Viña Alicia Tiara 2013
Straw yellow color, with flashes of lemon that give the wine notes of maturity. In the mouth it is ample, unctuous, and caresses the palate, spewing harmoniously fruity notes of peach, apricot, honey. Its aromatic and gustative profile define its equilibrium. Clean and elegant, of compact structure and great precision.
91 pts Robert Parker Jr.’s The Wine Advocate (JM)
The 2013 Tiara is an unusual blend of 50% Riesling, 40% Albarino and 10% Savagnin, which has a golden color and is produced with fruit from the same vineyard as their Paso de Piedra Chardonnay at 11,300 plants per hectare planted some 35 years ago by Alberto Arizu. The grapes are hand-destemmed (they have 40 people doing this!), co-fermented, and in contact with their lees for seven months in a cold room (14-15 degrees C), resulting in a very aromatic, floral wine, with white fruit and a savory touch (it made me think of chicken stock or umami?). Intense, with very good acidity, focus and balance, it is an interesting white. The first vintage was 2006 and it is still going strong. Drink 2014-2018.
89 pts Stephen Tanzer’s IWC (ST)
(50% riesling, 40% albarino and 10% savagnin; done in stainless steel): Bright, light yellow. Fascinating dusty, cool aromas of licorice and menthol, with a riesling-like fusel quality; not about fruit. Juicy, spicy, brisk and dry, with lovely intensity and spine. Serious acid cut is buffered by mid-palate texture. Rather sophisticated wine, less floral but more obviously structured than the 2012 version.