Grapes of Spain

Founded back in 2001, Grapes of Spain, Inc. imports wines exclusively from Spain and currently represents 36 producers with a portfolio of 90+ wines from all corners of Spain. All of the wines are new to the U.S. market and are from family winegrowers and that focus only on high quality and limited production. 

Aurelio Cabestrero, owner, is originally from Madrid, Spain. He worked at Madrid's Cafe de Oriente Restaurant for three years before coming to the US to work as Sommelier for Taberna del Alabardero in Washington DC. He worked at Taberna del Alabardero for three years and also worked as Sommelier at Marcel's in Washington DC before pursuing his passion to import Spanish wines 

Aurelio has also won the Ruinart 1993 prize as the Best Sommelier in Spain, Best young Sommelier in 1994 by Wine and Gastronomic Magazine and came in second place at the National Sopexa Competition of French Wines and Spirits 1994. He is also founding member of Madrid Association of Sommeliers.

I’ve been tasting through Aurelio’s portfolio for many years. For a killer value, the 2020 Mar de Vinas Albarino (OB, 90) impresses with its brilliant salinity and freshness. I also really enjoyed a fantastic Rueda, the 2019 Isaac Fernandez ‘Egeo’ (OB, 91) that has great nutty tones with a polished texture. For the collectors, check out the equally good 2017 and 2018 Bodegas San Roman Toro (both OB, 95) which are incredible examples of a dense, earthy Toro wine. Learn more at grapesofspain.com and here are my notes on the new wines by Grapes of Spain. 

2020 Adegas Gran Vinum ‘Esencia Divina’ Albarino- This Rias Baixas Albarino shows melon and green papaya notes alongside shades of green apple and bright acidity. Enjoy this outstanding value with shellfish. Drink 2021-2024- 90

2020 Adegas Gran Vinum ‘Nessa’ Albarino- A touch leaner than the ‘Esencia Divina’ the wine shows gooseberry and unripe melon with good freshness. Enjoy in the short-term. Drink 2021-2024- 88

2020 Adegas Gran Vinum ‘Gran Vinum’ Albarino- The stony tones and bright acidity of the wine really entice, as layers of lemon rind and cantaloupe mingle with baking spices and a touch of French bread all entice. The soft mouthfeel adds to the enjoyment. Drink 2021-2025- 91

2020 Mar de Vinas Albarino- Sourced from the Val do Salnes region of Rias Baixas, this shows off peach and gooseberry on the nose with saline drenched pear. The palate shows a silky texture with green papaya, green apple and a bright sense of salinity, with mouth-watering acidity. Drink 2021-2025- 90

2014 Vina Otano ‘Gran Reserva’ Rioja Blanco- The 2014 Vina Otano ‘Gran Reserva’ Rioja Blanco was aged for 36 months in mostly French oak (85%) before bottling. Just a touch of Garnacha Blanco (5%) blended into Viura, all sourced from very old vines, this shows off a plump mouthfeel with layers of buttercream, salted Marcona almond, white peach and an exceedingly long finish. This is exceedingly good for the price as this outstanding ‘Gran Reserva’ has another fifteen years in front of it. Drink 2021-2035- 93

2020 Vina Otano Rose- Sourced from Garnacha vines, this shows pretty red cherry and red raspberry notes with melon and minerals on the palate. Drink 2021-2024- 88

2020 Bodegas Casa La Rad ‘Solarce’ Rose- Soft, with good finesse, the ‘Solarce’ is an awesome value that has a light dusting of salinity that runs through its core. Layers of red raspberry and pomegranate seed mingle with minerals and smoky undertones on the palate. Drink 2021-2025- 90

2019 Bodegas Arrocal Ribera del Duero- Forward and juicy dark fruits with tobacco leaf mark the nose. The palate is fresh with a nice texture. Layers of roasted figs and blackberry complement the good level of acidity here. Drink 2021-2025- 90

2018 Bodegas Arrocal ‘Seleccion’ Ribera del Duero- Aged for eighteen months in oak, this shows off ripe red cherry with black currants and coffee ground undertones. The palate is dense and rich with good finesse. Layers of ripe dark fruits collide with smoke and chocolate tones. Try to give this another year in the cellar before enjoying. Drink 2023-2035- 92

2016 Bodegas Arrocal ‘Angel’ Ribera del Duero- The 2016 ‘Angel’ was aged for 20 months in French oak before bottling. Toasted dates, chocolate covered espresso bean and tar all fill the nose. The palate shows a soft mouthfeel creating a pillowy effect. A deep combination of red and dark fruits collide with tobacco leaf, chocolate, and leather all combine on the palate. With good finesse and weight, this beautiful wine has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2038- 93

2020 Isaac Fernandez ‘Egeo’ Rueda- Made from 100% Verdejo grapes, the ‘Egeo’ entices with its soft mouthfeel. Ripe necatarine, Japanese pear, wet stone, baking spices and shades of Macadamia nut and lemon zest dusted sourdough bread all entice on the palate. A serious value, with a great combination of acidity and salinity, enjoy this fantastic Rueda over the next five years. Drink 2021-2026- 91

2020 Isaac Fernandez ‘Bovale’ Rose- Sourced rom the Utel-Requena D.O.P. this Bobal based Rose shows light red fruits that dance with tiled soils and salty undertones. Drink 2021-2024- 88 

2019 Isaac Fernandez ‘Rios de Tinta’ Ribera del Duero- the ‘Rios de Tinta’ shows forward red and dark fruits with menthol and sage undertones. Fresh and medium-bodied, enjoy this effort over the next five plus years. Drink 2021-2026- 90

2019 Isaac Fernandez ‘Finca la Mata’ Ribera del Duero- This Crianza style saw eight months of oak aging prior to bottling. Damp earth and peat moss alongside chocolate and coffee ground flavors greet you with huckleberry tones. Drink 2021-2027- 90

2017 Elias Mora ‘Descarte’ Toro- Sourced from 40 year old vines, this smells rich of tobacco, dusty soils and chocolate once on the nose. The palate is fresh and vibrant with great acidity. Ripe dark currants mingle with blackberry and dark chocolate shavings on the palate. Drink 2021-2028- 91

2018 Elias Mora ‘Vinas’ Toro- Aged for six months in American oak, the ‘Vinas’ exudes a fresh and vibrant style of Toro touches on toasty oak that wraps around smoky minerals, sage, black currants and chocolate covered Arabica bean flavors. Dense and chewy, with firm tannins, this has another decade or more to go. Drink 2021-2031- 91

2017 Elias Mora ‘Crianza’ toro- Sourced from 50 year old vines, the 2017 ‘Crianza’ this was aged for 12 months in 50% new American oak before bottling. Deep dark fruits mingle with cchoalate covered red cherry, black tea, toasty oak and exotic spices on the palate. Drink 2021-2033- 92

2015 Elias Mora ‘Gran’ Toro- Deeply hued and sourced from 80 year old vines in the Senda del Lobo Vineyard, the ‘Gran’ Toro exudes class with its pillowy texture. A massive wall of red and dark fruits collide with espresso bean, huckleberry compote, leather and tilled soils on the palate. The length and generous mouthfeel add to the enjoyment here, as this has another two decades of life ahead of it. Drink 2021-2038- 94

2018 Bodega San Roman ‘Prima’ Toro- The 2018 ‘Prima’ exudes class with its generous mouthfeel, toasty oak and dark fruit, espressos bean and chocolate flavors. Fresh with good viscosity, this has another ten years ahead of it. This is seriously good value. Drink 2021-2031- 90

2017 Bodegas San Roman Toro- The 2017 Bodegas San Roman is a monumental effort that is sourced from o60-100 year old vines set on sand, clay and gravel. Aged for 24 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels, this shows toasty oak with ripe blueberry, loamy soils, black tea, Asian spices and dark chocolate covered huckleberry aromas. The palate is pillowy and seamless, with a great beam of salinity and marvelous length. Deft and light ion its feet despite its massive core of black and blue fruits, this glorious wine has twenty years or more to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2040- 95

2018 Bodegas San Roman Toro- The 2018 Bodegas San Roman Toro comes off slightly more dense and hedonistic than the 2017 release — but every bit as good. Sourced from very old ungrafted vines, the Toro shows off serious aromatic range from graphite and tilled soils to blackberry cordial, mocha, creosote and Turkish coffee tones that sing in unison. The palate is silky and extremely elegant with a great viscosity and tension. Layers of intense cassis, ripe figs and blueberry compote combine with smoky minerals, leather, coffee grounds and tar with a dusting of salinity. The long finish lingers. Exceedingly good even at the three year mark, this is one for the cellar. Be sure to give this at least a two hour decant if enjoying in its youth. Drink 2021-2040- 95