The latest Wine Advocate is out with some exceptional scores for Telmo Rodriguez. These ratings demonstrate the tremendous quality that exists across all of Telmo’s wines, a feat that is all the more remarkable when you consider that these wines are being made in all four corners of Spain, from Malaga to Rioja, with each region presenting a unique terroir and a unique set of challenges. The scores can be found below the jump. Congratulations to the entire Telmo Rodriguez team!
“The white wines in his latest collection include the 2008 Basa, a blend of 60% Verdejo, 30% Viura, and 10% Sauvignon Blanc from the DO of Rueda. The wine was fermented and raised in stainless steel. Medium straw-colored, it gives up an expressive perfume of fresh herbs, baking spices, citrus, melon, and floral notes. Round and vibrant on the palate, it has excellent volume, concentration, and focus. Drink this tasty effort over the next 12-18 months. It is an excellent value.” 88 Wine Advocate
Telmo Rodriguez Gaba do Xil Godello 2008
“The 2008 Gaba do Xil is 100% Godello from Valdeorras. Stainless steel fermented and raised, it displays a light straw color, and enticing aromas of mineral, baking spices, spring flowers, citrus, and almonds. In the mouth it has excellent concentration, ripe, savory flavors, vibrant acidity, and a clean, lengthy finish. Drink it over the next 2-3 years.” 89 Wine Advocate
Telmo Rodriguez Dehesa Gago 2008
“The 2008 Dehesa Gago is 100% Tempranillo from Toro aged in stainless steel. It is deep crimson-colored with an expressive nose of spicy black fruits, Asian spices, incense, and violets. Ripe and tasty, this superb value is all about pleasure; Drink it over the next 4-5 years.” 90 Wine Advocate
“The 2006 Gago from Toro was fermented in foudre and raised in new French oak for 12 months. It has a delightful bouquet of toasty oak, Asian spices, lavender, espresso, licorice, and blackberry. This opulent, buxom beauty will deliver pleasure now through 2018.” 92 Wine Advocate
Telmo Rodriguez Pago la Jara 2006
“The purple-colored 2006 Pago la Jara (G) was sourced from ungrafted 50-year-old vines and aged for 18 months in barrique. The nose displays tons of spice, and a confiture of black fruits. Sweet, dense, and layered, it requires 3-5 years of additional cellaring. This opulent offering will be in its prime from 2013 to 2026.” 94 Wine Advocate
“The grapes for the 2008 LZ were sourced from the eastern part of Rioja. The wine is 100% Tempranillo fermented and raised in stainless steel. It proffers a fragrant perfume of spice box, mineral and black cherry compote, the fruit displaying a slightly roasted character that adds flavor interest. Sweetly-fruited, savory, and impeccably balanced, this is an impressive introduction to the Rioja version of the Tempranillo grape.” 90 Wine Advocate
“The oak aged red wines begin with the 2006 Lanzaga, made from 100% Rioja Tempranillo and aged for 14 months in foudre followed by 6 months in barrique. Captivating aromas of wood smoke, spice box, incense, violets, and black cherry lead to a medium to full-bodied, fresh lively wine with plenty of succulent fruit, excellent balance, a bit of structure, and a lengthy, pure finish. Although it is likely to evolve for 1-2 years, it can be approached now.” 91 Wine Advocate
Telmo Rodriguez Altos de Lanzaga 2005
“The 2005 Altos de Lanzaga was sourced from 70-year-old Rioja vines from a single 9 acre parcel. It was fermented in large oak and raised in new barriques. The aromatics show off toasty oak notes, pencil lead, mineral, espresso, and blackberry. Velvety-textured with well-concealed underlying structure, it has gobs of fruit and flavor, impeccable balance, and will have a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2025, if not longer.” 94 Wine Advocate
“The 2008 Gazur is also 100% Tempranillo raised in stainless steel but, in this case, the fruit is from Ribera del Duero. Dark ruby in color, it reveals scents of spice box, scorched earth, espresso, black cherry, and black raspberry. Complex, fragrant, and with a bit of structure, this excellent value will provide pleasure over the next 5 years.” 88 Wine Advocate
Telmo Rodriguez M2 de Matallana 2005
“The 2005 M2 is Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero aged for 14 months in 50% new French oak. It surrenders a superb aromatic array of smoke, grilled meat, incense, espresso, and assorted black fruits. Opulent on the palate, it is loaded with succulent fruit and spice. Nicely balanced and built for pleasure, it could be the perfect match for barbecued baby back ribs. Drink this rich offering through 2020.” 93 Wine Advocate
Telmo Rodriguez Matallana 2005
“The 2005 Matallana was sourced from a biodynamically farmed vineyard with crushing done by foot. It was aged for 20 months in 50% new French oak. Purple in color, it has a brooding nose of pain grille, graphite, espresso, incense and a potpourri of black fruits, Youthful on the palate, it has plenty of ripe tannin that will require 5-7 years of cellaring. However, the wine has all the right stuff, and it is only a matter of time before my score will appear conservative.” 94+ Wine Advocate
“The 2005 Pegaso from Barrancas de Pizarra was sourced 60- to 80-year-old Garnacha vines planted on pure slate soil. The wine was aged for 15 months in French oak. Aromas of smoke, pencil lead, scorched earth, mineral, espresso, and black cherry lead to a dense, full-bodied, sweetly-fruited, layered Garnacha with impeccable balance for its size and a long, fruit-filled finish. Drink this pleasure bent offering through 2020.” 93 Wine Advocate
Telmo Rodriguez Almuvedre 2008
“The 2008 A1 Muvedre Tinto Joven is 100% bush vine Monastrell from the DO of Alicante. It sports an alluring bouquet of brier, wild cherry, spice box, incense, and plum. Smooth textured, spicy, and well-balanced, it is an outstanding value in savory red wine for drinking over the next 3 years.” 89 Wine Advocate
Telmo Rodriguez Gaba do Xil Mencia 2008
“The unoaked 2008 Gaba do Xil Mencia from Valdeorras, dark ruby-colored, it reveals a delightful potpourri of red fruits including raspberry, cranberry, and pomegranate along with earth and mineral. Ripe, sweetly-fruited, and pleasure-bent, it is an outstanding value and a great introduction to the Mencia grape.” 90 Wine Advocate