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The 2016 Viña Cubillo Tinto Crianza was surprising, spectacular, elegant, clean and fresh like few vintages before. It was a superb year, with quality, quantity and freshness. It’s quite the opposite from the previous 2015, which was a much warmer and riper year. The 2016s have moderate alcohol and especially the perception of less ripeness (even though the alcohol is very similar). It feels very young, still quite primary. Mercedes explained, "Cubillas, a 24-hectare plot, is a vineyard that could produce Gran Reserva wines. It’s a very good vineyard, but we would miss the Crianza in our range". In fact, the comment was that this vintage is even a challenge for the Viña Tondonia red "because of its price." It is indeed a bargain. "But it doesn’t have the finesse of Tondonia," concluded María José. Anyway, it’s super tasty. 92,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2022.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RP

An ethereal and classic style with tertiary semi-dried plum, strawberry, cedar, mocha and coffee oak aromas and flavours, silky tannins and well-integrated zesty acidity. A magnificent wine that needs spicy lamb chops.Decanter | 97 DEC

The single-vineyard 2016 A Merced del Bierzo El Canto comes from a plot in San Lorenzo in Ponferrada, 0.7 hectares of north-facing vines on slate soils. The mixed grapes from the old vines fermented together with full clusters and indigenous yeasts in tinaja, where the wine macerated with the skins for five months. It was then transferred to used barriques where it aged for 15 months. It felt very compact and complete, with more freshness than the 2015. This is the vineyard they liked better from the two plots they used for the A Merced label, the more vertical one, and this is the one that is going to continue in the future (they have already vinified 2017 and 2018). 2016 is a balanced and fresh year, and this wine has a superb palate with piercing flavors and citrus, blood orange-like freshness. 2,500 bottles were filled in May 2018.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RP

The current 2016 Jesús Yllera is floral and perfumed and is evolving nicely and absorbing the oak, coming through as both elegant and powerful, with fully developed flavors and a polished palate. It’s sleek and balanced. 145,000 bottles were filled in July of 2018.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP