Potent, creamy, concentrated.
Made from the trifecta of Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo this quite potent Cava is made in the traditional method and suggests aromas of bread dough and dried acacia, preserved melon, yellow apples and lemon meringue. It has notable concentration and flavours of grilled apples brioche and burnt honey and charred lemon peel. Creamy and quite full-bodied, this isn't a lightweight Cava rather it's more considerable.
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 3rd, 2023

Silky, fresh, mature.
Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana (aka CVNE or as a mistake would have it, CUNE) are wines produced from the 5th generation of its original founders; a family that also bottled the first white wine in Spain. It started with the Real de Asua brothers in 1879.
Made predominantly from Tempranillo (with 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo) this gran reserva was aged for 24 months in French and American oak barrels and then in bottle for an additional 36 months before release.
It shows maturity in notes of bruised strawberries, balsamic, dried roses, molasses, leather, pipe tobacco, carob and charred orange peels. The palate mimics the nose but shows notable freshness along with red berries, fine spices, anise, tealeaf and dried flowers. The palate is silky and the tannins sooty. Lovely.

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Pairs great with Gone Crackers Parmesan & Rosemary
 
©copyright 2022 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 13th, 2022

Succulent, expressive, mature.
Made from Tempranillo (85%) and Garnacha this reserva was aged for 18 months in French and American oak barrels and then in bottle for a year following before release. It definitely shows maturity, but is still wonderfully fresh.
Scented with smoked cherries and strawberry compote, sweet spices and desiccated roses with hints of iodine, bacon fat and minerality. Succulent, silky and fresh in the mouth it has expressive fruit and spice with coffee flavours trailing on the finish.
Pairs great with Gone Crackers Parmesan & Rosemary
 
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 9th, 2020

Approachable, jammy, fresh.
Established in 1815, Fonseca belongs in the first rank of Vintage Port houses and is regarded as one of the most stylistically consistent of the classic Vintage Port houses.
Its Ports have been made by five generations of the Guimaraens family since its foundation and its wines are made from the estates of Panascal, Cruzeiro and Santo Antonio.
In 2006 it became the first house to offer a Port made entirely from organically produced grapes.
The Bin No. 27 is a great entry Port, offering a potpourri of dried flowers and cedar, cherries and strawberry, prune plums and spiced chocolate. Approachable and fresh with a supple weight and jammy fruit flavours, it is a rich wine with a cherry cola flavoured finish.
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 4th, 2023

Organic, fleshy, luscious.
Established in 1815, Fonseca belongs in the first rank of Vintage Port houses and is regarded as one of the most stylistically consistent of the classic Vintage Port houses.
Its Ports have been made by five generations of the Guimaraens family since its foundation and the wines are made from the estates of Panascal, Cruzeiro and Santo Antonio.
In 2006 it became the first house to offer a Port made entirely from organically produced grapes.
The Terra Prima is a concentrated Port offering grapey aromas layered with violets, prune, blueberry, baking spice and chocolate. The palate is just as intense with its sweet grapey flavours wrapped in luscious purple fruit, spice and botanical. Slick and concentrated fresh ad lengthy it trails fine white pepper across the finish.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 17th, 2020