wrote:

85 Points

Saturday, July 27, 2013 - Decanted for 4+ hours ahead of a simple home-grilled rack of lamb dinner to celebrate my wife's birthday. This was a big disappointment and disappointingly consistent with my 10/20/2012 tasting note when I felt it had entered a sullen, closed and overly acidic phase. I had fantastic experience with this wine on release but it is really charmless and sour at the moment. Hopefully I know enough about the evolution on great Rioja that it could blossom eventually, but my guess is to leave it forgotten in the cellar for 10 years. These comments omit the fact I only paid $33 per bottle on release and that the wine has been in the bottle for only around 3 years so you can't really expect it to perform like a typical 11-year old wine. That's Rioja Reserva Especial for you!

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7 comments have been posted

  • Comment posted by Harley1199:

    7/27/2013 7:55:00 AM - Hi there Goldstone,
    Of course it's a personal taste..but 30 years drinking Rioja for this..seems to be a poor background, also in my modest opinion, just a spanish taster for more than 30 years.
    Could be nice to know what kind of Rioja you have been drinking, including vintages, to understand your comments.
    Cheers,

  • Comment posted by Goldstone:

    7/28/2013 10:05:00 PM - Hi Harley, like you I've been drinking Riojas for 30 years because (along with Ch. Musar, with which they have a lot in common from a winemaking perspective) they were the only fine wines I could afford as a university student. Two examples of what I mean by Rioja taking several decades to unfurl would be CVNE Vina Real Reserva Especial 1962 (which I drank exactly a year ago) and the 1982 vintage of La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890. You can see others if you browse my tasting notes and use the "Rioja" filter. I also recently bought a 1942 R. Lopez Heredia Gran Reserva Vina Bosconia.....interestingly, it has only recently been bottled.

    Point is - classically-made Riojas (like Ch. Musar) are made for very long term maturing.

    Good to share notes with another Rioja lover :)

  • Comment posted by Harley1199:

    7/29/2013 2:38:00 AM - Hi again Goldstone,
    Thanks for your nice comments.
    I saw your Rioja TNs before and that's why I asked about the past cause those bottles were just a few despite are including a very good ones.
    Talking about Rioja usually cheap means bad, cheap comparing with Bordeaux means good to very good and when is well-aged means an extraordinary, world class wine. Of course, in my uncultivated opinion...
    Many times people talk about Rioja putting in front Musar o Barolo even. I understand why. I always recommend to think about different ranges we have: Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva. Even more many say that those old GR are coming back no more cause in the gold past time, wineries used to preserve their wine during five plus years in cask.
    Those were the old times...
    Finally about Ardanza SE 01, why that four hours decanting? To my taste, that has no sense. Our wines have the capacity to bloom up directly in your glass. Just need a little time...
    Cheers,

  • Comment posted by Goldstone:

    7/29/2013 8:27:00 PM - Hi Harley, specifically on the RE 2001 I've drank it several more times than I've posted notes. Having tried no-decant or short decants in the pazt I thought I'd try a big long one this time. That didn't work either :). Personally, I think that LRA still makes its wines in the "old school" way for long ageing unless I've missed something. Anyway, time will tell....

  • Comment posted by Harley1199:

    7/30/2013 1:19:00 AM - Goldstone,
    I saw your prior TNs, including that 92 at the very first, and that's why I didn't understand that long decanting.
    Anyway, my experience with RA, in global, is very good and particularly with this Ardanza SE 01 also excellent.
    Then what's going on here? My suspicions are going to any problem with the importer or with transportation because it is really strange that confronted tasting for the same wine. Excepting, of course, all of those that have no idea what a real Rioja is....
    Never mind, let's try to enjoy different bottles
    I think mine are in perfect conditions in my cellar. Next it will be popped up in next 2016. You are invited :-)
    Cheers,

  • Comment posted by Goldstone:

    7/30/2013 1:39:00 AM - Harley, cheers.....and let's continue to swap notes. The other 2001 I really like and think will continue to improve is the R. Lopez Vina Tondonia Reserva 2001. Actually, I suspect that all the good Rioja producers made great wine in 2001. Any others you'd recommend?

  • Comment posted by Harley1199:

    7/30/2013 3:14:00 AM - Hello again Goldstone,
    2001 is an extraordinary vintage in Rioja. Probably a mythical one.
    That's why I've confronted feelings with LdH.
    I love that winery but in my last visit in summer 2011, I've found that their red Tondonia 01 wasn't really ok to my taste. Perhaps Bosconia is a better option. I think that whites are terrific but haven't the same opinion about reds. Believe me I am really sorry about it.
    It would be interesting to know your opinion.
    As you do, I prefer the traditionalist side of Rioja better than the new conceptions. In spite of this, I really appreciate some good bottles from that side too.
    My choice is for Murrieta (excellent Reserva range, outstanding Castillo de Ygay GR), Riscal (mainly for their extraordinary Reserva that will keep for decades), also Rioja Alta is offering an excellent 904 as you perfectly know, another nice winery is Muga (lovely Prado Enea GR in this 2001), Remirez de Ganuza, in another style, represents how much good a bottle can be (Reserva and GR, both) but requires time.
    Finally and thinking of 2001, why not Monte Real GR or even Viña Albina Reserva? This last one is terrific when 15 years old in excellent vintages as this 2001.
    Hope these recommendations can help.
    Cheers,

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