I bought this because a salesman said it would pair well with a 2001 flight of Riojas I was planning. That is ridiculous, without regard to the fact that I liked this wine, because the only similarity between this wine a "real" rioja is that it says Rioja on the label. It is 100% Grenache and tastes like Grenache, not Tempranillo.
A brought this to a dinner midway through a conference I was attending because the wife of one of our presenters was born in Bilbao, and this was as close to Bilbao as my cellar gets. About 30 miles southeast.
Pop and pour. At first, this was tight with very limited flavor, but with 10 minutes of air the fruit and other flavors started to blossom, and they continued to blossom for the next two + hours. There is raspberry and blackberry fruit with some cherry. The more the longer you wait. There is some spice and just a bit of leathery age. Color is a bit light. Nose develops as does the palate. Finish is average. Very enjoyable.
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Did not have the fully ripe undertones I associate with Rioja. Maybe this is because this wine comes from Rioja Baja instead of where most of my Rioja comes, Rioja Alta. I like this winery's Graciano Reserva, and this Tempranillo is good, but it doesn't come up to the standard great Rioja's from Alta.
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8/1/2016 - Peter Kleban Likes this wine:
**
I didn't take a real TN, but this was nice, bright, fruity and interesting. (Much better than the Numanthia). Medium weight. Drinks very well.
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7/25/2016 - up4wine wrote: 89 Points
A grand old reserva from lesser seen Baja district of Rioja.
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10/2/2015 - Jay Hack Likes this wine: 90 Points
I bought this because a salesman said it would pair well with a 2001 flight of Riojas I was planning. That is ridiculous, without regard to the fact that I liked this wine, because the only similarity between this wine a "real" rioja is that it says Rioja on the label. It is 100% Grenache and tastes like Grenache, not Tempranillo.
A brought this to a dinner midway through a conference I was attending because the wife of one of our presenters was born in Bilbao, and this was as close to Bilbao as my cellar gets. About 30 miles southeast.
Pop and pour. At first, this was tight with very limited flavor, but with 10 minutes of air the fruit and other flavors started to blossom, and they continued to blossom for the next two + hours. There is raspberry and blackberry fruit with some cherry. The more the longer you wait. There is some spice and just a bit of leathery age. Color is a bit light. Nose develops as does the palate. Finish is average. Very enjoyable.
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8/13/2014 - up4wine wrote: 88 Points
Did not have the fully ripe undertones I associate with Rioja. Maybe this is because this wine comes from Rioja Baja instead of where most of my Rioja comes, Rioja Alta. I like this winery's Graciano Reserva, and this Tempranillo is good, but it doesn't come up to the standard great Rioja's from Alta.
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