"Here is the low down: It’s a Rioja so it’s a blend of two Spanish grapes – Tempranillo and Garnacha – with (potentially) smaller amounts of Mazuelo and Graciano,which can range from zero to around 10% of the blend, but often do not appear at all. Tempranillo is an early ripening red grape that plays the lead character in Rioja, providing savoury flavours, acidity and structure that allows these wines to age. This one spent 12 months in oak and three years (in total – that’s including the time in oak) in the Bodega, prior to being released for sale. Like most Rioja, it offers significant complexity, particularly when you take the price into account. This wine has pronounced aromas of red plums, black cherries, fresh wet leaves, wet stones, cigar leaves and a clean earthy taste… While fruity flavours dominate, it’s interestingly savoury too and makes a very good value glass (or three) of wine right now and will hold for 3-4 years. Very good value for money" Joelle Thomson

"Mellow, developed but still lively red in an elegant, supple style. More vinous than fruity with violets, roasted nut and baked earth characters. Good drinking now. It represents very good value at this price" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, May 2018

"Fading black red garnet. Fragrant aromas of cherry jam with a touch of rosehip and sweet spices. Lifted in the medium-bodied palate with moderately firm tannins to start, juicy red fruits, a touch of vanilla creaminess, a rose petal muskiness and subtle anise spices finishing smooth with the tannins dissolving to leave behind a pleasing roundness and well-balanced sweetness and savouriness. Star buy" Sue Courtney, wineoftheweek.com, May 2018

"Moderately deep, dark garnet-red colour, lighter on the edge.  The nose is soft and elegantly concentrated with a core of sweet and savoury red berry fruit melded with a subtle layering of oak spice and cedar, along with nuances of game, dried herb and secondary detail.  Medium-bodied, the palate has a deep heart with concentrated flavours of sweet and savoury red berry fruits entwined with cedary oak, game elements and dried herbs.  The mouthfeel has good weight and presence, with soft, fine-grained, supple tannin extraction with gentle acidity.  The flavours carry along a smooth-textured line leading to a lush, savoury finish with cedary oak.  This is a lush, sweet and savoury red berry-fruited Rioja with spicy, cedary oak and secondary notes on a fine, supple palate.  Match with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern lamb dishes over the next 4+ years.  From Bodegas Castillo de Fuenmayor, a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 10% each Graciano and Garnacha, fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 3 years in the cellar with 12 months in 50% French and 50% American oak" Raymond Chan, Jan 2017

"A beautifully maturing red, the engaging bouquet shows dried cherry, charcuterie, nutmeg, cake spice and truffle notes. The palate is wonderfully flavoursome and soothing with sweet berry notes as well as rich savoury nuances, elegantly framed by silky tannins" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Jan 2017