December 24, 2023 - Opened 6 hours earlier. Red with gentle gradation. Pine, cedar, and subtle green herbs. Medium to lighter body. Supple, ripe, sweet dark red fruit complemented by the herbal twist, citrus, and spice. Gentle fading tannins. Seductive and just about completely mature. An elegant, Burgundian Rioja-bravo, particularly at this price point!
November 12, 2023 - Very good. Smooth, not to oakey or powerful. Some funk. Real old world wine, w/ sense of place.
November 24, 2022 - Big bold oak bomb with velvety tannins, leather and smoke. Black fruits with medium acidity. A real pleasure to drink and an absolute steal at $35.
November 11, 2022 - Rioja on its most puristic style!
Rubin red, smells of coconut, dill and thyme. On the palate its shows lots of elegance; the tannins and the acidity are after the opening pretty firm but open up in short time getting smoother. Long finish with nice fresh fruits despite the always very present oak notes and its age. Can even age some longer time but doesn't need to, very nice at this point
October 3, 2021 - Drinking beautifully. Velvety in the mouth, balanced fruit, long finish.
Nice level of complexity, great acidity.
February 1, 2021 - One of Rioja's traditional bodegas. Super fruity aromas: strawberries, sweet red cherries and raspberries. Very smooth mouthfeel, sweet vanilla and toasted wood plus some olives. Not as powerful as the great Riojas from La Rioja Alta, Cune and Tondonia but very elegant, a real charmer. Now, at age 12 perfect but no need to rush. An excellent value!
December 26, 2020 - This is really good. Serve it to people that appreciate 11 year old wine you can buy for $25. Classic sour cherry and leather Rioja.
December 24, 2020 - first time I've had this Producer's Rioja. 30 months in older American Oak. This Rioja was more about the fruit - dried red cherries, strawberries, black olives, and balsamic. Alot less oak and leather than other Gran Reserva's I've had.
January 11, 2019 - P liked
September 12, 2018 - Deep ruby-garnet, with opaque core, slow moving lears @14% abv. Medium mature aromas of red cherry, red berries, vanilla, dust. Dry, medium-medium(+) acidity, medium supple tannin, medium(+) alcohol with some heat upon opening, medium(+) body. Full and bright palate of ripe cherry, red berries, pepper, leather and oak notes peaking through. Crisp texture, appealing mouthfeel and balanced. Good length rather youthful finish with fruit, acidity, and tannin is harmony and alcohol taking a back seat. A hedonistic pleasure.
Excellent QPR, and a great example to sample a Gran Reserva.