I tasted the 2019 Mazuelo de la Quinta Cruz, again an evolution of the style of the 2017, from the vineyards on stony soils in the Calvario zone, 1.4 hectares planted in 1986 where they get some 3,500 kilos. It's 13.5% alcohol, which is moderate but a full 1% higher than the 2018, the warmest and ripest for this wine for sure; it was a warm year with very low yields because of frost, and the grapes were picked in mid-October. Some 50% of the volume matured in concrete and the other half in 500-liter barrels. This is more Mediterranean, round and riper, with lovely Cari?ena rusticity. 2,960 bottles were filled in March 2020.

I also tasted the 2018 Mazuelo de la Quinta Cruz, which follows the style of the 2017 with a bright ruby color and a classical, clean and balanced nose that denotes youth. The nose was a bit closed and took time to take off, but the perfumed fruit was noticeable in the palate straight away. It's only 12.5% alcohol, a little lighter and certainly more ethereal than the 2017, but it seems to have developed full flavors through a slow ripening process. This 2018 went through malolactic and 14 months aging in four 500-liter casks and five 225-liter barriques, and the oak is neatly folded into the wine. Transparent is a word that comes to mind. Purity and symmetry. 3,200 bottles were filled in March 2020.

A wine that has disappointed me in previous vintages was a revelation this time. Despite the challenging year, the 2017 Mazuelo de la Quinta Cruz has a floral and harmonious nose, and it's clean and expressive, medium-bodied and fluid, balanced and elegant, with very fine tannins and a long, dry and clean finish. It's a lot more elegant than the majority of Mazuelo/Cari?ena bottlings. It's also a single-vineyard wine from a plot on the east slope of the Calvario Mountain in Briones, 1.2 hectares planted in 1986. It has moderate alcohol and very good freshness, ripe without excess, and it should show even better with a little more time in bottle, as it still shows a little of the élevage in three 225-liter barriques. 1,485 bottles were filled in March 2019.

I found similar tempera paint, fountain pen ink, cured leather and licorice aromas as in previous vintages of the 2014 Mazuelo de la Quinta Cruz, which provided an overall animal character. It has a medium-bodied palate with fine tannins and delicate balance. 3,996 bottles were filled in December 2015.

The 2013 Mazuelo de la Quinta Cruz is plagued with tempera pain, fountain pen ink, cured leather and licorice aromas with an overall animal character. It has a light to medium-bodied palate where the fruit seems to be receding. 2,744 bottles.