This Week's Must-Try Wines from Vinous

Welcome to this week's Vinous Top Ten! Each week we compile a list of top ten wines from the Vinous database that you need to add to your wine wish list. With all the various regions, producers, and grapes, no week will be the same! All of the wines listed in this feature are available for purchase on Banquet . This week's must-try wines are from Josh Raynolds’ article Spain’s Northern Regions Keep It Cool . Enjoy an excerpt from his article and his notes for this week's top ten below! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Spain’s northern, Atlantic Ocean–influenced winegrowing zones were virtually unknown to most wine lovers only a decade ago, but things have changed dramatically. The popularity of some of Spain’s high-quality red wines and racy whites from the area continues a steep upward trajectory." --Josh Raynolds, Spain’s Northern Regions Keep It Cool, March 2019 1. Adega Algueira 2017 Mencía Ribeira Sacra 2. Agro de Bazán 2017 Albariño Granbazán Etiqueta Verde Rías Baixas 3. Alberto Orte 2016 Escalada do Sil Valdeorras 4. Bodegas Avancia 2016 Godello Avancia Valdeorras 5. Bodegas y Viñedos Raúl Pérez 2016 Sketch Rías Baixas 6. Descendientes de José Palacios 2014 Las Lamas Bierzo 7. Do Ferreiro 2016 Albariño Rías Baixas 8. LaOsa 2016 Trasto Prieto Picudo Tierra de León 9. Txomin Etxaniz 2017 Getariako Txakoli Getariako Txakolina 10. Viña Zorzal 2017 Garnacha Navarra

Bodegas Laosa

Trasto Prieto Picudo 2016

Delectable Wine
9.0

Bright violet color. Red berries, cherry pit and a hint of licorice on the expansive, spice-accented nose. Silky and seamless in texture, offering lively bitter cherry and raspberry flavors and a smoky mineral nuance that emerges with air. A floral pastille note builds on the subtly tannic finish, which hangs on with lingering spice and floral notes. (20% whole clusters; aged in neutral French oak barrels.) (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, March 2019) — 5 years ago

Do Ferreiro

Rías Baixas Albariño 2016

Delectable Wine
9.2

Brilliant, green-hued straw. Bright and incisive on the highly perfumed nose displaying an array of fresh citrus and orchard fruit scents that are complemented by suggestions of chalky minerals, quinine and sea salt. Dry, taut and precise on the palate, offering bitter lemon pith and pear skin flavors that unfold slowly while maintaining urgency. Finishes with impressive clarity and mineral drive, leaving juicy Meyer lemon and quince notes behind. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, March 2019) — 5 years ago

Bodegas Avancia

Avancia Godello 2016

Delectable Wine
9.3

Limpid straw-yellow. Powerful pear, nectarine and melon qualities on the highly perfumed nose, which is complemented by smoky mineral, jasmine and ginger nuances. Sappy, mineral-laced orchard and pit fruit stain the palate and become spicier as the wine stretches out. Rich, yet nervy in style, finishing very long and energetic, with resonating florality and a lingering mineral flourish. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, March 2019) — 5 years ago

Severn liked this

Adega Algueira S.L.

Ribeira Sacra Mencía 2017

Delectable Wine
9.1

Bright ruby. Spice-tinged cherry and black raspberry aromas show very good clarity and pick up suggestions of musky flowers and earth with air. Nicely concentrated but nervy on the palate, offering subtly sweet red/dark fruit flavors, exotic chewing tobacco and black cardamom qualities. Shows sharp delineation and spicy thrust on the persistent finish, which features gentle tannins and a suave floral nuance. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, March 2019) — 5 years ago

Javier liked this

Alberto Orte

Escalada do Sil Valdeorras Merenzao Blend 2016

Delectable Wine
9.2

Ruby-red. A wild, intensely perfumed bouquet displays spice-accented red and dark berries, incense and smoky minerals that expand with aeration. Silky, sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering intense black raspberry, cherry-cola and spicecake flavors that show outstanding clarity and spicy lift. Hangs on with incredible tenacity on the gently tannic finish, leaving juicy red fruit and candied lavender notes behind. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, March 2019) — 5 years ago

Descendientes de José Palacios

Las Lamas Corullon Bierzo Mencía 2014

Delectable Wine
9.5

Deep ruby. Powerful black/blue fruit, incense, Indian spice and vanilla aromas on the expressive nose, with a smoky mineral quality adding urgency. Offers sweet, densely packed boysenberry, cherry cola and spicecake flavors that spread out steadily on the palate, picking up an exotic hint of star anise and a touch of licorice on the back half. Lush, broad and seamless in character, finishing with superb energy, sharp delineation and smooth, even tannins that add structure and subtle grip. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, March 2019) — 5 years ago

Agro de Bazán

Granbazán Etiqueta Verde Rías Baixas Albariño 2017

Delectable Wine
9.2

Bright, green-hued straw. Aromas of quince, melon and nectarine are energized by a hint of lime zest. Concentrated but surprisingly lively, offering densely packed and incisive citrus pith, bitter pear skin and honeysuckle flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Shows impressive clarity and lift. Finishes very long and precise, leaving persistent mineral and floral notes behind. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, March 2019) — 5 years ago

jneilmbs liked this

Viña Zorzal

Navarra Garnacha 2017

Delectable Wine
8.9

Lurid red. Spicy red berries, spicecake and a floral nuance on the fragrant nose. Brisk, juicy and focused in the mouth, showing good definition to its fresh raspberry and bitter cherry flavors. A white pepper nuance adds spicy bite to a nicely persistent, discreetly tannic finish. I'd serve this accessible, fruit-driven wine lightly chilled. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, March 2019) — 5 years ago

Txomin Etxaniz

Getariako Txakolina Txakoli 2017

Delectable Wine
9.2

Pale yellow. Powerful citrus pith, floral and mineral aromas show very good delineation and spicy lift. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering pliant lemon/lime, green apple and honeysuckle flavors that pick up a refreshingly bitter quality on the back half. Finishes long and precise with resonating floral character and sharp delineation especially for a ripe vintage. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, March 2019) — 5 years ago

Severn liked this

Bodegas y Viñedos Raúl Pérez

Sketch Alvarinho 2016

Delectable Wine
9.4

Light, bright yellow. Intensely perfumed aromas of ripe, mineral-accented citrus and orchard fruits, ginger and honeysuckle on the incisive, finely delineated nose. Silky, sharply focused and energetic on the palate, offering intense Meyer lemon, green apple and quinine flavors that deepen slowly on the back half. Plays power off of finesse with a smooth hand and finishes impressively long and mineral, with excellent clarity and lingering florality. I've learned over the years that this wine, an icon of the region, ages along the lines of a top-notch Chablis so don't hesitate to stash some away for further down the road. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, March 2019) — 5 years ago