92 Vinous
(aged for 16 months in 60 percent French and 40 percent American oak barrels, all of them new) Opaque ruby. Fresh red and blue fruits on the highly perfumed nose, complicated by candied lavender, vanilla and five-spice powder notes. Juicy, deeply concentrated raspberry and boysenberry flavors show a smooth, supple texture, and mocha and white pepper notes emerge with air. Closes on an appealingly sweet note, with supple, even tannins folding steadily into the plush fruit.
92 Wine Spectator
Expressive flavors of cherry, raspberry and dark chocolate mingle in this polished red, balanced by notes of licorice and wild herbs. The tannins are well-integrated, and balsamic acidity keeps this balanced. Dense and harmonious, in the modern style. Drink now through 2022
91 Robert Parker
Most of the Moncayo wines tend to sell for higher prices, but the 2014 Alto Moncayo Veraton is their least expensive cuvée, overseen by famous Barossa Australian winemaker Chris Ringland. Made from 100% Grenache, it was aged in 60% new French oak and 40% American oak barrels for 16 months prior to bottling without filtration. This is a 1,500-case cuvée that is pedal-to-the-metal material, as one might expect from Ringland. With an opaque ruby/purple color, beautiful blackberry, charcoal and oaky notes are followed by a modern-style wine with huge fruit, big body, sweet tannin and a long finish. Drink it over the next 5-6 years.<br/>