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| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 89.8 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 123 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Keith Levenberg on 1/14/2024 & rated 90 points: I would say this feels like it hasn't budged much since release, except that I actually did have it on release and it is much better now. Still with an evolved, tertiary profile but the fruit is redder and fuller so in that sense it actually feels fresher than it did on release. It's a comfort wine, like sinking into your favorite easy chair. Suave, rounded, and near-weightless. (1295 views) | | | Tasted by short and confused on 5/24/2021: 2nd to last of a case. I have loved the previous 10 bottles. This one felt very tired but Isuspect it was an off bottle. My previous bottle in 2020 was delicious. (2499 views) | | | Tasted by CADomer on 5/9/2020 & rated 92 points: Enjoyed over two days. Youthful notes of oak faded into fruitcake and leather. Overall this is a wine about balance, complexity, and class. Definitely more evolved than my last bottle, but plenty of life ahead for this one. (2542 views) | | | Tasted by maxima on 9/28/2019 & rated 90 points: Maison Mythique...for sure.
Nez sur le tabac et les cigares avec des fruits rouges.
En bouche, le boisé se fait encore présent mais pas trop, chocolat
et épices avec des tanins assez fins, belle souplesse et
finale longue. Bien aimé mais a encore un beau potentiel. (3323 views) | | | Tasted by diggydan on 8/9/2019 & rated 95 points: All is right when LdH is on. Beautiful, soft cherry notes emanating from an old oak box. (2647 views) | | | Tasted by diggydan on 12/9/2017 flawed bottle: Modest TCA muffled a core of sweet cherry, singing. (3369 views) | | | Tasted by cardsandwine on 2/2/2017: After three unexciting bottles over the past two years the wine has finally reawakened. Gorgeous earthy bouquet with superb balance and complexity. Focused mid palate and a lengthy and elegant finish. (3537 views) | | | Tasted by short and confused on 3/23/2016 & rated 93 points: Ditto on my last note from November 2014. What a winery! "Dusky deep red with a little brick at the rim. Smokey vanilla on the nose with some finely etched blue and black berry fruits. One the palate there, there is the smokey vanilla oak as well as these restrained black/blue fruit flavors that are complicated by leather, orange liquor and rich gamey notes. This wine seems distinctly rioja. It has sweet restrained ripe fruit married to animal (leather, game, earth) tones. This is some great stuff. What a fantastic value. Clearly improving when I look back to my first note. Look forward to following this down the road. I am going to be buying more for the cellar." (4822 views) | | | Tasted by yipen on 3/1/2016: the wine still have lots of fruitiness, and no sediment. Ready to drink (4593 views) | | | Tasted by cos82 on 7/25/2015 & rated 92 points: Mature pale Ruby in color. Fabulous nose with strong floral elements combined with black fruits, cedar, cinnamon and lead pencil. Soft palate of black fruits, earth, crushed stones and cedar. No tannin, balanced and nice finish. Although this should last for while, I would drink up before the fruit disappears. (5223 views) | | | Tasted by short and confused on 11/7/2014 & rated 93 points: Dusky deep red with a little brick at the rim. Smokey vanilla on the nose with some finely etched blue and black berry fruits. One the palate there, there is the smokey vanilla oak as well as these restrained black/blue fruit flavors that are complicated by leather, orange liquor and rich gamey notes. This wine seems distinctly rioja. It has sweet restrained ripe fruit married to animal (leather, game, earth) tones. This is some great stuff. What a fantastic value. Clearly improving when I look back to my first note. Look forward to following this down the road. I am going to be buying more for the cellar. (5628 views) | | | Tasted by silton on 8/16/2014 & rated 92 points: The first half of this bottle was decanted for an hour and terrific with dinner at Evvia in the company of a goat stew with orzo and some sort of feta-like greek cheese, with the 2nd half strong but not as good now that we are finishing it at home. The nose was fruitier and deeper pitched than expected with forest berries and plum along with peanut shells, blood-orange perfume, and lead, and was followed by a well-balanced palate of red berries and leather. Modest tannic grip extend the flavors without cinching up much in the mouth. The finish has a more simple acidic element that does prefer food. This should last many more years and was well worth $35. I'm a LdH fan. Unfortunately Tempranillo has something that triggers a very mild headache no matter how much or little of it I drink, otherwise I'd build up a bigger cache of these wines in the cellar. A superb showing tonight reminds me why I bother with Rioja at all. (4754 views) | | | Tasted by mclancy10006 on 3/8/2014 & rated 91 points: Still bright fruit on the palate and starting to get some depth. Very well balanced. (4452 views) | | | Tasted by sastewart on 2/24/2014 & rated 91 points: Beautiful floral on the nose with bright cherry and tobacco flavors. Classic Rioja, lighter bodied but beautiful structure. Almost Burgundian. Has at least 5 years, maybe more - still improving? 91+ Points (2637 views) | | | Tasted by cardsandwine on 1/25/2014: This bottle absolutely soared from the glass with glorius fruit, balance, depth and finesse. Monster finish. Drinking beautifully now and should do so for many years to come. A wine with lots of soul! (4805 views) | | | Tasted by no leashes on 8/29/2013 & rated 90 points: Same notes as last time... bright cherry, pepper, spice and earth flavors, medium to lighter style. very tasty. (2826 views) | | | Tasted by diggydan on 8/10/2013 & rated 93 points: Opened immediately after a '98 proved corked. This bottle was everything I expect from LdH: a beautiful nose featuring bright fruit but with the added complexity of the elevage; a dancer's grace on the tongue; a strong but lean palate with a core of red fruit. (4748 views) | | | Tasted by Chateau du Fey 1994 on 5/3/2013 & rated 91 points: This is drinking really nicely right now. tannins are well integrated but still present. Fruit is mellow but detectable. Nose has distinct smokey aromas. Detectable barbecue smell. Only notable complaint was the acidity which was a little sharp but not a big problem. Overall solid. (4265 views) | | | Tasted by no leashes on 3/20/2013 & rated 90 points: Very good as usual, with bright cherry, pepper, spice and earth flavors, medium to lighter style. (3050 views) | | | Tasted by gfish on 12/31/2012 & rated 92 points: This is drinking brilliantly. The tannins have smoothed out, most primary (but not all) fruitiness has faded, the tertiary flavors and aromas have come together. Wonderful balance and it worked very well with grilled steak. This has evolved nicely over the last couple of years and is in a great drinking window. (4221 views) | | | Tasted by CADomer on 11/8/2012 & rated 92 points: Decanted for just short of an hour, but this really needed about two hours to really show it's beauty. At first the brightness and fresh character of this wine stood out because of it's age, but with air this started to sing. Leather, spice and fresh blue berries transformed as carmalized fruit tones came forward without ever abandoning the flat out prettiness and extraordinary balance. (4002 views) | | | Tasted by slanum on 6/24/2012: Quite red in color for an 11 year old wine. Really appealing though subtle aromas--oak has integrated and developed spice-like characteristics. There's still a nice fruit component on the palate, along with more mature flavors that seem petty well developed to me. Enjoyed this very much. (4594 views) | | | Tasted by redwhiteandrich on 6/4/2012 & rated 90 points: Infanticide. Musty nose of sweet strawberries and leather. (3667 views) | | | Tasted by cardsandwine on 3/26/2012: My first bottle in a year and a half. Wonderful purity and balance on the palate. A great wine in the making. Should last for antother 20 - 30 years. (4326 views) | | | Tasted by Enfant sauvage on 1/2/2012 & rated 91 points: Very nice, and light on its feet. Oak present but becoming integrated. Lots of leather. Much more balanced and interesting than the vina ardanza of the same vintage. (4638 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| R. López de Heredia Producer WebsiteTempranillo BlendTempranillo is the backbone of wines made ihvhhcn the best well-known Spanish regions Rioja and Ribera del Duero, but is also grown as far afield as Mexico and Australia.
As a flavor profile, red fruits like strawberries and cherries can predominate - but with a rustic edge. The Many wines made from Tempranillo will spend a few years in barrel and bottle before reaching the consumers . Many Tempranillo-based wines see a few years of oak - add that to a few years of bottle and the wine can give a subtle - and occasionaly not-so-subtle - leathery mouthfeel. The combination of the tart fruit and tannins make this wine very food friendly.ReservaStill Portuguese table wines of designated origin may also be labelled "reserva", indicating an alcohol content of at least 0.5% higher than the legal minimum established by the respective DOC or VR; however, stricter requirements in individual DOCs may supersede this standard.
(Court of Master Sommeliers)Viña Bosconia On weinlagen-infoSpain Vinos de España - Wines of Spain (Instituto Español de Comercio Exterior) | Wikipedia
Wine Map on weinlagen-info
Spain is the third largest wine producing nation in the world, occupying the majority of the Iberian Peninsula with vast diversity in climate, culture, and of course, wine. From inky, dark reds of the [Priorat] to dry, white Finos from Andalusia, Spain can easily boast of elaborating a wide variety of notable styles. Within Spain there are currently 62 demarcated wine regions, of which a handful have gained international recognition: [Rioja], Priorat and [Ribera del Duero]. Yet these regions are only a small sample of the high quality wines Spain produces. Regions such as Cava, Penedes, Somontano, Galicia, Rueda and Jerez are only a few of the numerous regions worthy of exploration throughout Spain. Spain can also lay claim to having the most land under vine in the world, growing up to, by some accounts, 600 indigenous varietals of which Tempranillo is their most well known. Other popular varietals include [Garnacha], Bobal and Monastrell for reds and for whites; the infamous [sic] Palomino Fino grape which is used in the production of sherry wine, Pedro Ximenez in Montilla Morilles, Albarino used in the creation of the bright, effervescent wines of Galicia, and Verdejo in Rueda. - Source: - Catavino.net
Spain is not in the forefront of winemaking for its dessert wines, other than for its sweet wines from Sherry country including the highly revered Olorosos (when sweetened). But apart from Sherry Spain has a range of styles of dessert wines, ranging from the those made from the Pedro Ximenez grape primarily in Jerez and Montilla-Moriles) to luscious, red dessert wines made in the Mediterranean from the Garnacha (Grenache) grape. Some good Moscatels are made in Mallorca, Alicante and Navarre. The northwest corner of Spain, Galicia, with its bitter Atlantic climate, is even making dessert wines, called “Tostadillos” in the village of Ribadivia (similar to France’s “Vin de Paille”). The Canary Islands have made interesting dessert wines for centuries (they are mentioned by Shakespeare, for example) and in recent years the quality of winemaking has been improved and the Canary Islands wines are being better marketed now. The winemaking styles for “Vinos Dulces” are also diverse, from “Late Harvest” (Vendimia Tardía) to “Fortified Wines” (Fermentación Parcial). Based on in-spain.info.La Rioja Consejo Regulador DOC Rioja - Control Board of the D.O.Ca. Rioja
Map on weinlagen-infoLa Rioja Alta Map on weinlagen-infoRioja Consejo Regulador DOC Rioja - Control Board of the D.O.Ca. Rioja
HISTORY
The wine region of La Rioja in Spain was first demarcated by the area's governing body, the Consejo Regulador, in 1926. The region extends for approximately 120 kilometres along both sides of the Ebro River and is, at its widest point, bounded by mountains on either side. In fact, the word 'Rioja' is a derivation of the two words 'Rio' (River) and 'Oja (the name of a tributary of the Ebro that runs right through La Rioja creating a series of microclimates and providing much needed water for the vines).
La Rioja has always been a vital part of Spain's history. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Moors, and finally, medieval Crusaders have all played a part in the area's history. The Romans, however, made wine a part of their culture wherever they travelled, and La Rioja was no exception. Ancient sites of Roman wineries still exist in and around the area today.
After the Romans came the Moors, and winemaking all but ceased. It wasn't until after the famous 'El Cid' liberated Spain, and medieval Christianity brought trade via the Crusaders through the region, that it flourished again. The Benedictine monks of Cluny in Burgundy, known for their viticulture, helped to establish three monasteries in the area. The vines they planted were mostly white grapes. In the fourteenth century, English traders acquired a taste for a local Rioja wine, which was a blend of white and red wines called Blancos Pardillos. Over time, development of lighter reds came about satisfying eighteenth century English and French courts.
The real improvements to Rioja's viticulture began around 1780 when the need to prolong wine during transport brought about experimentation with different woods and preservatives. Studies were made of the techniques used by great chateaux in Bordeaux. With the outbreak of the Peninsular War, progress was halted until 1852, when the Bordelais came south to Rioja seeking vines because their vineyards had been blighted with oidium. French winemaking methods were eagerly taken up by great rivals the Marques de Murrieta and Marques de Riscal (who both claim to have been the first in Rioja to make wine in the Bordeaux fashion).
When phylloxera devastated Bordeaux in the 1870s and the French influence really took hold in Rioja, many of the region's finest bodegas started production on what we now consider as the great wines of Rioja. It’s important to remember that Bordeaux winemaking methods then were very different to those employed today in France, and involved long ageing in barrel, a factor that the Riojans took up enthusiastically. So enthusiastically in fact that to this day there are a number of Bodegas that still make their wine in a surprisingly similar fashion to that of the Bordelais in the later part of the 1800s and this also explains why oak ageing is such an important part of Riojan winemaking.
USE OF OAK
Pronounced vanilla flavours in the wines are a trademark of the region though some modern winemakers are experimenting with making wines less influenced by oak. Originally French oak was used but as the cost of the barrels increased many bodegas began to buy American oak planks and fashion them into barrels at Spanish cooperages in a style more closely resembling the French method. This included hand splitting the wood, rather than sawing, and allowing the planks time to dry and 'season' in the outdoors versus drying in the kiln. In recent times, more bodegas have begun using French oak and many will age wines in both American and French oak for blending purposes.
In the past, it was not uncommon for some bodegas to age their red wines for 15-20 years or even more before their release. One notable example of this is Marqués de Murrieta which released its 1942 vintage Gran Reserva in 1983 after 41 years of ageing. Today most bodegas have shifted their winemaking focus to wines that are ready to drink sooner with the top wines typically ageing for 4-8 years prior to release though some traditionalists still age longer. The typical bodega owns anywhere from 10,000 to 40,000 oak barrels.
The use of oak in white wine has declined significantly in recent times when before the norm was traditionally 2-5 years in oak. This created slightly oxidised wines with flavours of caramel, coffee, and roasted nuts that did not appeal to a large market of consumers. Today the focus of white winemakers has been to enhance the vibrancy and fruit flavours of the wine.
WINE CLASSIFICATION
Most Riojan Bodegas believe that the ageing of a wine should be the responsibility of the producer rather than that of the consumer, and this is why much Rioja is more mature than wines from other countries. Rioja red wines are classified into four categories. The first, simply labelled 'Rioja', or 'Sin Crianza' (meaning 'without ageing') is the youngest, spending less than a year in oak. A "Crianza" is wine aged for at least two years, at least one of which is in oak. 'Reserva' is aged for at least three years, of which at least one year is in oak. Finally, 'Gran Reserva' wines have been aged at least two years in oak and three years in bottle. Reserva and Gran Reserva wines are not necessarily produced each year. Also produced are wines in a semi-crianza style, those that have had a couple of months of oak influence but not enough to be called a full crianza. The designation of Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva might not always appear on the front label but may appear on a neck or back label in the form of a stamp designation known as Consejo.
SUB REGIONS
Rioja Alta
Located on the western edge of the region, and at higher elevations than the other areas, the Rioja Alta is known for more fruity and concentrated wines which can have very smooth texture and mouth feel.
Rioja Alavesa
Despite sharing a similar climate as the Alta region, the Rioja Alavesa produces wines with a fuller body and higher acidity. Vineyards in the area have a low vine density with large spacing between rows. This is due to the relatively poor conditions of the soil with the vines needing more distance from each other and less competition for the nutrients in the surrounding soil.
Rioja Baja
Unlike the more continental climate of the Alta and Alavesa, the Rioja Baja is strongly influenced by a Mediterranean climate which makes this area the warmest and driest of the Rioja. In the summer months, drought can be a significant viticultural hazard, though since the late 1990s irrigation has been permitted. Temperatures in the summer typically reach 95°F. Twenty percent of the vineyards actually fall within the Navarra appellation but the wine produced from the grapes is still allowed to claim the Rioja designation. The predominant grape here is the Garnacha which prefers the hot conditions, unlike the more aromatic Tempranillo. Consequently Baja wines are very deeply coloured and can be highly alcoholic with some wines at 18% alcohol by volume. The wines typically do not have much acidity or aroma and are generally used as blending components with wines from other parts of
the Rioja.
The Riojans are master blenders (as they have to be because there are relatively few single estates in the area, the norm being to blend from a wide variety of vineyards and wine areas). Consequently they are able to reduce vintage variation by careful blending and many of the best wines vary relatively little between vintages.
VITICULTURE & GRAPES
Rioja wines are normally a blend of various grape varieties, and can be either red (tinto), white (blanco) or rosé (rosado). Rioja has a total of 57,000 hectares cultivated, yielding 250 million litres of wine annually, of which 85% is red. The harvest time for most Rioja vineyards is September-October with the northern Rioja Alta having the latest harvest in late October. The soil here is clay-based with a high concentration of chalk and iron (which provides the redness in the soil that may be responsible for the region's name, Rioja, meaning red). There is also significant concentration of limestone, sandstone and alluvial silt.
Among the Tintos, the best-known and most widely-used variety is Tempranillo. Other grapes used include Garnacha Tinta, Graciano, and Mazuelo. A typical blend will consist of approximately 60% Tempranillo and up to 20% Garnacha, with much smaller proportions of Mazuelo and Graciano. Each grape adds a unique component to the wine with Tempranillo contributing the main flavours and ageing potential to the wine; Garnacha adding body and alcohol; Mazuelo adding seasoning flavours and Graciano adding additional aromas.
With Rioja Blanco, Viura is the prominent grape (also known as Macabeo) and is sometimes blended with some Malvesia and Garnacha Blanca. In the white wines the Viura contributes mild fruitness, acidity and some aroma to the blend with Garnacha Blanca adding body and Malvasia adding aroma. Rosados are mostly derived from Garnacha grapes. The 'international varieties' of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot have gained some attention and use through experimental plantings by some bodegas but their use has created wines distinctly different from the typical Rioja.
Some of the most sought after grapes come from the limestone/sandstone based 'old vine' vineyards in the Alavesa and Alta regions. These 40 year old plus vines are prized due to their low yields and more concentrated flavours. A unique DO regulation stipulates that the cost of the grapes used to make Rioja must exceed by at least 200% the national average of wine grapes used in all Spanish wines.
VINTAGE CHART
Rioja (Red) Year %
2004 Superb vintage, classic wines Drink or Hold 94
2003 Hot, dry year, long-ageing wines Drink or Hold 91
2002 Smallest vintage in 10 years. Variable quality.
Keep to top names Drink or Hold 87
2001 Excellent year for long ageing Reservas
and Gran Reservas Drink or Hold 94
2000 A generally good vintage with fine Reservas Drink or Hold 89
1999 Smaller vintage of good quality Drink or Hold 88
1998 Good vintage Drink or Hold 97
1997 Unexciting so far, but quaffable Drink or Hold 84
1996 Good year, plenty of ageing potential Drink or Hold 89
1995 Very good vintage, Reservas now showing excellent fruit Drink or Hold 92
1994 Outstanding, some great long-ageing wines Drink or Hold 94
1993 Lesser wines, apart from best-known names Drink 77
1992 Rather light vintage Drink 80
1991 Still improving, average quality Drink or Hold 85
1990 Fairly ordinary but quaffable Drink 84
1989 Good, firm structure Drink 88
Rioja Reserva & Gran Reserva – Vintages of the Eighties Year %
1989 Goodish vintage, well balanced Drink 88
1988 Fairly good vintage, well balanced wines Drink 88
1987 Very attractive vintage, now at peak Drink 90
1986 Average year, now drinking well Drink 87
1985 Average year, now drinking well Drink 87
1984 Disappointing, with problem weather Avoid 80
1983 Don't keep it any longer Drink 86
1982 Now past its best Drink 83
1981 Superb wines, finest will keep longer Drink 90
1980 Average vintage, don't keep any longer Drink 86
More vintage charts
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