Spain has brought a very consistent set of releases to La Place, but the standouts are Telmo Rodríguez’s Yjar and Matallana, VivaltuS, from the partnership of Jean-Claude Berrouet and Montxo Martínez’s and Marqués de Riscal’s Tapias, says Colin Hay. Spanish reds Spanish releases (red) Vintage Region New? Rating La Fleur VivaltuS 2019 Ribera del Duero No 93 VivaltuS 2019 Ribera del Duero No 97 Dolio 2020 Ribeira Sacra No 94+ Matallana 2021 Ribera del Duero No 97 Yjar 2020 Rioja No 97 Tapias de Marqués de Riscal 2021 Rioja No 97 CVNE Real de Asùa Carromaza 2021 Rioja Alta No 95 La Fleur VivaltuS 2019 (Ribera Del Duero DO; 99% Tempranillo; 1% Merlot; a selection from parcels all at high altitudes of between 750 and 1000 metres on poor clay, sandy and limestone soils; pH 3.67; 14% alcohol). Soft, gentle, lithe and engaging aromatically. Not fully open and expressive but still inviting and gently enticing even if it really would benefit from some time in a carafe. As it opens it is, as it was last year too, impressively light, lifted, aerial and, above all, floral in its aromatics, with pleasing notes of acacia, hyacinth and eucalyptus. Cinnamon too, and a hint of clove. Dark berry fruits – blueberries, brambles and mulberries, a little damson too. A touch of graphite and garrigue herbs. Squid ink. We have lovely
This Article was originally published on The Drink Business - Fine Wine
