Andrea Reyes

9.1

Very easy to drink — 8 months ago

with Melissa

Martinez

8.9

Pinot Noir from a tiny family-run estate in Ronda. Founded by Austrian architect Martin Kieninger, the winery works with mostly Austrian varieties and rootstock Kieninger brought from Austria - Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and Pinot Noir, a variety that seems to thrive in the Ronda-. Whole-cluster fermentation with indigenous yeasts and 12 months aging in French oak barrels. Shy nose. Red fruit and herbal notes. Full-bodied and quite bold (15% ABV!) for a Pinot Noir. Not terribly complex. — 3 years ago

Martinez

9.2

The estate’s flagship wine, Samsara is 100% Petit Verdot from Ronda in southern Spain, a region that is gaining certain notoriety for its Petit Verdot. A late ripening grape variety, Petit Verdot is a minor ingredient in Bordeaux blends where it often fails to ripen properly. But it seems to thrive in warmer regions like Australia, certain parts of California and here in Ronda, where it was first introduced in the early 1990s. Grapes are sourced from El Juncal vineyard, a very cool site at about 2,800 ft elevation, on clay-sandy soils. Fermented with indigenous yeasts (50% whole-cluster) and aged in French and Hungarian oak for 9 months. Dense, dark ruby color. Dark fruit on the nose and palate. Herbal and balsamic notes and a whiff of cinnamon. Complex, structured, very smooth tannins. — 3 years ago

Mario Martínez Colino

8.9

Diferente a un rosado clásico, sin acidez, con cuerpo y recuerdo. Fresa y frambuesa.

69% Tempranillo / 18% Syrah / 13% Merlot — a year ago

Martinez

9.0

Intense, sharp, saline — 3 years ago

Martinez

9.1

A minor ingredient in Bordeaux blends, Petit Verdot is one of those grape varieties that enjoy greater popularity away from home. Notoriously late-ripening, grapes can have difficulties undergoing veraison in Bordeaux, especially in cold years, remaining unusable green berries (hence its name, “little green”). While Petit Verdot often fails to ripen in Bordeaux, it seems to flourish in warmer regions, such as some parts of Australia, California and Spain, where its long-cycle offers winemakers a hedge against global warming. With over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, the region of Ronda in southern Spain has turned out to be an ideal location for Petit Verdot - which even here, doesn’t get picked until late October or early November.

Cortijo Los Aguilares’ Tadeo is one of Ronda and Spain’s most recognized Petit Verdot bottlings. Sourced from the estate’s El Calero plot at 900m (nearly 3,000 ft) elevation in Ronda, in the province of Málaga. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in French oak for 15 months. Dark ruby color with purple rim. Fragrant, very attractive, complex nose with layers of black fruit (bramble), smoke and graphite, herbal notes, sweet spices, vanilla and violets. Full-bodied, structured, powerful tannins. Impressive. — 3 years ago

David Jimenez

9.9

Ripe berry fruit forward. Strawberry, flowers and ceder. — 3 years ago

christina a love

9.2

Super funky yeasty sexy 💕 — 3 years ago

Sarah Davidson

10

2010 Vintage is delightfully well balanced...smooth full body. — 3 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

8.9

A little angry, lean and uneven to start. Needed a night after being open to calm down and integrate. A relaxed rosso drinks better: strawberry, black cherry, red plum, licorice and herbs. I love the classic profile. I never thought I’d say this, but I don’t love the aggressive acidity - probably the result of a cool and difficult vintage - that is waging war with my stomach lining. This lean wine needs food. I’d suggest something richer and fattier than the Ropa Vieja (night 1) and Amy’s frozen vegetarian lasagna (night 2). — 4 years ago