Martin Berdugo Crianza 2010

Probably my favourite of all wines we enjoyed over Christmas (not that it’s over yet, I’m going full 12 days) - I thought I might have missed its best as I realised it was marked to drink by 2020, but it was fabulous.

Opened & decanted this & tasted it with its big brother, the MB and it held its own too, soft and smooth its aged well in the bottle with no harsh tannins and a gentle finish.

An inky, garnet colour that exuded a phenomenal bouquet from the off. Jam packed with classic Spanish fruit and oak influnce - rich, with medium tannins and nice acidity. Not sure how I haven’t consumed this earlier but glad; in fact I’d say that the 2020 recommended drink by date is very conservative for well stored bottles.

This really reminds me of the widely acclaimed 2011 Seleccion de Barrica Trigales that Carlos sourced for us lucky angels. If only I had more!

Gorgeous. Beautifully smooth with oaky finish. It's been well worth leaving for 3 years now since I bought it.

Needs to be decanted due to sediment but full on flavour.

Finally got round to opening this one from the marketplace deal and what a cracker - best wine I've opened in a fair few weeks. Velvety smoothness ( probably not a real word but you know what I mean) and bags of flavour - brambly forest fruits and tobacco - that filled my mouth and put a big smile on my face !

The only thing that holds it from 5 stars is that I've tasted the especial and that is the best wine I've tasted this year - review to follow

Really not a rioja girl but this is a masterpiece in its style. We had it for my partners birthday and gave it a nice long breath in the decanter in front of the fire. True there is an extraordinary amount of sediment however it settled out leaving a complex and delicious wine. Scents including black current, red currant, spruce and (go with me on this) caramelized roast potatoes and meatyness with the barest scent of honeysuckle followed through into the taste where wild damsonswere evident. Exceptionally well balanced, heady mature and well rounded, an utterly memorable wine

Just opened this last weekend and full of sediment which ruined the wine

Nice