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Buy Online"A monumental wine for the price, one of the best value wines I’ve ever found." Steve Bennett, Master of Wine, Importer
Vino de Pago is produced in a very specific area of terroir, with specific characteristics of soil, climate and varieties that make unique, differentiated wines that are awarded the top classification of Spanish wine, “Denomination de Pago.” To date only 20 Spanish wineries have been classified "Denomination de Pago." Pago Aylés was the 10th to achieve the classification in 2010 and is the first and only Pago in the Aragon region. The estate is located in North-Eastern Spain, 30km from the city of Zaragoza with deep roots linked to the history of the province.
The Vino de Pago is a blend of all varietals grown on the property; Garnacha, Tempranillo, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cuesta del Herrero plots have pudding stones and clay soil with a high calcium component. This composition enables the production of fresh, vibrant wines of high quality due to a superior foliar balance and a slower grape maturity.
The result is an incredible “best buy.” Considering the astonishing amount of work and effort to stay true to history and the terroir, plus the attention to detail, if this monumental wine was French or Italian, it would be well over $50.
Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
"Attractive deep cherry red in colour. The wine displays pronounced intensity on the nose, well defined, with an extraordinary complex and wide range of aromas (fresh red fruits, ink, spices and final floral character). In the mouth the wine is clearly defined by its elegance and fruit intensity. Harmonious and well balanced, medium to full bodied leading to a rich mouth-filling finish with moderate tannins."
5 Star & 95/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, January 2024 (2021 Vintage)
"This is seductively delicious. Combining rich berry notes with warm spice, toasted nut, tapenade and dried flower nuances, it's gracefully opulent offering terrific fruit weight with savoury undertones. Plump and flavoursome with a sustained sturdy finish. Predominantly Garnacha & Tempranillo with small amounts of Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon. At its best: now to 2030."
Rated Excellent & 94/100 Cameron Douglas MS, February 2024 (2021 Vintage)
"Old world, old school, earthy and richly scented with a mix of dark berries and soft brown soil earth ideas, black currant and tobacco, black cherry and sweet spice, velvet flowers and barrel spice. Delicious on the palate with an abundance of fine chalky almost dusty tannins, medium acidity, then flavours of red fruit and spices that reflect the bouquet. Tannins stick to the palate and dissolve slowly, the core fruit flavours taper off to reveal some dry earth and barrel qualities. A delicious wine that will require your attention to the detail. Well made, lengthy and ready with best drinking from 2024 through 2030."
93/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review (2021 Vintage)
"An elegant blend of 50% Garnacha, 30% tempranillo, 12% merlot and 8% cabernet sauvignon. Deep, almost inky red wine with cherry/berry, baked earth, Christmas cake and chocolate/mocha flavours. Hearty, complex red."
92/100 James Suckling (2021 Vintage)
"Excellent depth to the black cherries, dark berries, dried flowers, Mediterranean herbs and dark spices. The creamy, caressing tannins are soaked up into the black cherry fruit on the medium-to full-bodied palate, making it a real pleasure now. From organically grown grapes."
Reviews for the 2020 vintage below…
97/100 & Best in Show – Decanter World Wine Awards 2021- Judges' Comments (2020 Vintage)
"There is yet more impressive “Iberian Best in Show” value from this Pago wine, the first in Aragon: Ayles, sited near to Zaragoza. It’s a young blend of Garnacha and Tempranillo with a little Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and stood out for successive panels of judges thanks to its generosity poise and charm. Dark black-red in colour, its sweet, pure black-cherry and plum fruits waft alluringly from the glass. The concentration is remarkable for this price bracket, and the combination of indigenous varieties with a seasoning of Bordeaux favourites brings the wine a complexity which almost comes as a surprise after its aromatic sweetness. It’s a wine from evidently propitious vineyards – about which we will surely hear more in future."
