Wines from Levante
Showing 1 thru -9 of 312
Bodegas Gutiérrez de la Vega 1999 Casta Diva Fondillón Sweet Monastrell (Alicante)
- Editors' Choice
- $88
Fondillón represents the pinnacle of red Spanish dessert wines, and the 1999 vintage just might make your jaw drop. Subtle but expansive on the nose, with a blend of baked dark-fruit and cinnamon aromas, it is liquid heaven in the mouth, with excellent balance and flavors of roasted plums, black cherry, nutmeg and chocolate. This is pure, structured and outstanding…
— M.S.
(10/1/2012)
El Nido 2006 Clio Red (Jumilla)
- Online Exclusive
- $46
Oddly, this is preferable to El Nido’s $140 Cab-heavy fruit bomb. Maybe that’s because Monastrell is the go-to grape in Jumilla, and this is 70% Monastrell and only 30% Cab compared to the opposite with El Nido. All that said, this wine is ripe, approachable and dark, with excellent balance and a fudgy, warm finish of fruitcake and blackberry. Drink now through 2013.
— M.S.
(2/1/2010)
Bodegas Luzón 2005 Alma de Luon Red (Jumilla)
- Editors' Choice
- $40
Ripe, dense and powerful, with on onslaught of raisin, spice, pepper and leather on the nose. The palate is direct and pure, with clean flavors of berry, spice and chocolate leading to a long, layered finish. Beautiful wine; one of the best I’ve had from this region. 70% Monastrell with 20% Cabernet and 10% Syrah.
— M.S.
(12/15/2010)
Enrique Mendoza 2006 Santa Rosa Reserva Red (Alicante)
- Editors' Choice
- Online Exclusive
- $50
For a mature, high-end taste of the Levante, this blend of 70% Cabernet with 15% each of Merlot and Syrah is at the top of the heap. It smells exotic and smooth, like sandalwood, baked berries and brandied plums. On the palate it feels firm and secure, with juicy, deep flavors of cassis and slow-cooked black cherry. This is a bullish red to drink now.
— M.S.
(7/1/2012)
El Nido 2009 Red (Jumilla)
- Editors' Choice
- $140
Dense, cool and masculine on the nose, this has aromas of prune, cola, tobacco, cheese and leather. It feels silky and soft, showing maximum ripeness and excellent balance. It tastes of ripe berry, stewed plum, spice and tobacco. Complex and classy on the finish; drink now–2017.
— M.S.
(11/1/2012)
Bodegas Rafael Cambra 2004 Minimum Red (Valencia)
- Editors' Choice
- Online Exclusive
- $75
Minimum was impressive wine in 2003 and it’s better in 2004. Cambra’s blend of 70% Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Franc is probably the best wine coming from the obscure Valencia D.O. It is generous, balanced, rich and lusty; flavors of blackberry, cassis and plum are succulent and every hole or gap seems filled by tannin, flesh and flavor. Drink now through 2011.
— M.S.
(10/1/2009)
El Nido 2007 Red (Jumilla)
- Online Exclusive
- $140
This Cabernet-Monastrell blend tips the scales at 15.5% and asks you straight out: how big do you like your red wines? It is smoky, sultry and massive, with spicy boysenberry aromas, a deep, syrupy palate and plodding flavors of molasses, roasted berry, cedar plank and herbs. Bullish but drinkble now and over the next few years; probably not one for the cellar.
— M.S.
(5/1/2011)
Bodegas Luzón 2007 Portú Red (Jumilla)
- Online Exclusive
- $69
Ripe and meaty, with bacon, earth, leather and inviting black fruit aromas. Not lazy at all; in fact a laser-like beam of acidity cuts through the palate, pushing bright, slightly fierce flavors of savory berry and minty oak. Finishes hot, spicy and with coffee and mocha. Cabernet-Monastrell to drink now through 2014.
— M.S.
(5/1/2011)
Showing 1 thru -9 of 312
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