Premier Cru - Spanish Wine RSS/RDF Feed http://www.premiercru.net/premier/jsp/xml/premiercruspain.php 98 points Parker's WA: "The 2005 Costers de Vinas Viejas is aged for 16 months in new French oak. The wine is a blend of 50% Carinena, 48% Garnacha, and 2% Merlot. Purple-colored, it has an other-worldly perfume of pain grille, grilled meat, spice cabinet, espresso, mineral, wild blueberry, and black cherry. This is followed by a powerful, masculine, intense Priorat with gobs of flavor, 8-10 years of cellaring potential, and a very long finish. It will be at its peak from 2018 to 2040." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38434 98 points Parker's WA: "The 1998 Unico is purple-colored with a complex bouquet of wood smoke, violets, Asian spices, mineral, blueberry, and assorted black fruits. This is followed by a full-bodied, dense, loaded wine with gobs of sweet fruit, great concentration, and layers of flavor. It will continue to evolve for another 5-7 years and drink well through 2040+." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38437 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38638 96 points Parker's WA: "Bodegas Alion was started by the renowned estate of Vega Sicilia in 1991. Grapes are sourced from vineyards next to the winery and from Vega Sicilia?s own vineyards at Valbuena. Eighteen hectares of Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) form the actual Alion estate. The 2004 Alion is inky purple-colored with an alluring perfume of toasty oak, lavender, violets, mineral, blackberry, and blueberry compote. This is followed by a full-bodied, rich, opulent, wine with incipient complexity, and notes of licorice, mocha, and espresso emerging on the palate. The lengthy finish is pure and persistent. Give it 3-5 years in the cellar and drink it through 2025." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38435 95 points Parker's WA: "The 2004 Finca la Planeta is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% old-vine Garnacha, an unusual blend for Priorat. The wine is aged for 12 months in new French and American oak. Purple-colored, it has an alluring perfume of pain grille, slate, lavender, black cherry, and black currant. This leads to a full-bodied, layered, spicy wine with tons of fruit and 3-5 years of cellaring potential. It should be at its best between 2012 and 2020." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38574 95 points Parker's WA: "The 2004 Pintia comes from a superior vintage. Similarly styled to its older sibling, it is simply more flamboyant and opulent. The temptation is to drink this heady effort now but those who can delay gratification for a few years will be amply rewarded.": http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=36688 98 points Parker's WA: "The 2005 Aalto PS is 100% Tinto Fino from vineyards over 60 years of age. It was aged for 32 months in 70% new French oak. Saturated in appearance, the wine offers up notes of pain grille, balsamic, crushed stone, floral notes, and wild black fruits. Exceptionally powerful, focused, and beautifully proportioned, this full-bodied wine is dense, rich, and structured for the long haul. Give this super-long, impressive effort a decade in the cellar and drink it from 2018 to 2040. Patient purchasers will be well rewarded." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38402 98 points Parker's WA: "The 2005 Aurus is 85% old-vine Tempranillo and 15% Graciano. It was aged for 24 months in French oak and bottled unfiltered. Purple/black in color, the aromatics seem to have an extra dimension of complexity. Notes of pain grille, pencil lead, crushed stone, blueberry, and blackberry are superb. This leads to a thick, rich, opulent, massive wine with an exceptionally lengthy finish and a decade of aging potential. Drink this behemoth through 2040." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38432 98 points Parker's WA: "The 2005 Costers de Vinas Viejas is aged for 16 months in new French oak. The wine is a blend of 50% Carinena, 48% Garnacha, and 2% Merlot. Purple-colored, it has an other-worldly perfume of pain grille, grilled meat, spice cabinet, espresso, mineral, wild blueberry, and black cherry. This is followed by a powerful, masculine, intense Priorat with gobs of flavor, 8-10 years of cellaring potential, and a very long finish. It will be at its peak from 2018 to 2040." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38433 97+ points Parker's WA: "The 2005 Felix Callejo Family Reserve is similarly styled but a bit more closed. It is more structured, with a minimum of 6-8 years of evolution ahead. It will be a most enjoyable exercise tasting the 2003, 2004, and 2005 side-by-side 10 years down the road." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38923 93 points Parker's WA: "The 2005 Les Terrasses is sourced from a biodynamically farmed vineyard. This purple-hued wine offers an already complex bouquet of mineral, pencil lead, scorched earth, leather, and black cherry. This is followed by a full-flavored wine with layers of ripe fruit, silky tannins, and a smooth palate-feel. Although it can be enjoyed now, it has enough stuffing to evolve for several years and drink well through 2017. It is also a great value in Priorat, a rarity these days." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38627 95 points Parker's WA: "Bodegas Pintia is owned by Vega Sicilia. Pintia is located further west along the Duero River inside the warmer D.O. of Toro. The estate owns 96 hectares of land. The first vintage released was the 2001. As for the 2005 Pintia, it is 100% Tinta de Toro aged for one year in new French and American oak. Opaque purple-colored, it offers a complex perfume of pain grille, pencil lead, spice box, black cherry, and blackberry. This leads to a full-bodied, ripe, layered wine with intense flavors, serious complexity, and exceptional length. It has enough structure to unfold for another 4-6 years and drink well through 2025." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38436