TWS Rioja tasting

Signed up to test the assumption that I'm not a Rioja guy...

• 2019 Bodegas Bilbainas Rioja Brut Reserva Lumen 89 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Traditional method Grenache from Rioja- I liked this a lot: sweet, fresh red berry fruit, floral notes and raspberry sherbet. A nice interplay of sharpness and hint of sweetness on the palate. Zingy and fun.

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• 2018 Bodegas Bilbainas Rioja La Vicalanda de Vina Pomal Reserva 85 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Pulpy cherry, dark earth and a good smack of new oak. Saline and tannic with too much heat on the palate for me. Just a bit rough and unbalanced.

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• 2015 Bodegas Bilbainas Rioja Viña Pomal Gran Reserva 87 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  A little reductive, slightly ferrous - but there's a sense of freshness. Some sweet red fruit on the palate, the oak is young and needs time to integrate, lots of tannins but the texture is pleasant. Built to age and has the fruit weight to carry it.

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• 2010 Bodegas Bilbainas Rioja Viña Pomal Gran Reserva 90 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Tightly coiled and dense nose even at 13 years old. Focused but plush with notes of cherry, violets, plum, earth and tar. Powerful and rich palate, far too big and monolithic right now. Give it a decade at least.

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• 2019 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Monopole Clásico 85 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Rich, slightly oxidative and waxy. Almond, dried apricot and peach. A bit flat and chalky on the palate without much in the way of acidic lift or freshness. Found it a bit plodding.

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• 2019 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Asúa Reserva 88 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Sweet, spicy nose. Strawberry, plum, violet and ash. Smooth on the palate with some grip sneaking in on the finish. Fruity, juicy, gluggable but with some structure to age.

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• 2018 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Reserva 84 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Dark, coiled, dense and closed. Notes of charcuterie with some perfume and sweetness - the fruit is secondary. Dense, sweet and concentrated on the palate with mega tannins which are pretty rough and heavy.

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• 2017 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Gran Reserva 91 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Sweetly spiced with good breadth and delineation. Perhaps a little polished and glossy but clearly high-quality. Nicely balanced, rich palate. Lots of tannins but they're smooth and round. Has lots of potential.

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• 1988 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Gran Reserva 94 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Now we're talking - strawberry, spice and leather on the nose. Still powerful but it has developed some levity and complexity. A satisfying blend of creaky musty tertiary goodness and primary concentration. Smoothness and lift on the palate. Resolved with chalky tannins and great concentration and length. Lovely.

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• 2019 Gomez Cruzado Rioja Montes Obarenes 89 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Reticent nose - stony and mineral with some sulphrous reduction. Lime and peach, passion fruit and pineapple on the palate. Fat, with a freshening bitterness and some acid to cut through. Interesting.

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• 2021 Gomez Cruzado Rioja Predilecto 87 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Grenache and Tempranillo blend, aged in concrete. Quite charming: has a slightly candied, carbonic character - sweet strawberry, cardamom and spice. Smooth, gluggable and juicy with a fruity palate. Nothing profound but tasty and fun.

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• 2017 Gomez Cruzado Rioja Honorable Cosecha 89 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Lots of fresh oak, dark and red fruit and a touch of reduction. Notes of violet, raspberry and earth. Dense and smooth on the palate, nicely managed tannins and lots of acidity. Should age really well.

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• 2017 Gomez Cruzado Rioja Reserva Viña Dorana 92 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  60/40 Grenache/ Tempranillo from high altitude plots.
  
  Fresh, transparent fruit character. Violet and red, purple fruit. Lighter and more delicate than one may expect for a young Rioja with a concentrated strawberry character. Long and energetic - lovely stuff and good value.

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• 2016 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva 91 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Rich and relatively accessible even now. Prominent fruit character - sweet and rich raspberry and strawberry. Fennel salami and sour cherry notes emerge with air. The oak is present but not overwhelming thanks to the fruit concentration and a bit of restraint in the cellar. Lovely fruit and length on the palate - lots of tannin but with a good old decant you might even consider drinking this today.

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• 2015 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Arana Gran Reserva 92 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Rich and plummy with a cough sweet note. Coffee and liquorice on both the nose and the concentrated palate. Wonderfully assertive fruit which carries a wave of very smooth tannins and mega acidity onto a comedically long finish. The character is a bit richer and fuller than really appeals to me but there's no denying this is good stuff.

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• 2015 La Rioja Alta Rioja 904 Gran Reserva 'Selección Especial' 92 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Concentrated, tarry and slightly oaky right now - lovely balance and a low-key presentation with a savoury edge. Smooth and kind tannins - this isn't big or extravert but it has a latent depth and power. Quite compelling.

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• 2000 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva 90 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Some funky spiced leather, animal notes emerging. Spicy cherry and strawberry and a pleasantly leafy, sweet character on the palate. Maybe it's running out of energy a bit but I enjoyed it.

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• 2022 Bodegas Muga Rioja Blanco 90 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  In a clear demonstration of personal growth I really enjoyed this despite its overtly oaky character. Peach, vanilla, lemon and salt. Really concentrated and full, round on the palate with beautiful acidic bite. This stuff is cheap and tasty - what's not to like.

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• 2019 Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva 87 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  This guy is really oaky. Spiced cherry cough sweets, eucalyptus and a herbal note I didn't love. Cherry and strawberry on the palate and overall it's quite simple.

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• 2019 Bodegas Muga Rioja Selección Especial 87 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Approachable but solid, dense, oaky. Dark-fruited and generally not that interesting.

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• 2005 Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva 87 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Still unwinding and overall it feels very young. A touch of VA and cherry, plum fruit. It may be going through a dumb phase (but then all of the Muga wines had a similarly solid, closed character) but I found it rather inexpressive. Tarry finish.

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... assumption correct