This is showing notes of walnuts, dried blueberries, poached plums, spice box and aniseed. Creamy and polished with a full body and firm tannins. Excellent balance and integration, with delicious dark fruit and mocha notes lingering. Drink or hold.

The 2017 Hacienda Pradolagar showed better than the 2016. It's a blend of Tempranillo and 20% Mazuelo that matured in new barrels for 20 months. They have shortened the élevage, and even if the wine is still 14.62% alcohol, it feels fresher and more balanced. It's still a full blast red with plenty of everything, with plenty of tannins that might need more time and/or powerful food. It finishes with some astringency. 3,915 bottles.

This bold red delivers ripe yet fresh flavors on a full yet nimble frame. Cherry, red currant and kirsch notes mingle with tobacco, mint and mineral flavors, focused and defined. There's plenty of structure, yet the wine remains graceful, with a long, floral finish. Drink now through 2030. 300 cases made, 10 cases imported.??–TM??Region: Spain / Rioja Select to Add

Same as in previous vintages, the 2010 Hacienda Pradolagar includes up to 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, but it's not explicit anywhere, as the grape is tolerated but cannot be mentioned. It has the same amount of Tempranillo with 10% each Mazuelo and Graciano aged for two years in new French and Russian oak barrels. The nose has plenty of roasted notes with dark aromas of peat, fountain pen ink, licorice and a touch of leather giving it an animal character. With time you get more cigar box and minty aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with herbal/paprika flavors where you notice the Bordeaux grape and it is framed by fine-grained tannins and a slightly warm finish. 3,000 bottles.

The blend of the 2008 Hacienda Pradolagar includes 40% Cabernet Sauvignon in its blend, which has a huge imprint on the wine. I have nothing against Cabernet Sauvignon in Rioja, and I love some of the old Cuvee Medoc bottlings from Marques de Riscal, but the fact is that the grape easily masks the identity of the wines. Having said that, this is impeccably made showing some herbaceous notes of green pepper and mint, cigar box and leather aromas with a core of crisp fruit. The palate is very supple, with pungent acidity and very fine tannins. I cannot help of thinking (again) of a (good) Bordeaux with flavors that remain in my mouth for a long time. Drink 2014-2022. These were modern Riojas in their early days (the winery was created in 1989), often marked by the Cabernet Sauvignon used in many of their wines which seem to be turning more classical as time passes by. Imported by Steve Miles Selections, Denver, CO; tel. (303) 495-3811