Atalaya Almansa Laya Old Vines 2021

90 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): "The 2021 Laya was produced with 70% Garnacha Tintorera and 30% Monastrell, looking for a fruit-driven and easy to drink red with 14.5% alcohol, ripe fruit and a soft texture. 2021 was warmer than the average but with some cold spells, especially the one in January called Filomena that brought lots of snow, despite which, it was also a dry year and they got up to 40% less grapes. This fermented in stainless steel vats with neutral yeasts, with malolactic in barrel, where the wine matured for four months. This shows some toasty oak, but it might be because it's too young and very recently bottled. But vintages seem to take oak differently; they believe this will show as integrated as the 2020. Time will tell. In any case, it's a wine for the short term, and it's very good for what it is. 360,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2022. Drink: 2022-2026. (4/29/22)"

89 points James Suckling: "Rich, deep and fruity, saturated with morello cherries, sour plums, grilled Mediterranean herbs and spices. Quite fruity and generous palate with a certain amount of sweetness that makes it flattering, easy and approachable. Soft and smooth. Garnacha tintorera and monastrell. Vegan. Drink now. (4/9/22)"