Wines

95 Points! The 2021 Dominio de Anza Selección de Parcelas goes back to the elegance, perfume and refinement of the wines from 2018 and 2019—floral and clean. It comes from multiple places in different villages, all vinified separately in a year he found to be marked by the rain during the harvest. This has very good freshness. He used more full clusters this year, and the élevage was in 500-liter barrels and oak foudres. It's very attractive and easy to drink. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

92 Points! The 2021 O Estranxeiro is a Mencía from the village of A Cova, different plots fermented in concrete, chestnut and oak and matured in those components for seven months. It has a medium-bodied palate and a moderate 12.5% alcohol and mellow acidity. It has a soft texture and a juicy mouthfeel, with clean and precise flavors, not terribly complex but very pleasant. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

From the importer: The domaine’s top red wine is the cuvée Charles de Batz, which was the original name of d'Artignan. The wine is composed of 90% Tannat with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines that are between 50 and 100 years old. After being completely destemmed, the Cabernet and Tannat are fermented separately in cement tanks. During this time, a bit of micro-oxygenation or microboullage takes place. The wine then goes into oak (50% new) in an underground cellar where it also undergoes malolactic fermentation. After 12 months in wood, it is blended and bottled after a very light filtration.

Very ripe, rich Madiran that takes no prisoners. This wine succeeds in obtaining more fruit than tannin! The color is nearly opaque—wine doesn't get much darker than this. It displays notes of black fruit (blackcurrant and blackberry) along with just a hint of red fruit. There is a cedar-like creaminess to the oak which is extremely well-integrated. Tannins pick up on the finish but, let's face it, this is Madiran and that is to be expected. These tannins seem to dissolve when the wine is matched with richly flavored meats like leg of lamb, duck, goose or game.

Fantastic wine from Lionel Faury reminiscent of Andre Perret's iconic 'Chery' bottling.

Vines planted on steep slopes (with a grade of up to 55%) facing south by south-east. Grapes are hand picked and pressed gently in a pneumatic press. Fermentation in stainless steel cuves. Aged 11 months on lees, 10% new barrels, 30% 2 to 5 year-old barrels, and 60% stainless steel. Le Mornieux is a little river that runs just below their parcel

From the lieu-dits Paton, Lys de Volan, la Bonnette, Rochecourbe, Les Rivoires, Merlant

94 Points! A brilliant expression of the variety, the 2022 Viognier Art Den Hoed Vineyard has tight, almost reductive aromatics of tart apricots, bananas, and salted citrus. It’s pure, medium to full-bodied, has a gorgeous texture, and outstanding length. Coming all from a site in the Yakima Valley and aged in equal parts concrete and used barrels, it will have 2-4 years of prime drinking. It’s one of the finest Viognier outside of Condrieu. - Jeb Dunnuck

The Viognier for this cuvée is sourced from vineyards planted in granite-infused soil in the village of Chavanay. The grapes are fermented with their natural yeasts and done in stainless steel to protect the wine’s freshness. It then sees 6 months in a combination of steel and neutral oak barrels to round out. The result is usually pretty engaging, but in the stellar 2022 vintage Cuilleron absolutely nailed it. Perfectly proportioned, this 14% alcohol white sits comfortably atop the right touch of uplifting acidity. Everything is fresh and expressive, with the subtly meshed peach, honeysuckle and mineral nose a perfect invitation to the peach, pear, spice and faintly honeyed palate.

93 Points! There's a little more ripeness and concentration in the 2020 Parajes, which matured in well-seasoned (at least fourth use) barriques and a 5,000-liter oak foudre. It's a little rounder and creamier, a more powerful wine (it was bottled 15 days before I tasted it) with a nice Bierzo character. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

97 Points! I love the 2021 La Vizcaína La Vitoriana, where they use the westernmost part of the vineyard with more sand in the soils, mostly north facing. It's a wine with a floral nose that is aromatic and perfumed, elegant but with clout, with concentration and power. They have been picking earlier and earlier, lowering the alcohol, and they feel more comfortable below 13%; they removed the rusticity and extraction, and the wine is more elegant than ever. It reminds me of the 2018, with similar a profile of freshness. They produced around 5,000 liters from the one+ hectare they have here. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

94 Points! 'Superb'... - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

93+ Points! The 2021 Viognier The Age of Grace comes from Sutherland and Bot River, whole bunch pressed with 11 months on the lees using 15% concrete eggs. With pretty white peach and Mirabelle scents on the nose, this takes time to blossom, but it never fully lets go. The palate is medium-bodied with a gorgeous dried apricot, mango and spicebox entry, nothing blowsy here with a very focused, almost understated finish. Excellent. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

From the importer: 100% Mencía sourced from the El Canto vineyard near the town of San Lorenzo. The soils here are slate and quartz with a northern exposure. 100% whole clusters, crushed by foot; fermented with native yeast in clay amphorae and macerated on the skins for five months with no punchdowns or pumpovers, then aged for eight months in used French oak. 1,000 bottles produced.

The “Cepas Centenarias” cuvee is from vineyards that all have vines of at least 100 years of age. Aromas include rich dark plums, dark cherries, dark chocolate, vanilla, and a hint of blackberries. Flavors include an inky and saturated sensation of dark plums, dark cherries, and boysenberries. There is a medium to full body, good balance and acidity, and a full, persistent, and minerally finish.

97 Points! The 2020 La Vizcaína La Vitoriana matured mostly in a troncoconic oak foudre and had a very short time in barrel. This wine has more Alicante Bouschet in the blend than others, and they didn't include the white grapes in the vineyard. But against all logic, the wine has more finesse than the 2019. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com