Desde un viognier griego hasta un rioja gran reserva. Esos son algunos de los vinos que incluye el Top Ten 2021 de la revista británica The Drinks Business. Todos ellos forman parte de los miles de vinos catados a ciegas durante este año en una amplia gama de concursos que premian vinos de una variedad o de una zona conocidos como The Global Masters.
Los requisitos exigidos para formar parte de esta lista por el master of wine y editor de la publicación, Patrick Schmitt, son ser competitivo y asequible. El precio en mercado británico de todos ellos es inferior a treinta libras esterlinas salvo el de un champán. En la relación, que Schmitt define como muy personal, hay un solo vino español al que considera fantástico y completamente maduro. “Esta es una región que ofrece tanto valor en el nivel superior como en la gama de entrada”, añade refiriéndose a Rioja.
- Viña Pomal Gran Reserva
I was delighted, and somewhat surprised considering the quality of the Viña Pomal Gran Reserva 2014, to see that it slips in under my self-imposed £30 price limit – a reminder to me at least of the incredible value in this Spanish wine region. This example is true to the style of Viña Pomal, a producer that seems to successfully straddle the classic and modern faces of Rioja by making wines with weight and richness, but not too much sweetness and concentration. This is especially seen with this producer’s outstanding Gran Reserva, an aged style of Rioja that tends to feature wonderful characters from extended maturation in barrels, but can also result in wines with faded fruit, and too much tannin. In this case, you get the positives without the downsides, as the wine contains plenty of fleshy, ripe red and dark fruit, from cherry to raspberry, then some more developed notes of sweet balsamic, prune and cedar, along that wonderfully refreshing combination of bright acidity, and a dry, grippy tannic edge. Indeed, this Gran Reserva has hit a sweet spot in terms of power, elegance and maturity.
Producer: Bodegas Bilbaínas
Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Vintage: 2014
Blend: Tempranillo 90%, Graciano 10%
ABV: 14%
UK retail price: £26
Medal: Master – The Rioja Masters 2021
Más información: https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com
Foto: Ira Pavlyukovich (Unsplash)