Fresh with a touch of pear drop. Rich, almost unctuous on the attack and mid palate. Lots of body here, but good definition and a fresh feel to the finish. ****
Fresh, light red fruit nose. Lovely, bright and vibrant. Traditional style. A super pizza wine, light fresh, good acidity,bright fruit, relatively uncomplicated quaffer. Punches above its price. ***
Quite sappy red berry fruit on the palate. Tightly velvety texture. Finishes well with dark red fruit, and the French oak is well handled providing a sense of structure without overt oakiness. ***1/2
Alberdi. Quite a rich, plummy nose with some spice. Again, quite plush and rounded. Positive finish. A little fresher than the CVNE Imperial, a halfway house between that and the Ardanza. ***1/2
Bright, vibrant, dark red fruit with a floral element. Nicely soft, velvety fruit. Finishes well with a touch of vanilla. A little plusher in the vanilla oak dept, but not out of kilter. ***(*)
2013 Pazo de Villarei Albariño Rías Baixas 88 Points
Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas
Full and floral nose. Quite rich. Fat even. Nice shape through the middle. Some interest here. Finishes well, fresher too. ***
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2013 Pazo de Señoráns Rías Baixas The Wine Society Exhibition Albariño 86 Points
Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas
Relatively dull, almost mute on the nose, getting a little more expressive with air. Relatively low key. Finishes quite well. Bare ***
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2013 Do Ferreiro Albariño Rías Baixas 88 Points
Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas
Bright, floral nose. Honeysuckle almost. Floral but nicely bright and fresh. Good aperitif / seafood style. ***
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2013 Bodegas Rafael Palacios Valdeorras Bolo 87 Points
Spain, Galicia, Valdeorras
Nicely floral. Fresh. Nice crunch. Interest on the palate without being overblown. A touch of apricot. Finishes freshly. ***
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2013 Guimaro Ribeira Sacra 85 Points
Spain, Galicia, Ribeira Sacra
Slightly rubbery bubblegum nose. A bit dry and flat. Almost, but not quite. **1/2
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2012 Suertes del Marqués Valle de la Orotava 7 Fuentes 90 Points
Spain, Canary Islands, Tenerife, Valle de la Orotava
Lovely nose. Fresh and vibrant. Slightly smoky, spicy mineral. Fresh and crunchy and moreish. Really good VFM. ***1/2
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2011 Artazu Navarra Pasos de San Martín 80 Points
Spain, Navarra
Richly dark-fruited nose. Ribena on huge palate, thick, gloopy, sweet. Think creme de cassis. No. *1/2
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2013 Bodega Abel Mendoza Viura Rioja Blanco 91 Points
Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
Fresh with a touch of pear drop. Rich, almost unctuous on the attack and mid palate. Lots of body here, but good definition and a fresh feel to the finish. ****
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2009 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Capellanía 89 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Neutral nose. Lightly scented. Fairly light through the attack but a nicely honey, beeswax and vanilla finish with some mineral cut. ***
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2005 Bodega Classica Rioja Hacienda López de Haro Reserva 88 Points
Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
Fresh, light red fruit nose. Lovely, bright and vibrant. Traditional style. A super pizza wine, light fresh, good acidity,bright fruit, relatively uncomplicated quaffer. Punches above its price. ***
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2010 Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva 87 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Smoky, velvety fruited nose. A smoky dusty element on the palate too. Of this slightly more modern style, I prefer the CVNE Imperial. ***
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2006 Bodegas Muga Rioja Selección Especial 90 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Quite sappy red berry fruit on the palate. Tightly velvety texture. Finishes well with dark red fruit, and the French oak is well handled providing a sense of structure without overt oakiness. ***1/2
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2007 La Rioja Alta Rioja The Wine Society's Exhibition Rioja Reserva 90 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Alberdi. Quite a rich, plummy nose with some spice. Again, quite plush and rounded. Positive finish. A little fresher than the CVNE Imperial, a halfway house between that and the Ardanza. ***1/2
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2005 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva 92 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Fresh, quite bright, sharper red fruit on the nose. Densely silky. Nice and bright. More of a classic profile. Really quite long. Lively. ****
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2010 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Reserva 91 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Bright, vibrant, dark red fruit with a floral element. Nicely soft, velvety fruit. Finishes well with a touch of vanilla. A little plusher in the vanilla oak dept, but not out of kilter. ***(*)
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