1997 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904

Community Tasting Notes (186) Avg Score: 91.7 points

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  3/31/2024 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points

  Full garnet, mid ruby at its core. Red fruit, church pew and a hint of warm leather.This bottle quite bright and youthful and not yet at the orange zest phase. Lovely bright red fruit combining strawberry, cranberry and a pinch of hibiscus. Lovely line. Super wine, and coped admirably with roast saddle of hogget with wild garlic pesto. ****

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  1/23/2024 - rossi.wine wrote: 93 Points

  Tasted next to the 2005. Unsurprisingly more evolved with more tertiary characteristics. Very mellow and soft, super expressive nose. Again lovely acidity and overall balance. Very long. Maybe not quite as concentrated and dense as the 2005, but so open and expressive at this stage. Slowly drink up. 92-94

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  12/27/2023 - PSPatrick wrote: 92 Points

  The wine seemed rustic upon opening, so I decided to decant it for two hours in the morning and poured it over dinner, and it did the trick. Medium garnet colour. Red fruit, dried cherry, wild strawberry, intense dill, tobacco, espresso, milk chocolate, spices, clove, some cinnamon, some vanilla, and balsamic notes, with some VA, high-pitched acidity, round tannin, and very good length. Medium-bodied, with building complexity, a smooth, lightly creamy texture, and great persistence. Classic Rioja in many ways, but not in full harmony yet, and not as satisfying as I had expected. Still, this is a very good Rioja that can be enjoyed now (preferably after extended aeration), and over the next 15 to 20 years. 92(+)

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  12/5/2023 - sjfunkenhauser wrote: 93 Points

  Concentrated and in your face, which settles in with some air.
  
  Medium garnet colour.
  
  Pronounced aromas of vanilla, oak, fresh dill, black cherry, dried sour cherry, dried strawberry, leather, dried sage, dried earth, Christmas cake, dried red plums, cinnamon, incense, cigar box, mushroom, forest floor.
  
  Pronounced palate.
  
  Medium body, high acidity, medium (-) tannins, long finish.

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  11/20/2023 - Irish_Wine Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Expressive nose with no decant. A whack of dill together with black cherry, dried cranberry and coconut. Layers of cigar box, forest floor and leather. Medium to full bodied on the the palate with ample acidity and well resolved tannins. Persistent tart cherry and dill on the finish. Fully mature and delicious now. No rush but why wait.
  
  WSET Notes:
  
  Medium garnet.
  
  Pronounced on the nose with black cherry, blackberry, coconut, dill, dried cranberry, cedar, tobacco, forest floor, vanilla pod, leather. Fully developed.
  
  Pronounced and dry on the palate with tart cherry coming through. Medium body, medium alcohol, high acidity, medium tannins, long finish.
  
  Can drink now but has potential for ageing.

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