Deep ruby/brick color with some hints of amber at the rim. Initially some barnyard and dirt notes, this blew off after half an hour. After an hour or so beautiful aromas of dark fruit, leather and chocolate emerged with some hints of vanilla. Full bodied and super silky on the palate with still some fresh fruit and dusty tannins. The finish is long but slightly bland. Drink now - 2024
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Deep dark ruby, pronounced aromas of chocolate dill and slight oak. Good tannin and acidity, slight sweetness with flavors of plum and dark fruits. Long finish. Very good !
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This is a very big wine, with old style earth and leather on top of bright, full fruit. Extremely well integrated and the balance was fine. All came together around the excellent fruit.
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Still very youthful but looks of complex meaty scents. More fruit in the flavour but this should be a classic Gran Reserva in about 10 years. Needs time.
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Dark berries, smoked meat, melted licorice, and vanilla oak with hints of roses. Complex yet subdued. Modest acidity for Rioja. A little too full of ripe fruit and glycerin for my tastes. But all in all this is very nice.
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Great, mature red Rioja drinking in a great window. Opened and decanted 1.5 hours before dinner of grilled chicken fajitas with all of the taco fixings. Musty, ripe raspberry nose with some wet earth and funk. The palate is medium, creamy and smooth, bringing loads of sweet vanilla, dried cherries, herbs, spices, mocha, and more red fruits, including lingering hints of fresh strawberries into the finish. These wines tend to last so probably good through 2025 at least. Will probably gain complexity.
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Beautiful nose, ripe black cherries, really well balanced and delicious. Cocoa, tobacco and deliciousness in the finish. J says, fruit still opening up in glass after an hour. Wow, this tastes more like Merlot/Cabernet or some other Bordeaux rather than what we thought was tempranillo. Well done Miguel Merino!
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This was terrific. Deep garnet color. There were steady aromas of smoke, black cherry and oak. Round entry. There were just no edges and it gave a polished feel. The flavor profile largely echoed the aromas and were redolent of smoke, black cherry, dark chocolate and oak. The oak was not a dominant theme, rather added to the complexity. This was in fine form. Balanced. Medium body. I'm looking forward to the next one. 92-93
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Very luscious Rioja. Aromas include blackberry, cherry, chocolate, anise, baking spice, earthy, meaty, leather, oak. On the palate, heavy cherry and smoke. Ruby color. Fully bodied, medium+ acidity, high but smooth tannin, long finish (but a little uneven and tart). 14% abv. Similar to a good, full-bodied Syrah. Very nice!
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Big, dark, fruit, but kind of grapey. The oak is integrated, but it gives it a somewhat thick texture. Overall, I would almost describe it as jammy. Didn't really get a lot of secondary notes or complexity in general. Seem to recall this seeming more subtle when I tasted it at the store. Maybe it would have benefitted from decanting or just more time.
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Very pretty nose of red fruits and vanilla oak. Seemingly a cross between new and traditional styles, this medium-bodied red has delicious flavors of black cherries, spices and a deft touch of oak. The finish is fine and supple with notes of woodsmoke, tobacco and spices. Very balanced and very good at the table.
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Mainly Tempranillo, with 4% Graciano. From three vineyards, two planted in 1931 and the third “La Loma”- planted in 1946, all of them in the slopes of near Briones. The wine was matured for 30 months in 18 new barrels of Allier oak and 11 of American oak.
What a lovely wine. Nose of dark red fruit, spice, tobacco, earth and vanilla. Smooth rich mouth with a medium length.
Had to have a second bottle.
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1/17/2022 - up4wine wrote:
Nice wine, great year
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12/21/2018 - Jochems Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic Rioja Riserva, probably at/near its peak.
Deep ruby/brick color with some hints of amber at the rim. Initially some barnyard and dirt notes, this blew off after half an hour. After an hour or so beautiful aromas of dark fruit, leather and chocolate emerged with some hints of vanilla. Full bodied and super silky on the palate with still some fresh fruit and dusty tannins. The finish is long but slightly bland.
Drink now - 2024
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2/21/2017 - Yassine23 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Deep dark ruby, pronounced aromas of chocolate dill and slight oak. Good tannin and acidity, slight sweetness with flavors of plum and dark fruits. Long finish. Very good !
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12/12/2016 - up4wine wrote: 93 Points
This is a very big wine, with old style earth and leather on top of bright, full fruit. Extremely well integrated and the balance was fine. All came together around the excellent fruit.
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5/30/2016 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
Still very youthful but looks of complex meaty scents. More fruit in the flavour but this should be a classic Gran Reserva in about 10 years. Needs time.
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12/21/2014 - up4wine wrote:
Remember it to be an excellent wine consistent with the vintage year, but no notes on the details.
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11/29/2014 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark berries, smoked meat, melted licorice, and vanilla oak with hints of roses. Complex yet subdued. Modest acidity for Rioja. A little too full of ripe fruit and glycerin for my tastes. But all in all this is very nice.
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9/27/2014 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great, mature red Rioja drinking in a great window. Opened and decanted 1.5 hours before dinner of grilled chicken fajitas with all of the taco fixings. Musty, ripe raspberry nose with some wet earth and funk. The palate is medium, creamy and smooth, bringing loads of sweet vanilla, dried cherries, herbs, spices, mocha, and more red fruits, including lingering hints of fresh strawberries into the finish. These wines tend to last so probably good through 2025 at least. Will probably gain complexity.
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8/31/2014 - aridan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Agree with the most recent comments. Drinking beautifully now and perfectly matched the grilled Iberico pork loin. Great value.
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8/24/2014 - jeffreymmckay wrote:
Beautiful nose, ripe black cherries, really well balanced and delicious. Cocoa, tobacco and deliciousness in the finish. J says, fruit still opening up in glass after an hour. Wow, this tastes more like Merlot/Cabernet or some other Bordeaux rather than what we thought was tempranillo. Well done Miguel Merino!
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6/18/2014 - swade wrote: 92 Points
This was terrific. Deep garnet color. There were steady aromas of smoke, black cherry and oak. Round entry. There were just no edges and it gave a polished feel. The flavor profile largely echoed the aromas and were redolent of smoke, black cherry, dark chocolate and oak. The oak was not a dominant theme, rather added to the complexity. This was in fine form. Balanced. Medium body. I'm looking forward to the next one. 92-93
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2/2/2014 - aridan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking well now. Fantastic value. Happy to have a full case and will continue to follow this over the next 5-10 years.
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1/3/2014 - Hirrosan Likes this wine:
Very enjoyable. Would buy again
Drank in london from hedonism wines
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6/30/2013 - budh wrote: 90 Points
Very luscious Rioja. Aromas include blackberry, cherry, chocolate, anise, baking spice, earthy, meaty, leather, oak. On the palate, heavy cherry and smoke. Ruby color. Fully bodied, medium+ acidity, high but smooth tannin, long finish (but a little uneven and tart). 14% abv. Similar to a good, full-bodied Syrah. Very nice!
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6/18/2013 - RayOB wrote: 93 Points
Drank at Davy's
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6/4/2013 - RayOB wrote: 93 Points
Drank at Davy's
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3/6/2013 - RayOB Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank at Davy's
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2/12/2013 - RayOB wrote: 93 Points
Drank at Davy's
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1/23/2013 - RayOB Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank at Davy's
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12/30/2012 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 88 Points
Big, dark, fruit, but kind of grapey. The oak is integrated, but it gives it a somewhat thick texture. Overall, I would almost describe it as jammy. Didn't really get a lot of secondary notes or complexity in general. Seem to recall this seeming more subtle when I tasted it at the store. Maybe it would have benefitted from decanting or just more time.
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10/12/2012 - dream wrote: 91 Points
Very pretty nose of red fruits and vanilla oak. Seemingly a cross between new and traditional styles, this medium-bodied red has delicious flavors of black cherries, spices and a deft touch of oak. The finish is fine and supple with notes of woodsmoke, tobacco and spices. Very balanced and very good at the table.
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10/3/2012 - RayOB Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank at Davy's
Some more arrived in and so we drank them dry again :-)
This really is great value for money. Go out and try some
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8/14/2012 - RayOB Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank at Davies
This really is amazing stuff for the price. Sad to say we drank Davies dry :-(
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7/18/2012 - RayOB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank at Davies (see previous note)
We went back for more and drank them dry. Excellent stuff and great value for money. Try some.
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7/9/2012 - RayOB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank at Davies
Mainly Tempranillo, with 4% Graciano. From three vineyards, two planted in 1931 and the third “La Loma”- planted in 1946, all of them in the slopes of near Briones. The wine was matured for 30 months in 18 new barrels of Allier oak and 11 of American oak.
What a lovely wine. Nose of dark red fruit, spice, tobacco, earth and vanilla. Smooth rich mouth with a medium length.
Had to have a second bottle.
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4/22/2012 - Rodolform wrote: 83 Points
This is a Rioja! Good spice nose , dark fruits, Well balanced
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