"A sumptuous stylish red from organic vineyards available in very limited quantities"

4.5 Stars: Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

4 stars: Raymond Chan

Selected by Spanish wine specialist Steve Bennett, Master of Wine

"We are spoilt for choice in this country by some of the most adventurous wine importers in the world, like Steve Bennett." Joelle Thomson, Viva

"Steve Bennett MW is a man with a vision for wine, involved in numerous aspects of the wine industry. He has a very... Read more »

"nothing short of an exceptional bargain"

4.5 Stars (90/100 Points): Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

"A delightful red that shows lifted aromas of blueberry, red plum and a hint of game. The palate is succulent and nicely flowing with excellent fruit intensity and supple tannins. The wine is beautifully balanced and shows lovely richness without being heavy, and is dangerously easy-drinking. At its best: now to 2014." - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

"I tasted this wine blind alongside a couple of extremely well regarded New Zealand wines which cost double the price and was amazed to... Read more »

"This could well be spain's best value wine"

4.5 Stars (90/ 100 Points): Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

"This could well be Spain's best value wine. It shows fresh, vivid, dark cherry and raspberry fruit with a subtly meaty, spicy edge. Less oaky than many riojas, and better for it." Jamie Goode, Sunday Express

"A crowd-pleasing red at a scene-stealing price"- Anthony Rose, The Independent

"This is a super value in Rioja, one of the best values I tasted for this Spanish report. The wine has remarkable depth of flavor and length for its humble... Read more »

"tastes closer to $20"

91/100 POINTS: Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

"It's beautifully fragrant on the nose displaying dark plum, blueberry, spice and floral notes. The palate is succulent and rounded with excellent mid palate weight and velvety texture, finishing long and smooth. A stylish, modern Spanish wine offering loads of appeal and fantastic value. At its best: now to 2016." - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

"A wonderful marriage of Spain's two iconic grape varieties, Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache) made in a vibrant, fruit-packed style that tastes closer to $20. A deep-coloured, full-bodied wine that erupts with blackberry juiciness complexed by savoury, dark-chocolate... Read more »

classic perfumed aromas of raspberry, dark plum and blueberry

91/100 & 4.5 Stars: Sam Kim; The Wine Orbit.

2013 Selection of the Best Wines of the D.O Navarra

A lovely example of garnacha (grenache) showing classic perfumed aromas of raspberry, dark plum, blueberry and floral. It's superbly ripe and rounded on the palate with excellent mid palate weight and rich texture, finishing long and supple. At its best: now to 2016. Sam Kim

VIÑA ZORZAL GARNACHA 2012 is a singular wine with a distinct concept. It is the result of a clear commitment to respecting tradition, the revival of native grapes such as Garnacha, and a concern for the environment through the... Read more »

Fruit expressive and fabulously easy, this appealing red shows dark plum, blackberry, floral and spice characters

4 Stars: Sam Kim; The Wine Orbit

Fruit expressive and fabulously easy, this appealing red shows dark plum, blackberry, floral and spice characters. The palate is succulent and beautifully smooth, finishing long and gently dry. It's full of tasty flavours making it a great red for casual drinking. At its best: now to 2015. 

Modern winemaking techniques have allowed many European producers the ability to make a crisp, fruity, great value easy drinking wines from old vines and native varieties. A wonderful example of the wine can be found... Read more »

"Smoky aromas of cherry-vanilla and cassis"

"Bright purple. Smoky aromas of cherry-vanilla and cassis, with a spicy quality that gains strength with air. Juicy and broad on entry, then firmer in the mid-palate, offering sweet black and blue fruit flavors lifted by tangy acidity. Still quite primary and in need of some bottle age. Finishes sappy, spicy and nicely persisten." Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar

Bodegas Carchelo dates from the early 1980s and pioneering efforts to modernize viticulture in what had been a backwater viticultural region. Founding partner Juan Sierva's nearly 700 acres of prime vineyards are widely distributed in the region, at varying altitudes and exposures. Varieties grown feature both ungrafted head-pruned and wire-trained Monastrell plus Syrah,... Read more »

“Vanilla aromas with hints of raspberry on the palate”

4 STARS: Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

"A blend of Tempranillo and Shiraz, this is a nicely maturing red displaying red cherry, game and spice characters on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied and refreshing with bright acidity and fine, firm tannins. An ideal wine to partner savoury meat dishes." Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

Originating from Valencia, Spain, Castillo de Liria Crianza is a full bodied red wine, made with carefully selected Tempranillo and Shiraz grapes, and carefully aged in oak barrels. A round, well-balanced wine, full... Read more »

"Classically structured red"

4 STARS: Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

“A lovely complex red made from Tempranillo and Garnacha, displaying dark plum, leather, game and spice notes on the nose. It's well fruited and broad with bright acidity and firm chewy tannins. A classically structured red needing a seriously rich meat dishes.”  Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

This vermillion-red wine is clean and deeply concentrated. Complex aroma of ripe fruit and vanilla are present. The perfect blend of the Tempranillo variety with the generosity and roundness of Grenache grapes makes for a smooth, velvety... Read more »

“Brilliant Chardonnay ... intense fruity aromas”

“A gentle style Chardonnay displaying stone fruit, citrus and subtle mealy characters on the nose. The palate is rounded and smooth with good weight and balanced acidity. A lovely partner to elegant seafood dishes.” Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

The grapes are harvested before sunrise during the third week of August. Dry ice is used to cool the grapes during transportation to the winery to maintain the subtle aromas in these grapes. A long and cool fermentation is carried out at a temperature of 15°C, allowing for greatest varietal expression.

This brilliant Chardonnay has an outstanding pale yellow colour. On the nose its intense aromas comprises of a mixture between... Read more »

“Fruit-forward & juicy”

4 STARS: Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

“This is fruit-forward and juicy with lifted aromas of dark plum, raspberry and subtle mixed spice. The palate is rounded and smooth with a lovely fruity finish. A supple, medium-bodied red showing appealing flavours.” Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

This delicious Shiraz has an attractive cherry red colour with garnet iridescences. Its bouquet reveals a combination of deep aromas of wild fruits and violets, enveloped in light toasted notes. On the palate it is warm, with smooth tannins and a spicy finish, and a balsamic aftertaste... Read more »

“Youthful & vibrant, this is a delightful Rioja”

4 STARS: Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

“Youthful and vibrant, this is a delightful Rioja showing red fruit and floral characters with subtle spice notes on the nose. It's lively and vibrant on the palate with good fruit intensity and a gentle dry finish. A lovely comforting red with ripe fruit flavours and subtle savoury notes.” Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

An attractive rich black cherry colour with a subtle purple tinge. On the nose, abundant aromas of strawberry, raspberry and other fruits of the forest.... Read more »

“Garnet red colour, translucent ... ruby edges”

“A nicely evolved Rioja showing red plum, spice, leather and a touch of dried herb notes on the nose. The palate is crisp and dry with some fruit sweetness and a lingering firm finish.”  Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

Garnet red colour, translucent, medium-high depth, ruby edges. Its aroma evokes jammy red and dark berry fruits, well balanced with the balsamic, vanilla and toasted notes coming from the wood. On the palate it displays its complexity, with good structure and balance, the predominant flavours being jammy red fruit, with café crème and cocoa notes.
Vicente

“Gently expressed Rioja ... juicy & refreshing”

“Made from 100% Tempranillo, this is a gently expressed Rioja showing red plum, spice and a hint of dried herb characters on the nose. It's juicy and refreshing with a fruity mouthfeel and bright acidity. Tannins are fine-grained and provide a pleasant dry finish.” Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

Garnet red colour, translucent, medium-high depth, ruby edges. Its aroma evokes jammy red and dark berry fruits, well balanced with the balsamic, vanilla and toasted notes coming from the wood. On the palate it displays its complexity, with good structure and balance, the predominant flavours being jammy red fruit, with café crème and cocoa notes.

“Beautifully matured ... Stylish, savoury red”

4.5 STARS: Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

“A beautifully matured, textbook Rioja Reserva showing lifted aromas of dark plum, game, a hint of leather and sweet vanillin oak. The palate is succulent and rounded with velvety texture and a fine, elegantly drying finish. A stylish, savoury red offering sweet fruit intensity and barrel matured complexity.” Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

It presents a ruby red colour with brick-coloured edges. On the nose, balsamic aromas with hints of vanilla and leather. It is silky on the palate with mineral notes that give it... Read more »

“Sweet-scented on the nose ... well structured wine showing immediate appeal ... amazing value for money”

4 STARS: Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

"Medium-deep red in colour. It’s sweet-scented on the nose displaying vanillin oak, red/blackberry and plum characters. The palate is ripe and rounded with smooth texture and well balanced acidity. It finishes long and firm with gently drying tannins. A well structured wine showing immediate appeal. Not complex but amazing value for money." Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

Aged for 6-9 months in French and American Oak barrels. This... Read more »

“Flavourful on the palate with a velvety, silky, long and persistent aftertaste”

4 STARS: Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

“A lovely matured red showing excellent fruit intensity combined with bottle aged complexity. The nose is nicely fragrant displaying dark plum, spice, game and earthy mushroom characters. It’s medium-full and rounded on the palate with smooth texture and fine tannins providing a pleasantly drying finish. A blend of Monastrell, Tempranillo and Cabernet, this should be fabulous with rich savoury dishes.” Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

“Opulent wine ... very stylish and impressive”

5 STARS: Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

“Deep red in colour. It’s intense on the nose displaying blackberry, cedar, dried fruit and game characters. The palate is lush and generous with a sumptuous mouthfeel and plenty of fine, chalky tannins. The wine flows beautifully through the palate leading to an expansive finish. An opulent wine showing plenty of ripe fruits and oak in the firmly structured frame. Very stylish and impressive. The wine is perfectly matured for drinking now but will hold for a few more years yet.” Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

... Read more »

"Juicy and lively, this is a pretty & friendly red"

“Juicy and lively, this is a pretty and friendly red displaying youthful aromas of raspberry, red plum and mixed spice. The palate is nicely fruited and easy-going with crisp acidity and fine tannins providing a pleasant dry finish.” – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

Originating from Valencia, Spain, this wine is 80% Bobal and 20% Syrah. This wine is of an intense, well robed cherry colour. It has an expressive bouquet where the aromas of red fruits such as blackberries and raspberries stand out. It has been carefully fermented to obtain a wine that is extremely pleasant on the palate and with a good balance between acidity and tannins.