"Inky ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe, oak-spiced dark berries, candied flowers, vanilla and incense, plus a smoky mineral overtone. Sappy, plush and pure on the palate, offering deeply concentrated blackberry, boysenberry and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out on the back half. The extremely long, smoke-tinged finish displays silky tannins, outstanding clarity and an echo of candied flowers. - Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (May 2017), 94 pts
"The only 2012, the 2012 El Anejon is the flagship cuvée of the estate and is a parcel selection of 78% Tempranillo and 11% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot brought up in French oak. This rock star of a wine got more than a few “wows” in the notes and boasts a fabulous bouquet of crème de cassis, black raspberries, toasted spice, and vanilla bean. Full-bodied, powerful, and concentrated, it’s still incredibly elegant and seamless, with beautiful purity and no hard edges. In addition, its oak is perfectly integrated, and it has a sense of freshness and purity that’s just about off the charts. You can drink this today or cellar bottles for another decade or more. Bravo!"
- Jeb Dunnuck (March 27th 2019), 97 pts
"The heady, ripe, dark, dense and concentrated 2014 El Anejón shows better balance than the Cuesta de las Liebres from this same vintage. It also has more terroir expression. It has chalky tannins and, in its style, is quite balanced and has a certain elegance. 17,000 bottles and 200 magnums were filled after 12 months in French barriques. - Luis Gutierrez"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue #238, August 31st 2018), 93+ pts
- Jeb Dunnuck (March 27th 2019), 95+ pts
"A rich, fruity red from the Duero with lovely, sweet strawberries and cherries and hints of chocolate and toasted oak. Lovely balance and allure. Drink or hold."
- James Suckling (November 2020), 93 pts
"Dark ruby. Highly perfumed cherry, black raspberry, potpourri and exotic spice scents on the incisive nose; subtle licorice and woodsmoke qualities add complexity. Vibrant, sweet and expansive in the mouth, with a core of juicy acidity giving spine to palate-staining red and blue fruit compote, floral pastille and spicecake flavors. The floral quality gains strength on the finish, which shows outstanding tenacity and lingering cherry and mineral notes. - Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (February 2021), 95 pts
"Very different in style from the more powerful 2015 release, although this 2016 still has 15.5% alcohol, the latest bottling of El Anejón also has a much higher percentage of Tempranillo, with 4% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon making up the balance. Sourced from a single parcel on limestone at 850 metres, it's wonderfully floral and fresh, with violet and black cherry notes, fine new wood and a hint of stony reduction."
- Tim Atkin (Ribera Del Duero 2020/21 Top 100), 96 pts
