Norrel Robertson MW is a remarkable character and phenomenal winemaker. He has been making wine in Spain for 18 years and is currently one of only four Masters of Wine working in the country, earning him the nickname the flying Scotsman, or 'El Escocés Volante'.

An estate continually on the rise, the 2018 releases from his namesake winery in Aragon's Calatayud are his finest to date. The particular stand-out, for its combination of value and quality, is undoubtedly the El Escocés Volante Dos Dedos de Frente 2018.

Robertson believes this 10th release of his stunning single-vineyard, high-altitude, late-ripening Syrah is the 'most balanced to date', and the critics agree. Scoring 95 points from the Wine Advocate's Luis Gutiérrez and a huge 18/20 from JancisRobinson.com's Ferran Centelles, this is a 'showy and exuberant' Syrah 'more in the style of Guigal than Clape' (WA).

Centelles agrees with Robertson that '2018 has been the greatest year for this wine'. While it is juicy, rich and deep, there is mouth-watering acidity that 'manages to keep the freshness and tension' (WA). A wine that 'should age nicely' (WA) for its humble price-point of only £17.50 per bottle IB, it will cellar up to 2030.

Before becoming a Master of Wine in 2000, Robertson worked vintages in Chianti in Italy, Portugal, Australia, France and Chile. This vast and varied experience contributed to him winning the Robert Mondavi Award for the 'best overall theory performance' in the Master of Wine exams. While he now consults for many other high profile wineries in Spain, it is his Calatayud based winery where his heart is.

Released at just £105 per case IB, the El Escocés Volante Dos Dedos de Frente 2018 is one of the best examples of Spanish Syrah. It competes with many of the great wines of the Northern Rhône in quality, but at a fraction of the cost.