Grapes of Spain

Founded back in 2001, Grapes of Spain, Inc. imports wines exclusively from Spain and currently represents a huge range of producers with a portfolio of more than 100 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.

They have the amazing wines of San Roman and check out the sensational 2021 Bodegas San Roman Toro (OB, 95) which is Toro at its finest. Learn more at grapesofspain.com and here are my notes on the new wines by Grapes of Spain. 

Adegas Gran Vinum

2024 Esencia Divina Albarino- Another amazing and broad-shouldered edition of this wine, the 2024 Esencia Divina comes from Albariño vines roughly 50 years of age. This was aged in stainless steel tanks and spent time on the lees, offering amazing sea salt character with rich melon and tropical fruits. A lengthy finish completes this beauty that will cellar well for another eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2024 Gran Vinum ‘Selección Especial’ Albarino- The outstanding 2024 Gran Vinum ‘Selección Especial’ Albarino comes from old vines from the Miranda Aurosa estate vineyard. On the nose this has beautiful gardenia flowers and shades of Japanese pear that combine with dense melon and kiwi notes. The palate is full-bodied and wonderfully salty with great length. Enjoy this beauty over the next eight plus years to come. Drink 2025-2034- 93

Alvarez y Diez

2024 Mantel ‘Sobre Lilas’ Verdejo- Golden in the glass, this 2024 Verdejo opens with white flowers, cantalope and nutty nuances on the nose. The palate os soft and round with a good sense of minerality, with plenty of salty accents. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2024 Mantel Sauvignon Blanc- A usual wine from this region, the 2024 Mantel Sauvignon Blanc shows diatom and salted peach and gooseberry tones on the palate with a smooth mouthfeel. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

Luna Beberide

2024 Luna Beberide Godello- Sourced from old vine Godello set on clay and slate, this opens with salted nectarine and pear notes alongside cashew nut on the nose. The wine is salty and savory with a smooth mouthfeel and gobs of minerality. Finishing clean with melon fruits and salty minerals, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2024 Luna Beberide Mencia- The 2024 Mencia shows light to medium boded red currant and red cherry notes on the palate, with a soft mouthfeel and spicy nuanced. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 90

San Roman

2021 San Roman ‘San Roman’ Toro- The 2021 ‘San Roman’ comes from 60-100 year old vines, as this has 5% Garnacha blended in. This is dense, rich and chocolate, needing about an hour in the decanter to fully unwind. The weight and length here is really outstanding, as broad-shouldered dark fruits parade with cuban cigar and shades of dark chocolate shavings and a graphite edge all combine harmoniously. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2020 San Roman ‘Cartago Paraje del Pozo’ Toro- The absolutely scintillating 2020 ‘Cartago Paraje del Pozo’ comes from 45 year old vines set on sandy soils. Inky in the glass, this really benefits from a two hour decant before consuming. Worn leather, Arabica bean, blueberry compote and shades of rocky soils all combine on the nose, with dark rose petal notes. The palate is heady and intense with serious power and poise, loaded with lip-smacking minerality. Showing glorious length, enjoy this stunning wine now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2025-2045- 97

Garmon

2021 Garmon Continental Ribera del Duero- The 2021 Garmon Ribera del Duero is dense and concentrated stuff, loaded with tension and salty minerality. Coming from old vines from 30-100 years of age, this was stored in all French oak for 22 months before bottling. A heady core of dark fruits and chocolate pie greet you alongside sagebrush and rocky soil accents. Drink 2025-2034- 93

Isaac Fernandez Selección

2021 Isaac Fernandez ‘Reserva’ Ribera del Duero- The brilliant 2021 Isaac Fernandez ‘Reserva’ comes from 100% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), fro 80 year old vines planted in Gobelet. This is complex and delicious with mocha, tar and black licorice notes alongside smoky and salty nuances on the palate. Drink 2025-2033- 92

Bodegas Penalba Herraiz

2021 Bodegas Penalba Herraiz ‘Aptus’ Ribera del Duero- This intriguing 2021 Ribera del Duero has 5% Grenache blended in. Coming from vines set on clay, sand and gravel, this is wonderfully earthy with good concentration. Dark cherry and black raspberry notes combine with rocky soils and shades of garrigue on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 90

Bodegas Caudalia

2019 Bodeas Caudalia ‘Xi’Ipal “La Bajadas’ Garnacha- The 2019 Xi’Ipal “La Bajadas’  is soft and refined on the mouth, loaded with salted red fruits, pipe tobacco and wet gravel notes. Juicy and brimming with freshness, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next several years. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2019 Bodeas Caudalia ‘Xi’Ipal’ Tempranillo- Coming from the “ La Abejera” vineyard, set at 750 meters, this opens with a ripe bouquet of scorched earth and smoky nuances alongside black cherry compote on the nose. The palate is juicy and fresh with good tension, showing both stony and salty nuances. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2021 Bodeas Caudalia ‘Xi’Ipal Gracia Vid’ Graciano- This 100% Graciano wine comes from limestone soils. This is wonderfully salty and rocky on the mouth with loads of tension. Ripe red and dark fruits parade with black licorice, anise seed and shades of chalky soils. Delicious and ripe, enjoy now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2025-2031- 91

Pago de la Jaraba

2024 Pago de la Jaraba Sauvignon Blanc- The really good 2024 Pago de la Jaraba Sauvignon Blanc comes from vines set on sandy soils. This shows good salty character alongside ripe melon and pink grapefruit fruits alongside kiwi notes. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2019 Pago de la Jaraba ‘Vina Jaraba Crianza’ Red Wine- A blend of mainly Tempranillo (80%) with equal portions Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the 2019 Vina Jaraba Crianza’ shows medium-bodied red and dark fruits with chocolate and fresh sage notes. This is really good for the price. Drink 2025-2031- 90

2021 Pago de la Jaraba ‘Vina Jaraba Seleccion Especial’ Red Wine- Another terrific value, the 2021 Pago de la Jaraba ‘Vina Jaraba Seleccion Especial is manly Tempranillo (70%) with the remainder Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Plush red and dark fruits parade with sweet pipe tobacco, sea salt and orange zest on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

Elias Mora

2023 Elias Mora Toro- Coming from 25 year old Tinta de Toro vines, this 2023 Elias Mora opens with a beautiful bouquet of dark rose petals with damp earth and shades of dark currants. The palate is earthy and filled with chocolate, tar, and tobacco leaf notes. Drink 2025-2031- 91

Vina Otano

2021 Vina Otano ‘Barrel Fermented’ White Wine- The ‘Barrel Fermented’ combines mainly Viura (75%) with the remainder White Tempranillo. This offers rich honeydew and cantalope fruits with pink grapefruit blossom and suggestions of honeysuckle water. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2016 Vina Otano ‘Gran Reserva’ Rioja Blanco- A knockout edition of this wine, the 2016 Vina Otano ‘Gran Reserva’ Rioja Blanco combines 85% Viura with 10% Garnacha Blanca and 5% Matura Blanca from 95-year-old vines. It is dense, hedonistic and delicious, with tons of salty character and depth. Heady melon and citrus fruits mingle well with shades of salted papaya and wet rock. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2020 Vina Otano ‘Crianza’ Rioja- The 2020 ‘Crianza’ has 10% Mazuelo blended in. It is nicely rocky with dense red and dark fruits that parade with dark fig, citrus rind and wintergreen on the palate. Complex and delicious, this is already nicely evolved stuff that will cellar well over the next six to eight years. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2018 Vina Otano ‘Reserva’ Rioja- The outstanding 2018 ‘Reserva’ was stored for 18 months in a combination of both French and American oak barrels before bottling. It combines 85% Tempranillo with 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. It comes off elegant, with rich dark fruits that mingle well with chocolate, fresh sage and rocky nuances. Drink 2025-2034- 93

Legado Del Moncayo

2023 Legado Del Moncayo ‘Vendima Seleccionada’ Garnacha- Another really good edition of this wine, the 2023 Legado Del Moncayo ‘Vendima Seleccionada’ Garnacha comes from 40-60 year old bush vines set at 700-750 meters. A steal at this price, this offers concentrated red fruits, with smoky and salty nuances, with Satsuma orange zest and damp, rocky soils. Drink 2025-2032- 92