Archive: Ratings

A rainy winter led to a humid growing season with high mildew pressures and ample heat. The 2018 has a bright bay leaf and bay laurel quality with notes of liquroice, wet river stones, with dried black currants. Medium-bodied with juicy layers of dark berry fruits, crushed slate, and austere tannins frame a bright and grippy wine that needs time in the bottle to come together.

The 2017 has an incredible grip with saline minerality and high-toned herbal nuances. Medium-bodied with robust, granular tannins and plenty of racy acidity, helping keep everything fresh and layered.

Following the 2014 vintage, the 2015 Tinata release came from an earlier harvest and season that was reasonably even-keeled. I tasted the 2015 in a vertical from 2008-2021 in August 2024. Here is a more powerful expression of Tinata, with broad-shouldered, muscular tannins that are firm, a bit sappy, and compact. Dark berry fruits mingle with wild herbs, mocha, and sandalwood through the expressive and mineral-laced finish.

he 2014 vintage was notably tricky for growers. The aromas and flavours are laced with more spice notes, white and shishitto pepper, and black tea overtones. Medium-bodied with soft tannins and acidity, this is one to drink now while the older vintages continue their march toward brilliance.

The 2013 vintage led with massive amounts of rain in the winter, but much of it washed off and did not penetrate deeply. The growing season was even-keeled, with some rain in August, but ultimately a long, slow ripening cycle—a deep ruby colour. Tasted in August of 2024, it marries the reticence of the 2010 vintage with the sucrosity of the 2009, but is imminently fresh, elegant, and poised. High-toned aromas of cherry, tobacco, and leather with bright garrigue and floral notes. The tannins are present but featherweight, with a black tea quality, while the fruit density is layered and pure, underscored by crisp acidity and a long black truffle and white pepper finish.

Drought conditions marked the 2012 season, and the wines possess excellent concentration. I tasted a vertical of the 2008-2021 vintages in August 2024. Indeed, 2012 bears the mark of deep concentration, showing a deep ruby in the glass and richly scented with black and red currants, plums, and a lifted sweetness balanced by the kind of density that comes from biting into soft, silky Bari dates. The tannins are incredibly compact and fine-grained here. White truffle, dried violets, white pepper, and zesty blood orange fuel the long finish.

ne of the coolest vintages in the last 20 years. A very rainy winter led to a long, cool growing season with lots of cloud cover. Temperatures rarely peaked above 22C. Harvest went late into October. The wine is subdued, with less personality than the 2009, and subtler aromatic and flavour qualities, with compactness and plenty of freshness and verve to warrant a very long life. The fact that at 14 years of age, this is still so reticent is a good sign, I think, and underneath its shyness (revealed with a good amount of air) is a full-bodied wine with sweet-scented tannins and elegant floral notes driving the long finish.