Produced from 50-60 year old vines grown in the clay/limestone soils of the village of La Horra which are farmed with a specific intent to produce low yields of ripe, healthy grapes. Yields are below 20 hectoliters/hectare. Destemmed berries were fermented for 14 days prior to pressing in a small capacity, gentle, vertical basket press. Aged 15 months in 80% French and 20% American oak barrels. Bottled without filtration or clarification.
Smooth as silk and deep as night, this is a wonderful new-age wine with voluminous tree bark, maple and cassis aromas as well as a sweet undertext of perfume. The palate presents the truest mix of weight and finesse, and the finish is coffee, fine-knit tannins and length. Drinkable now with food, or hold for up to five years. Editors' Choice Issue 2006, June '07
The Wine Advocate
96
Even better is the 2004 Neo with its plush personality, soaring aromatics, and already complex flavors. Don’t be fooled, however; this is still a youthful wine that will benefit from another 4-6 years of cellaring and will drink well through 2029. Issue 189, June 2010
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
91
Inky ruby. Powerful, pungent and sweet on the nose, with intense blackberry and blackcurrant aromas accented by notes of licorice and baking spices. Deep, sweet and lush, with pure blackberry and boysenberry flavors, supple texture and intense notes of baking spices. Finishes with broad but harmonious tannins and lingering spice notes. Issue 128, Sept/Oct '06
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
92
Opaque purple. Energetic, mineral-accented raspberry and cassis aromas are complicated by violet, graphite and smoky bacon; smells like it's from the northern Rhone. Fresh red and dark berry flavors are refreshingly bitter and precise, with a peppery floral quality building with air. The very long finish offers racy cherry skin and mineral impressions. Wonderfully balanced and strikingly complex wine. Issue 134 Sept/Oct '07
Wine Spectator
96
This dense red shows power and harmony. It fills the palate with black plum, dark chocolate, mineral and gamy flavors, ripe, rich and thick. Muscular tannins dominate, but the wine remains focused and balanced; sweet fruit and spice linger on the finish. Best from 2010 through 2020. A Wine Spectator Insider Hot Wine
Issue 334, June 15 '08
International Wine Review
92
Bodegas J.C. Conde is a joint project of three young investors:
Javier Ajenjo, Julio Cesar Conde and Jose Luis Simón. Their wines
are made by the talented young winemaker, Isaac Fernandez
from 50 plus-year-old vines in the Pago de Cabarroso. The 2004
Neo is dark ruby in color and displays aromas of super ripe
black fruits, leather and roasted meats. On the palate, it is highly
concentrated with nicely integrated oak and big chewy tannins
on the finish. This is a big wine still in its youth. Issue 8, September '07
New York Times
NA
Women's Fashion Fall 2007 Samurai Sipper
by S.S. Fair
"For Miriam Shapiro, the artist who celebrates women's work with collages that combine the homely arts of quilting and embroidery, something old and something Neo: the 2004 Bodegas JC Conde "Neo"... an inky wallop of sugar and spice and everything lush, from PJ wine." Published in the August 26, '07 Style Magazine
