannins enmeshed with flavors of pureed raspberry and black plum reduction, soft fig, thyme and lavender accents, while a minerally underpinning echoes on the finish. Drink now through 2028.

92 points Wine Advocate
The bread-and-butter wine here is the 2021 Bela, produced with Tempranillo from the village of Villalba de Duero (mentioned on the label), from sandy and clay rich soils on limestone mother rock that delivers powerful but not overripe wines with a short-ish élevage to achieve a fine-boned and fresh wine. The grapes were picked between October 1st and 25th, mostly Tempranillo but some 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot too, and it matured in French oak barrels for nine months. it's ripe without excess, with very integrated oak and a velvety palate with silky tannins. It reminds me of the historical wines from the early 1990s, Valribeño and so on, with some rusticity but very honest and characterful. With time in the glass, it develops a precise note of licorice intermixed with berry fruit and some spices and herbs.

Organic / Biodynamic

A firm backbone of Meyer lemon peel acidity frames this vivid sparkler, enmeshed with rich notes of lightly charred toast and smoked almond, backed by flavors of ripe white cherry and peach fruit. Hints of thyme and anise play on the finish. Xarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada and Malvasia de Sitges. Drink now through 2025

This has aromas of black fruit, blueberries, dried oysters, grilled herbs and mushrooms. Its full-bodied with firm, fine tannins. Savory and structured with excellent energy. Drink or hold.

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.

Organic

93 points Wine Advocate
The biggest volume of the winery is the 2021 Ultreia Saint Jacques, which represents some 170,000 bottles, and according to RaUl PErez, it's the most difficult wine to make here. They now work a lot to produce this wine, a blend of 11 wines selected from the 17 they made. It's a wine that represents Bierzo and is from a year when they used more grapes from sandy soils. It has 13.16% alcohol and a pH of 3.66; it's serious and restrained but juicy and easy to drink. Seventy percent of the wine matured in barrel and the rest in troncoconic oak vats.

Organic

91+ points Wine Advocate
The 2021 Graciano, the first wine they produced at the new Viña Zorzal in 2007, was produced with grapes from the village of Corella to show the expression of the grape in the village. It is still approachable and fresh but more Mediterranean than Fitero, where they have a significant percentage of their vines. It fermented in 10,000-liter stainless steel vats with moderate extraction and matured in used French oak barrels of different sizes for nine months. It has 13.3% alcohol, very good acidity, an expressive nose of beeswax and honey intermixed with berry fruit and lots of aromatic herbs (vermouth!) and a lively palate with pungent acidity in the finish.

This Graciano is from Corella, a slightly warmer zone of Navarra, where they grape ripens nicely. They do a vigorous grape selection making sure only the best make it to the winery. This Graciano is fruit-forward and supple. The plum-colored core reveals dark berry fruit with a slight spice. The aromatics are fresh, the palate smooth, and the finish is soft. If you are familiar with Viña Zorzal’s Garnacha you will notice that this is a bit darker but equally as fresh. Another absolute steal from Viña Zorzal!

The high-acid Graciano is the last one of their grapes to be harvested, in their vineyards around the village of Corella. Following a light maceration the wine ferments in steel. 25% of the wine is racked into French oak for malolactic, the rest happens in steel. The wines were blended and stayed 9 months on their lees in French barrels.

Organic / Biodynamic

A previous vintage was featured in The New York Times article: 20 Wines Under $20: For When the Weather Is Sultry by Eric Asimov

"Several efforts are underway to differentiate conscientiously produced cava from the run-of-the-mill stuff that dominates the category. The Clàssic Penedès appellation is one of them. Those producers under this classification must make their own wines, instead of buying them. If they grow grapes, they must farm organically, and the wines must be aged at least 15 months after the initial fermentation. Loxarel farms biodynamically, and makes this wine with the three classic cava grapes, parellada, macabeu and xarello (of which Loxarel is an anagram). For a $15 wine, this bottle has great delicacy and finesse."

93 points Wine Enthusiast
An elegant bouquet of dried cherries and rose petal leads to flavors of black cherry, Mission fig, licorice, dried thyme and a touch of caramel set into a layer of polished tannins. There is a soft whiff of flinty smoke that endures into the smooth finish.

Organic / Natural

‘Burbuja’ comes from a pure Palomino plot of 40-50 years old vines named
‘Plantalina’ in Balbaína Alta, which is the most “Sanluqueño” vineyard of Jerez due to its
proximity to the sea but still boasts the concentration of Jerez. This vibrant vineyard has been
farmed organically for more than 15 years and is of great quality.

Very little winemaking here as this classic ‘Método Ancestral’ wine is bottled
prior to finishing the alcoholic fermentation and before finishing the total consumption of sugars.
The wine next rests horizontally so the lees are in contact with the wine for an additional 8
months. Then, the bottles are positioned ‘boca abajo’ face down so the lees settle into the neck of
the bottle from where they rest for three weeks before disgorging quickly, refilling the bottle
with the same wine from any loss, and finally crown-capping. Released immediately. This delicate and lacy single vineyard ‘Pet- Nat’ Palomino has soft pillowy bubbles that are floral and fresh - the subtle aromas entice with notes of hay, apple pear, lanolin, aloe and sea
spray reminiscent of a long day at the ocean. On the palate, the salty plush foam has just the
perfect amount of structure and fizz to awaken the palate and express its organic, sunny terroir
and natural state of the Palomino grape. A delightful naturally sparkling wine.

Organic

100% Cencibel, the local clone of Tempranillo. The alluring aromatics immediately envelop the senses, fresh red berries and subtle floral components waft from the glass. The dark core gives the impression of power and heft but the solid backbone of acidity provides lift, a weightlessness on the palate. Texturally lush with juicy blackberry and currant characteristics and a long finish that is dry. The balance from start to finish in this wine demonstrates the touch of a talented winemaker. This wine will surely earn a plethora of new fans.

Organically grown grapes in the village of Villarrobledo and El Provencio. 75+ year old vines (Castilla-La Mancha). Hand harvested. The grapes are destemmed, and then fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tank. Maceration lasts until the end of alcoholic fermentation, with regular wetting of the cap. The wine is then pressed into centenarian local clay tinajas (amphora). The wine ages in tinajas for 3 months followed by 2 months in used French barrels and then 6 months in bottle before release.

91 points James Suckling
A juicy and expressive garnacha with ripe plums and spiced cherries. Sappy and ripe with lots of tart cherries and strawberries. A hint of coffee and vanilla in the medium-long finish.

90 points Wine Spectator
A bold but balanced red, leading with aromatic tar and black licorice notes that are well-meshed with raspberry ganache, mocha, dried thyme, fresh orange peel acidity and supple tannins.

Organic / Biodynamic / Natural

Salvaxe is a multi-grape blend of Galician grapes, Lado, Treixadura, Albariño and Godello, Caíño Blanco and Silveiriña from very old vines planted in the Gomariz zone. The grapes started fermenting in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and then pressed and finished fermentation in 500-liter oak barrels. The wine didn't go through malolactic fermentation and was raised in new and second-use 500-liter barriques. The nose is full of aromatic herbs and wild flowers, and the word that immediately came to mind was 'spring', fresh, with perfectly integrated oak; perhaps the freshness and acidity of the vintage helped the wine to take the oak in a different way. The palate is both powerful and elegant, with very intense, pungent flavors, good acidity and great length.

‘Selvaxe’ or ‘wild’, refers to XL’s attempt to ‘trap’ his wildest fruit to roam in bottle here with minimal handling

Godello

50/50 Garnacha/Syrah

La Comarcal is a small project by two good friends who just happen to be two of eastern Spain?????s most talented viticultors: Javi Revert and Victor Marqu??s. Located in the mountainous village of Venta del Moro in the Valencia D.O., La Comarcal ("The District") is a young winery founded in 2017 with the inspiration of making delicious, youthful wines?????new expressions based on the old mountain vineyards of native Valencian grape varieties they farm with certified organic viticulture and native yeasts, utilizing only a judicious amount of sulfur. They focus on regenerative agriculture in every aspect of their work. From researching the best locations to replant native varieties to replace the once-dominant international varieties to working with traditional mixed-agriculture farming and planting trees, Javi and Victor are lifelong students of their natural environment with the winemaking experience to make a significant impact in their region. It shows in the energy and transparency of the project, as this winemaking duo is among the most exciting teams to watch in Spain.

La Comarcal was built on the friendship formed by Javi and Victor while working together at the influential Valencian winery Celler del Roure for over ten years.

91 points James Suckling
A spicy rendition of Cune crianza, but as always this is fruity, with lots of cherries, plums and a touch of white pepper. Juicy and bright, with some restrained fruit sweetness. Very fine-grained, juicy and consistent.