N: FLOWERS, minerals; Fragrant!

P: Med, poss LM, body; RNDISH entry with nice, almost swtish frt beautifully counterbalanced by acidity which slowly, fairly seamlessly transitions into a LONG, tangy/swt finish with touches of raisins (?) but not at all "unpleasant". WELL done for now & through '19, poss longer. My VG, poss VG+. [This vendor's $15.95 is at the bottom of wine-searcher's 2nd quartile of current offerings.]

N: Clsd; Earth, poss minerals with undertones of leons?

P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt beautifully off-set by TANGY acidity which carries the experience through the quite LONG, tangy/swt (80/20) finish with notes of spice. LOTS of substance for now & at LEAST into '20! 13.5% ABV; My EXC-/EXC. 91 pts WA, 91 pts & #35 of WS's Top 100 for 2017, 90 pts ENOFYLZ Wine Blog, 8-/10 Talk-a-Vino, 86 pts Decanter World Wine Awards, Rec in "Palate Press", & 17/20 Jancis Robinson (Harding). [This vendor's $17.95 is @ the head of the U.S. listings on wine-searcher.]

100% Viognier aged in 100% neutral FR oak; 14.5% ABV, 0.59g/100ml T.A., & 3.59 pH.

N: Forest floor, minerals, with undertones of flowers?

P: Med body; VERY RNDISH entry with nice,ALMOST swtish frt adequately balanced by acidity which transitions into a LONG, tangy/bitterish finish which ULT shows some notes of honey yet still with a tang. My VG-/VG, poss higher IF one looks at the QPR. For now & likely through '19. [This vendor's $13.95 is competitive, though currently beatable by 1 of wine-searcher's sources.]

8% ABV, & using the "stats" from the '12, this is LIKELY ~ 94 g/l R.S.

N: Very slightly closed; Petrol, lemons, slate, though the petrol DOES dissipate with air/warmth

P: Med body; RNDISH entry with INTENSE, SWTISH frt beautifully off-set by an initial jolt of acidity which transitions into a LONG, tangy/swt finish. Still tight on the P, I'd give a yr or so, then drinking for... ? My VG/VG+, though I'm dampening my rating because an experienced Riesling fellow taster felt the swtness/acidity balance was tweaked more in the direction of swtness than he would have expected. 91 pts Mosel Fine Wines & 90 pts Vinous. [This vendor's $25.95 is $4 < than anyone else on the currently limited wine-searcher listings.]

N: RIPE, spice, poss coffee, cherries, dk frt -- + aromas I couldn't ID: camphor, poss the reduction commented upon here & in ALL the pro reviews I saw?

P: LM body; NICE frt met by tangy astringency which transitions into the LONG, tangy/swt finish with hints of very, VERY fine tannins -- all of this without ever losing the original sense of frt. Approachable now with food, this DESERVES 2 yrs, I'm guessing, then drinking at least until the mid '20s. IMPRESSIVE! My EXC (& I guess I'm disregarding the at least somewhat "mysterious" N). 91-93 pts Vinous, 90 pts Burghound, & 17?/20 (cask) Jancis Robinson. [This vendor's $99.95 is AS good as any of wine-searcher's currently limited offerings.]

From small plots in La Horra, Roa, & surrounding villages (Burgos). Bush vines, averaging 20 yrs of age; 14 mos in barrels, 80% FR & 20% AM; 14.5% ABV.

N: Vanilla, smoke, berries, poss flowers?

P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE frt met by some tangy astringencywhich slowly morphs into a LONG, bitterswt finish with a very, VERY slight spiciness. Approachable now, & might improve for 6 mos or so, then drink nicely for 3+ yrs more. My VG/VG+. 95 pts Suckling, 92+ WA, 92 ea Vinous, Decanter, & Guia Repsol, 91 Falstaff Magazine, 90 Guia Peñin, and 14.5/20 El Mundo Viño! [This vendor's $26.95 is very competitive.]

Late note: For whatever reason, when tasted on 4/28 & 7/14/18, unlike most in this strand, I found this CONSIDERABLY more tannic than I did today. This is a conundrum for me, as IF the frt was today "masking" the structure, it somehow DRASTICALLY shut down in a span of 5 wks -- for a wine that is already 5-1/2 yrs old?!? One way or the other, my belief in this wine's structure was confirmed in the latest tasting by a more experienced taster who had purchased it (based upon the recommendation of the store's owner) -- & had yet to try it.

80% Grenache, 17% Syrah, & 3% Mourvèdre [per Jancis Robinson]

N: I *quite* AGREE with a fellow taste: minestrone soup, with some vanilla as well?

P: Med body; Nice, ALMOST swtish frt met by some puckerish astringency which evolves into a LONG, ult ALMOST swtish finish with notes of bitterness & very, VERY fine tannins with that initial swtness. For now with food, but could stand another yr easily, then handily making its 10th. My VG+, though likely more IF one takes into account this vendor's (close-out?) $24.95 is *$20* < than the next lowest of wine-searcher's LIMITED offerings! 90 pts WA, 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson, 15/20 La Revue du Vin de France, and 15/20 Gault & Millau.

N: Ripe cherries, poss smoke?

P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt met by some tangy pucker which pretty much continues through the LONG, spicy finish with a distinct tang, yet with hints of swtness. While a fellow taster felt it needs some time, for me it's approachable now, though setting it down through '18 might well be best for most, followed by drinking for 3+ yrs more! My VG+/EXC-. AMAZING QPR! 92 pts WS & 91+ WA. [While competitive, this vendor's $19.95 CAN be beaten by ~ $2.]

Note: I've tasted this on 11/18/2017, 1/13/2018, 3/24/2018, & 07/28/2018, with the latest showing it to be the tightest?!? Not sure WHAT'S goin' on here... :(

30% C.S., 30% Montepulciano, 20% Sangiovese, 10% Marselan, & 10% Alicante Bouschet; 14.5% ABV

N: ATTRACTIVE melding of vanilla & berries

P: Med body; Rndish entry with NICE frt met by som puckerish astringency which slowly, fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG, tangy finish with the still very, VERY fine tannins having taken on a sense of the wine's frt. NEEDS until '20, poss longer, then drinking WELL beyond its 10th. My VG+/EXC-, very likely more if it cellars well. *Terrific* QPR @ this vendor's top of the 2nd quartile $18.95, even though 1 current wine-searcher source does list it for $3 less! 92 pts ea WA & Suckling, 88-90 Vinous, with 89 from Wine & Spirits.

92% Carmenère & 8% Petit Verdot from vyds yielding 1.4–1.6 tons/acre; Aged for 18 months in new FR oak barrels; 15.1% ABV, 3.35 g/l R.S., 3.70 g/l T.A., & 3.58 pH.

N: RIPE berries, poss iodine? Intensity lurking

P: Med body; Rndish entry with ALMOST swtish frt met by some slightly astringent structure which morphs into a LONG, very, VERY finely tannic finish with a decided swtness. Needs/DESERVES another yr, perhaps more, then drinking for 5+ more. My EXC-/EXC with potential for exceptional! 99 pts Suckling! [Though certainly competitive, one current wine-searcher source beats it by $8!]

82% C.S., 10% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, & 2% C.F.; Cooperage: 100% FR oak château-style barrels (60 gallons); Barrel Aging: 16 mos in 50% New, 50% Neutral; 14.5% ABV, 0.59 g/100 ml T.A., & 3.72 pH.

N: RIPE, JAMMY berries with pyrazines poss underneath

P: Med body; Nice, ALMOST swtish frt met by some puckerish astringency which pretty much resolves by the LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy/spicy finish which maintains the initial swtness all the way through. Could/should improve into early '18, then drink nicely for 3-4 yrs more. VERY nicely done, & a decent QPR for this appellation. My EXC-/EXC. [This vendor's $59.95 currently heads the class for the still relative limited wine-searcher listings.]

9 – 100+ yr-old 100% Shiraz vines (1.5 – 3 Tons/Acre) from 88.1% Barossa Valley & 11.9% Eden Valley; 24 mos in 17% new AM oak, 83% old AM % FR oak hogsheads; 14.5% ABV, 3.54 pH, 6.3 g/L T.A., & 2.5 g/L R.S.

N: RIPE berries with notes of pyrazines

P: Med body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) [belied by the stats]) met by some tangy astringency which morphs into a LONG, tangy/swt finish with decent balance & a swtish bent to the very, VERY fine tannins. For now (though a yr or so MIGHT improve it) & drinking for 3-4 more. My VG+/EXC-. [This vendor's $19.95 is $2 < than the next lowest of wine-searcher's currently limited listings.]

THANK you, Shilpa!

N: Slightly closed; Cherries, minerals, poss violets?

P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE frt quickly met by puckerish tannins which slowly morph into a LONG, tangy, dustily tannic finish yet with HINTS of a swtness to come. NEEDS into '20, though poss longer. SUPERB value* in a relatively early maturing style for this appellation. 14.5% ABV; My VG/VG+ -- & I may WELL be underrating! 93 pts Suckling & 92 WS. *[IF your COSTCO has this, it's likely $25.99, which *demolishes* the only currently listed wine-searcher domestic source by $19!]

My conribution

Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.

N: RIPE, cherries, smoke, with distinct spice

P: LM body; LOVELY, almost swtish frt met by puckerish acidity which slowly, fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG, tangy/spicy, ULT almost swtish finish. Approachable now with food, this DESERVES into EARLY '19 (guessing), then should easily make its 10th given the acidity. 13.0% ABV; My VG+/EXC- with CLEAR potential for more! [Can't intelligently comment upon this vendor's $31.95 as there's so little of this apparently available.]

THANK you for this *shocker*, Arturo! :)

85% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha Tinta, & 5% Graciano from 15-25 yr-old vyds, located in Rioja Alta (85%) and Rioja Alavesa (15%), with low yields of 35 hl/ha on average. Spends 12 mos in FR (60%) and AM (40%) oak barrels, split equally between new and 2, 3, & 4 yr-old (max) barrels.

N: Closed; Seems ripe, smoky; Earthiness emerges with swirling? Intensity lurking?

P: LM, poss Med, body; Rndish entry with LOVELY frt QUICKLY met by a structure which QUITE mitigates by the LONG, almost lip-smacking finish with a decided swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. Approachable now, though could still improve through '19, then drink nicely for at least 4 yrs more. *Impressive* -- PARTICULARLY so given the relatively humble place of this in the Rioja caste system. My EXC/EXC+ -- especially given that this should be WIDELY avail, & with more than just a few places offering it in the $10.50 - $12 range! 91 pts Guia Repsol, 89 WE @ $15, 87 Guia Peñin, 85 WS, & 11.5/20 El Mundo Vino [poss THE lowest score I've seen from them?!?].

I'll not soon forget this AWESOME *celebratory* treat, José! ¡Mil gracias, Sr.! :)

N: GORGEOUS, ripe, complex (tough for ME to parse)

P: Med, poss MF, body; NICE frt met by a spicy acidity which pushed the experience through the quite LONG, tangy/swt (80:20) finish with the very, VERY fine tannins also having taken on the frt's "swtness". SENSATIONAL, & not even REMOTELY tired: will EASILY make its 30th! 13.4% ABV; My EXCEPTIONAL! :)

Coda #1: Tasting this blindly, I had *NO* idea it was a CA C.S. -- & **certainly** NOT one 25+ yrs of age!

Coda #2: 2 of us that had tried this left the shop with portions of what remained. My colleague (with an acct here) fairly quickly shared his with his wife, finding it the same. On the other hand, I waited several hrs for our family dinner -- only to find it had QUITE fallen apart: NO aromas & virtually all the frt having vanished. :(

THANK you, Eugene!

83% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo, & 3% Garnacha, aged for 16 mos in 225 litre AM oak barrels.

N: Smoke, berries, poss pyrazines?

P: LM body; NICE, almost swtish frt nicely counterbalanced by a tangy acidity which slowly, fairly seamlessly extends through the LONG, tangy/swt finish with a deft balance. BEAUTIFULLY done, & may still improve through Summer '18, then poss making its 10th? 13.5% ABV; My EXC-/EXC. Impressive QPR @ this vendor's competitive $19.95 which, nonetheless, CAN be beaten by several of the current wine-searcher entries. 92 pts WA, 91 ea Suckling & WS, and 90 ea Guia Peñin and Wine & Spirits.

THANK you for "branching out" with this, Ron! ;) [I'd have overlooked it otherwise.]

Should you be interested, I’ve uploaded info for this vintage which you can peruse at your leisure. 😉

N: Vanilla, berries, poss choc; Intensity lurking?

P: Med body; RNDISH entry with BEAUTIFUL frt met by balancing structure which fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG, almost lip-smacking finish with the fruit "coloring" the very, VERY fine tannins. AWESOME! Deserves until early '20, then EASILY surpassing its 10th. My EXC-/EXC with potential for more! [This vendor's $35.95 is at least $4 < than anyone else on wine searcher!]