Contributed by Rick Fisher from
Bodega: Adventures in Spanish Food & Wine

I will preface my comments by saying that I believe Wine Advocate has done a lot for Spanish wines in the U.S. Many feel that if you get a good “Parker rating” then you are set. I, on the other hand, have had some incredible wines that we rated lower on his scale and some adequate wines rated higher. With that being said, I challenge my friends to look past the ratings sometimes and try something “out of the ordinary.” I don’t know a country who has in some way bowed to the “Parkerization” of its wines, and Spain is no exception. I will say, however, that the true character and history of winemaking in Spain runs deep and pride carries them from vintage to vintage.

Last week the Jay Miller (Wine Advocate’s Spain taster) released his “Top 100 Wines from Spain” list and there are truly some tremendous wines on the list. The regional representation is excellent, and I would highly recommend anyone seek out the wines on the list. Additionally, I would encourage you again to try something that is new and fresh. Who knows? You may find your new favorite Summer wine. Below are a few comments from Jay Miller that I think help to understand what is happening in the country right now. Following those comments is the wine list.

“There are more choices than ever. Spanish white wines from 2009 are especially exciting. It was a splendid vintage in northern Spain and the whites from Rias Baixas (for Albariño), Rueda (for Verdejo) and Valdeorras (for Godello) are marvelously fresh, intense and riveting.”

“From a value standpoint, two categories require mentioning. Spain produces a bevy of delicious Rosés, almost all of them under $15… Spain’s Cavas are also making significant improvements in quality. The last two holiday seasons have been banner years for Cava because of Champagne prices and many new friends have been made.”

Wine
Score

2007 Pingus
99

2007 Espectacle Espectacle del Montsant
98

2006 Hermanos Sastre Pesus
98

NV Vega Sicilia Unico Reserva Especial
98

2007 Clos I Terrasses Clos Erasmus
98

2007 Benjamin Romeo Contador
98

2007 Dominio de Pingus Amelia
97

2000 Vega Sicilia Unico Reserva
97

2008 Bodegas Jimenez Landi El Reventon
97

2007 Numanthia Termanthia
97

2007 Alvaro Palacios L’Ermita
96

2007 Bodegas Emilio Moro Malleolus de Sancho Martin
96

2007 Bodegas El Nido El Nido
96

2006 Numanthia Termanthia
96

2008 Raul Perez Ultreia de Valtuille
96

2007 Bodegas Sierra Cantabria El Bosque
96

2008 Bodegas Jimenez Landi Cantos del Diablo
96

2007 Clos Mogador
96

2004 Cvne Real de Asua
95

1996 Cvne Contino Graciano
95

2001 Cvne Contino Graciano
95

2007 Descendientes de Jose Palacios Corullon Las Lamas
95

2001 Bodegas Y Vinedos Valduero Gran Reserva
95

2007 Benjamin Romeo La Vina de Andres Romeo
95

2007 Los Astrales Astrales Christina
95

2007 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Aquilon
95

2007 Aalto
95

2007 Mas Doix Doix Costers de Vinyes Velles
95

2005 Hermanos Sastre Regina Vides
95

2007 Dominio Do Bibei Lacima
95

2006 Finca Allende Aurus
95

2006 Bodegas Sierra Cantabria Amancio
95

2004 Remelluri Coleccion Jaime Rodriguez
95

2008 Raul Perez El Pecado
95

2008 Raul Perez Sketch
95

2007 Bodegas Y Vinedos Pujanza Pujanza Cisma
95

2005 Quinta Da Muradella Bastardo
95

2007 Quinta Da Muradella Qdm Albarello
95

2007 Nit de Nin Nit de Nin
95

2007 Bodegas Emilio Moro Malleolus de Valderramiro
95

2005 Mauro Terreus
94

2007 Bodegas El Nido Clio
94

2006 Muga Aro
94

2006 Numanthia
94

2007 Numanthia
94

2006 Vinedos de Paganos El Puntido
94

2007 Bodegas Y Vinedos Pujanza Pujaza Norte
94

2007 Pricum Valdemuz
94

2007 Quinta Da Muradella Finca Notario Single Vineyard
94

2006 Quinta Da Muradella Gorvia Red
94

2007 Quinta Da Muradella Qdm Souson
94

2007 Pingus Flor de Pingus
94

2007 Portal del Priorat Somni
94

2005 Vina Real Pagos de Vina Real
94

2007 Bodegas Sierra Cantabria Rioja Coleccion Privada
94

2006 Finca Villacreces Reserva
94

2004 Francesc Sanchez Bas Montsalvat
94

2006 Felix Callejo Family Reserve
94

2006 Ferrer-Bobet Ferrer Bobet Seleccio Especial
94

2006 Vinedos Y Bodegas Garcia Figuero Figuero Noble
94

2006 Dominio Do Bibei Lacima
94

2006 Dominio Do Bibei Brancellao
94

2005 Hermanos Sastre Pago de Santa Cruz
94

2007 Dominio Do Bibei Lalama
94

2005 Marques de Grinon Emeritus
94

2007 Mas Sinen Coster
94

2005 Luberri Finca Los Merinos
94

2005 Magallanes Seleccion
94

2007 Bodegas Y Vinedos del Jaro Sed de Cana
94

2006 Vinedos de Ithaca Odysseus Tinto
94

2007 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Alto Moncayo
94

2005 Anima Negra Son Negre
94

2008 Acustic Auditon
94

2006 Alion Alion
94

2007 Castro Ventosa Valtuille la Cova de la Raposa
94

2006 Bodegas Y Vinedos Valderiz Valderiz Tomas Esteban
94

2006 Valderiz Juegabolos Barricas Seleccionadas
94

2004 Bodegas Y Vinedos Valduero 6 Anos Reserva
94

2007 Vinas de la Vega del Duero Quinta Sardonia
94

2007 Celler Vall Llach Vall Llach
94

2006 Joan Simo Les Eres Vinya Velles
94

2005 Telmo Rodriguez Altos Lanzaga
94

2005 Telmo Rodriguez Matallana
94

2008 Terra de Verema Triumvirat
94

2006 Telmo Rodriguez G Pago la Jara
94

2007 Bodegas Teso la Monja Alabaster
94

2007 Finca Torremilanos El Roble Viejo
94

2004 Torres de Anguix A d’Anguix
94

2007 Descendientes de Jose Palacios Corullon Moncerbal
94

2001 Cvne Vina Real Gran Reserva
94

2004 CVNE Contino Gran Reserva
94

2001 CVNE Contino Vina del Olivo
94

2005 CVNE Contino Vina del Olivo
94

2005 Cvne Real de Asua
94

1970 CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva
94

1999 CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva
94

2007 Clos Erasmus Laurel
94

2007 Clos Figueras Clos Figueres
94

1968 CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva
94

2007 Cillar de Silos La Vina de Amalio
93

We are extremely fortunate to have some incredible Spanish wines available to us. Now get out there and drink some!

Life is short. Drink Spanish wine!

Rick Fisher is an independent Spanish wine & food journalist for "CataVino", author and publisher of the blog "Bodega: Adventures in Spanish Food & Wine" and also a blog contributor on VinVillage.com.