Top 10 Spanish Wines – Peñin Wine Guide 2018
The green Peñin Guide (to Spanish wine what the red Michelin guide is to food) is now in its 28th edition and is THE definitive guide to Spanish wine.
This year, over 11.500 wines were reviewed for the 2018 Peñín Guide, with just 163 wines being privileged to receive the highest scores and to take their place in the elitist “Podium” category, the most desired level by the winemakers, the famous sanctuary of the chosen few, reserved only for wines awarded from 95 to 100 points.
All “Podium” wines have been elaborated by experienced wine-makers and there is a tiny group of these privileged who have managed to enter their first year of tasting through the front door.
Here are 10 “Podium” wines that have fully entered into this select group to be able to be known as some of the best wines of Spain. Ten Moving Spanish Wines for 2018:
Benjamín Romeo Colección Nº2: La Canoca 2011 Gran Reserva – 96 points
Cellar: Bodega Contador
Appellation: DOCa. Rioja
Varieties: tempranillo, garnacha, mazuelo and graciano
Color: dark cherry, maroon edge.
Aroma: ripe fruit, candied fruit, wood carving, tabacco, sweet spices.
Mouth: spicy, mature tannins, long, elegant, round
Canta la Perdiz 2013 Tinto – 95 points
Cellar: Dominio del Águila
Appellation: DO Ribera del Duero
Varieties: 95% tempranillo / 5% otras
Color: cherry.
Aroma: complex, expressive, spicy, mineral, with character, toasted.
Mouth: full, long, persistent, tasty
Conde de Aldama Amontillado – 96 points
Cellar: Bodegas Yuste
Appellation: DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry
Varieties: 100% palomino
Color: clear mahogany.
Aroma: acetaldehyde, sharp, sweet spices, dried fruits.
Mouth: full, nuances of ageing, spicy, bitter, a little fiery.
Pirata 2014 Blanco – 96 points
WINNER of the Guía Peñín “Best Revelation” wine for 2018 read more here
Cellar: Bodega Benjamín Romeo e Ismael Gozalo
Table wine
Varieties: 50% verdejo, 32% garnacha blanca, 12% viura and 6% malvasía
Color: bright yellow.
Aroma: ripe fruit, floral, fine lees, mineral, complex with character
Mouth: full, complex, spicy, long, elegant.
Alvear Criadera “A” – 95 points – 5 stars
Cellar: Alvear
Appellation: DO Montilla-Moriles
Varieties: 100% pedro ximénez
Color: iodine, amber edge.
Aroma: sweet spices, dried fruits, dried herbs, flor yeasts, sharp, acetaldehyde
Mouth: full, spicy, long, complex, good acidity.
Casa Castillo Cuvee N Viñas Viejas 2015 – 95 points
Cellar: Casa Castillo
Appellation: DO Jumilla
Varieties: 100% monastrell
Color: cherry
Aroma: complex, expressive, spicy, mineral
Mouth: elegant, full, long, persistent
El Velado 2014 – 95 points
Cellar: Compañía de Vinos Telmo Rodríguez
Appellation: DOCa. Rioja
Varieties: tempranillo and garnacha
Color: cherry, violet edge
Aroma: fruity expression, red fruit, floral, spiced, sweet spices.
Mouth: tasty, fruity, good acidity, long.
Manuel Aragón Premium Palo Cortado – 95 points
Cellar: Manuel Aragón
Appellation: DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry
Varieties: palomino
Color: mahogany.
Aroma: complex, fine cacao, sharp, acetaldehyde
Mouth: concentrated, full, long, nuances of ageing.
Mons Urium Vors Palo Cortado – 95 points
Cellar: Bodegas Urium
Appellation: DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry
Varieties: palomino
Color: clear mahogany
Aroma: acetaldehyde, dried fruits, sweet spices, joinery
Mouth: potent, balanced, persistent, nuances of ageing.
Vatán Arena 2014 – 95 points
Cellar: Bodegas Ordoñez
Appellation: DO Toro
Color: cherry
Aroma: complex, expressive, spiced, mineral, fine cacao.
Mouth: full, long, persistent, concentrated, structured.
You may also be interested in our article the TOP 10 SPANISH REVELATION WINES 2018
Distributed in more than twenty countries – with editions in English, German and Spanish – La Guia Peñín wine guide reviewed some 11,500 wines for the 2018 edition, making it the most complete guide to Spanish wines in existence.
La Guia Penin’s 100-point wine-scoring scale is :
95–100 – Exceptional
90–94 – Excellent
80–89 – Very good
70–79 – Acceptable
60–69 – Unremarkable, but not faulty
50–59 – Not recommended.
Join us on a Private Wine Tour to include some of the great Wine Regions of Spain like our Wine Lovers Tour of Spain of Portugal to explore the Ribera del Duero, La Rioja, Priorat and Penedes Wine Regions of Spain and enjoy expert guided visits to some fantastic wineries and taste some great Spanish wines.
