Jesús Barquín | Deep, almost opaque cherry. The nose is not very expressive but clean and alluring, with notes of spice and fresh black plum, and perhaps excessive presence of oak. The latter is more evident on the palate, with a rough finish. | 87

Andrew Jefford | Deep, saturated black-red. Sweet, earthy, and warm, exuberant and attractive, with a mixture of red and black fruit and a quiet, raw-beef note behind. A little incense wood, too. A carefully crafted aromatic profile. On the palate, I’m not sure the “oak” is a great success here (might it even be American?), and it seems to have added a distinctively sweet, minty note that is, for me, alien to the vivacity, thrust, and stoniness that is the Bierzo hallmark. It’s also softened out those pungent, grippy, food-friendly tannins. However, the raw materials are very fine; and one would wish for Bierzo, like all regions, to have a style spectrum. Very good wine, regardless of my qualms. | 89

Richard Mayson | Deep youthful color; open, exuberant, ripe blackberry-fruit character, with some depth underlying; similarly exuberant on the palate, with breadth but also with some rather rustic tannins toward the finish. Rather overextracted, which dilutes its charm. | 82