Sarah Jane Evans MW, Christine Allen and Beth Willard tasted 159 wines, with 13 Outstanding and 67 Highly recommended.
Spanish indigenous reds panel tasting scores
159 wines tasted
Exceptional 0
Outstanding 13
Highly recommended 67
Recommended 72
Commended 4
Fair 3
Poor 0
Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit current-release red wines made from any Spanish grape except Tempranillo, encompassing single varietals or blends including at least 85% of one indigenous Spanish grape, the remaining 15% also of native varieties
How do you approach a tasting with 20 or more different varieties from all across Spain? In our case, with pleasure and anticipation. The aim of this tasting was to showcase the exciting range of native red varieties to discover in Spain. The tasting revealed the mosaic that is Spain: in terrain, in climate and in landscape – and in diversity of varieties.
Our overriding verdict from the tasting is that Spain is the country for explorers. Step outside your usual choices on the wine list, and you will be charmed. Half the wines here scored 90 points or above, and 13 of them were rated Outstanding (see below).
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top wines from the Spanish indigenous reds panel tasting
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Top scoring Spanish indigenous reds
{}
{"wineId":"63558","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63559","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63561","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63560","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63562","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63564","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63566","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63565","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63567","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63570","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63568","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63563","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63569","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63571","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63572","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63574","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63576","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63575","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63577","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63573","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63584","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63579","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63585","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63581","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63583","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63587","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63578","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63580","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63582","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63586","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"63588","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{}
The judges
Sarah Jane Evans MW is a Decanter contributing editor and Co-Chair of the Decanter World Wine Awards. Her latest book The Wines of Central and Southern Spain is due out in January 2023.
Christine Allen is marketing director for fine wine distributor Maisons Marques et Domaines. With years of experience in both on- and off-trade as well as in fine wine, she is particularly focused on Old World regions, notably Spain, Portugal and Burgundy, and is a DWWA judge for Spain.
Beth Willard is involved in sourcing wines for both the on- and off-trade in the UK, with a particular focus on Spain and Eastern Europe. Formerly buying manager at Direct Wines, she is a DWWA joint Regional Chair for Spain, and a member of Spain’s Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino.
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