It's not every day you run into a Dane making wines in Spain. Nicholas Hammeken founded his winery in 1996 after honing his marketing and sales skills for years in the UK and falling in love with Spain. The Hammeken Cellars labels wow with their spunky, fun attitudes, and his value-driven wines are lively and made for early drinking.

Sparkling Wines
87
Gran Castillo Rocío NV Cava Brut 11.5%
Smelling of beeswax, yellow plum and golden apple skin, this aromatic and generously flavored sparkler is set to make many friends between its attractive combo of fruit-driven and savory characters. Showing good mid-palate heft with persistent, refreshing bubbles, lightly tangy acidity and a dry finish, this is nice on its own as well as with savory dishes.
Drink: 2021-22 

83
Gran Castillo Rocío NV Cava Brut Rosé 12.5%
Showing a sweet-tart profile, this is a rather awkward on the palate. Rhubarb, candied strawberry and dried flowers start off the nose and follow onto the palate where a searing dryness quickly wipes off the fruit flavors. The light mid-palate plumpness is pleasant, but the disappearing finish leaves much wanting.
Drink: 2021-22 

Whites
88
Gotas de Mar 2020 Albariño Rías Baixas 13%
Showy and dynamic, this Albariño is a wildly fruit-driven wine with emphatic peach core flavors highlighted by ginger spice. Medium in body with good structural oomph, this is ready to enjoy now and has solid structure to hold a few years.
Drink: 2021-23

86
Piquitos 2019 Moscato Valencia 11%
Juicy with oodles of ripe apricot, peach and wildflower blooms, this is a dynamic Moscato ready to make lots of friends. It's mouthcoating and generous in texture and its fruit-forward qualities make it a perfume powerhouse. Ready to enjoy!
Drink: 2021-22