Gómez Cruzado Honorable 2019

The 2019 Honorable feels younger and a lot less developed than the majority of 2019s that I tasted for this report. It has a deep color and a youthful and expressive nose of ripe berries without any excess—clean and open, combining traditional and more modern characteristics. It's a classical blend of 80% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo that matured for 18 months in barrels, 80% French and 20% American. It's ripe, showing the powerful year, with 14.5% alcohol, freshness and balance and a pH of 3.73. 17,688 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 2022.

Very good depth, with incisive peppercorns, spices, fresh black cherries and blackberries. A touch of graphite as well. Rich but fresh, with fine-grained tannins and a long, spicy finish. Drink or hold. - Zekun Shuai, Senior Editor.