TOP 100 SPANISH WINES OF 2016 
95-Points by Tim Atkin & Guia Penin.
Rioja’s most celebrated winemakers and a mastermind when it comes to making world-class Tempranillo. The wine matured in brand new French oak barrels for a period of two years and was racked every four months. Intense purple in color with powerful and elegant aromas on the nose, including berry compote, mineral notes, ink, sweet spice, mint, wild herbs, toffee and cocoa. On the palate, the wine offers great harmony and balance with ripe tannins and complex flavors of wild berries, sultanas, licorice, coffee and Mediterranean forest herbs. With well-balanced acidity and an interminable finish, this wine will age well in bottle. Only 6,000 bottles produced!
Blend: 85% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano. 
 
Founded in 1986 by Miguel Ángel de Gregorio in the hillside town of Briones, Finca Allende is located in an ancient 17th century manor, set in a medieval town square within the heart of Rioja Alta. Roughly translated as ‘further,’ Allende’s philosophy is to go further towards creating the perfect Rioja. The majority of vines are plowed with mules, grapes are hand-harvested, triple-selected and manually punched-down, before undergoing extensive underground aging in both barrel and bottle. Known for producing round wines with great body and structure, each bottle is hand-crafted by and contains the signature of Miguel Ángel de Gregorio. Considered to be Spain’s first terroirist, Miguel Ángel’s sincere dedication to natural farming and preserving the integrity of Rioja Alta, are why he is one of the region’s most celebrated winemakers and a mastermind when it comes to making world class estate-grown wines.