Important Update From the Founder
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RWC Traditional Rioja All-Stars 1950-1994
Piperade Restaurant, San Francisco, California
Tasted August 14, 2012 by rjonwine@gmail.com with 1,711 views
Flight 1 - 1995s (2 notes)
Red
1995 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva
93 points
Bricking medium red violet color; lovely, tart cherry, cedar, cigar box, dried cherry nose; tasty, youthful, elegant, classic, tart cranberry, tart cherry, cedar palate with medium acidity; good now and should go 15-20 years; medium-plus finish 93+ points
Red
1995 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Reserva
93 points
Dark red violet color; maturing, cedar, tea, dried cherry, tart strawberry nose; tasty, youthful, tart cherry, tart red fruit palate with medium acidity; needs 2 more years and should go 25 years; medium-plus finish 93+ points
Flight 2 - 1994s (5 notes)
Red
1994 Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Monte Real Reserva
93 points
Medium red violet color; maturing, mushroom, dill, savory, dried cherry nose; tasty, silky textured, maturing, tart black fruit with subtle spices, dried berry, orange spice, oak spice palate with medium acidity; should go 25+ years; medium-plus finish 93+ points
Red
1994 Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva
91 points
Bricking dark red violet color; spicy, cherry, dried cherry, plum nose; maturing, tart cherry, tart red fruit, hibiscus palate with medium acidity; should go 25+ years; medium-plus finish 91+ points
Red
1994 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Ygay Reserva
93 points
Bricking dark red violet color; maturing, dried cherry, floral, raspberry, black raspberry dill, vanilla oak nose; tasty, rich fruit, tart cherry, tart raspberry, strawberry puree, dill palate with less acidity than other traditional Riojas; should go 30 years; long finish 93+ points
Red
1994 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904
93 points
Bricking medium red violet color; maturing, tobacco, cigar box, licorice nose; tasty, maturing, cigar box, tobacco, dried cherry, sandalwood palate with firm, sweet tannins; should go 15+ year; medium-plus finish
Red
1994 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Gran Reserva
94 points
Bricking dark ruby color; appealing, lifted, cedar, dried cherry, floral, black raspberry nose; tasty, rich, youthful, cherry, tart black raspberry palate with firm, sweet tannins; should go 40 years; long finish
Flight 3 - 1991s (2 notes)
Red
1991 Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Monte Real Reserva
93 points
Bricking medium dark red violet color; mature, cigar box, spice, cedar, baked plum, anise nose; tasty, maturing, spicy, dried berry, baked plum, dried orange palate with firm tannins and medium acidity; should go 30+ years; long finish 93+ points
Red
1991 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Reserva
94 points
Bricking medium dark red violet color; mature, lovely, Barolo-like, dried berry, dried cherry, spice box nose; tasty, maturing, delicate, dried cherry, dried berry, strawberry, delightfully spicy palate with medium acidity; should go 30+ years; long finish
Flight 4 - 1980s (3 notes)
Red
1987 Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Viña Albina Gran Reserva
95 points
Bricking medium red violet color with pale meniscus; mature, elegant, mushroom, tobacco, baked plum, ethereal nose; tasty, youthful yet, baked plum, fig, cedar, cigar box palate with medium acidity; should go 30 years; long finish
Red
1987 Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Monte Real Gran Reserva
94 points
Bricking medium red violet color; tart plum, cedar, light tobacco nose; tasty, poised, cigar box, light tobacco, cedar, dried cherry, tart plum, spice palate; should go 25 years; medium-plus finish
Red
1982 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Viña Real Reserva
92 points
Bricking dark red violet color; mature, earthy, tobacco, mushroom nose; mature, cigar box, black tobacco, cedar palate; should go 10+ years; medium-plus finish 92+ points
Flight 5 - 1970 (1 note)
Red
1970 Federico Paternina Rioja Viña Vial
92 points
Bricked medium red violet color; appealing, mature, cigar box, tart plum, dried fig nose; mature, cigar box, dried fig, anise palate; should go 10+ years; medium-plus finish 92+ points
Flight 6 - 1964 (2 notes)
Red
1964 Gomez Cruzado Rioja Gran Reserva Honorable
92 points
Bricked medium dark red violet color; mature, tobacco, cigar box, cedar, dried black fruit, honeyed nose; mature, dried cherry, dried currant, tart black fruit palate with medium acidity; should go 7-8 years; medium-plus finish
Red
1964 Bodegas Bilbainas Tempranillo Rioja Viña Zaco
94 points
Bricking dark red violet color; appealing, mature, baked plum, licorice, dried berry nose; tasty, rich, dried berry, baked black fruit, licorice, spice, fig palate; should go 20+ years; long finish 94+ points
Flight 7 - 1950s (3 notes)
Red
1955 Bodegas Bilbainas Rioja Viña Pomal Reserva Especial
93 points
Bricked dark red violet color; redolent, appealing, cigar box, dried fig, black tobacco nose; tasty, mature, tart black fruit, cigar box, dried fig palate; should go 8-10 years; long finish 93+ points
Red
1950 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Viña Real Reserva Especial
97 points
Bricked medium dark red violet color; appealing, rich, cigar box, licorice, dried berry, lavender, dried cherry nose; very tasty, rich, youthful, dried berry, cigar box, dried cherry palate with sweet tannins and grip; long finish
Red
1950 Berberana Rioja Gran Reserva
92 points
Bricked medium red violet color with pale meniscus; very mature, mushroom, dried orange, cranberry nose; mature, dried orange, dried cherry, cranberry, dill palate with medium acidity; could go 8+ years; medium-plus finish 92+ points