Tasted at home with friends, one of three reds, all 1998 vintage. To accompany slow cooked beef cheeks.
Opened and decanted 1 hour.
This was favourite of the three reds. Drak plum colour. Looking and feeling young for its 25 years. Lovely rich palate, bursting with dark berry fruit, long and very quaffable! Heavenly and a pleasure to drink.
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New Opportunities by the Sea; 6/7/2023-6/30/2023 (Alicante - España): 1st of six. Half box purchased directly from property. Bottle open for lunch, slow breathing on the table for almost three hours. Low quality cork extracted in two pieces (pictured). Thanks again The Durand for coming to the rescue. Beautiful crimson colour with orange edges. Corresponding to this reserved vintage, initially on the nose appears very shy but eager to bloom. Aromas of flesh macerated in spices plus notes of box of cigars and hazelnuts stand out. Surprising complexity. Rather tough than floral and still with an lowforest wrapper (thyme, lavender and rosemary mainly). Then strawberries and vanilla appear. On the palate it offers that velvety texture of a medium-bodied wine, a very lively balancing acidity and an unforgettable taste on the middle palate. Good length and a aftertaste between a leather boot tar and a cherry soda. Splendid depth anyway. Almost twenty-five years on and these bottles still treasure the best of their essence for years to come. All Rioja wines are about. Time for fun.
1ra de seis. Media caja comprada directamente a la propiedad. Botella abierta para el almuerzo, respirando sobre la mesa durante casi tres horas. Corcho de baja calidad extraído en dos piezas (en la imagen). Gracias de nuevo The Durand por venir al rescate. Bello color carmesí con bordes anaranjados. Correspondiendo a esta añada reservada, inicialmente en nariz aparece muy tímida pero con ganas de florecer. Sobresalen aromas a carne fresca macerada en especias más notas a caja de puros y avellanas. Complejidad sorprendente. Más recio que floral y aún así con un envoltorio de sotobosque (tomillo, lavanda y romero principalmente). Posteriormente aparecen fresas y vainilla. En boca ofrece la textura aterciopelada de un vino de cuerpo medio, de una acidez muy viva equilibrante y de un inolvidable sabor en el paladar medio. Buena longitud y un retrogusto entre la pez de una bota de cuero y un refresco de cerezas. Esplendida profundidad. Casi veinticinco años a sus espaldas y estas botellas todavía atesoran lo mejor de su esencia para los años venideros. En gran parte de esto tratan los vinos de Rioja. Tiempo de disfrutar.
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Perfectly in it's drinking window I would say, with plenty left in the tank.
Surprisingly midweight - given '98 being a slightly more 'robust' vintage - oak completely integrated, tannins (such as they exist in Rioja) pretty much gone, leaving the aged, acidic fruits, which always tend towards red at this age, but with a touch of black here, reflecting the vintage. Leather and other aged indicators.
I've found over the years that 904 seems to overperform in 'lesser' vintages, and this definitely fits the mould. I would say on experience the CVNE Imperial GR is the slightly more sophisticated wine (in this vintage). Just a lovely wine, and another great aged Rioja. I hope the newer, higher ABV style can still age like this in 20 or 30 years.
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It seems this wine is on its downward side. Not a bad wine but nothing special at this point either. This is the second bottle this year that is showing mostly acidity at this point with some tertiary notes. Not the ethereal complexity and interest I hope for in classic Rioja Gran Reserva wines. A bit of a disappointment as I was hoping this would last considerably longer. With these 98s, I say drink em if you got em.
3/4, # 147,316. Not decanted. Medium garnet core, pale garnet/mahogany rim. Mellow but aromatic nose showing ripe red fruit, vanilla, cinnamon, touch of orange rind. Not particularly developed. Medium bodied, classic, soft tannins, red fruits, vanilla, touch of savour, fresh acids, good length finish. Drinking well but no hurry.
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Good dark ruby color. Slight water line. Nose has blackberry, camphor, menthol and red fruit. Moderate acidity. Tannins relaxed. Mouthful more Burgundian. Good finish. Went well with paella.
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La Rioja Alta 904 Vertical Night (Brooklyn): So young out of the big bottle (1.5L mag). Cherry, chocolate, not a 100% cacao though definitely dark. Balance of oak and acidity, will be singing for many years to come.
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Aerated the first 2 glasses and still it needed 20 minutes in the glass. The next pour from the uncorked bottle sat in the glass for 20 minutes. Wow! It had opened up and was as I had tasted previously. Excellent!
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Decanted and then let breathe for about an hour. It never opened up. Stayed quite tight and astringent for several hours. There is a good chance that some air got into the bottle. My tasting note from a bottle of this same vintage was outstanding.
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Such a pleasure to come back to this Gran Reserva and experience such maturity. Medium red, amber hue. Complex aroma of cold cuts, tar, cherries, rubber, plums, tobacco, vanilla, cloves. Medium bodied palate is well in sync with aroma features. Medium light density, chewy flavours of ripe and dried red berries, spices, not overly complex, just feels so coherent with medium+ acidity and mild smooth tannins. On its peak and should hold for 5-7 years.
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A blend of Tempranillo (90%) and Graciano (10%). Fermented and macerated for 14 days in large oak vats, then moved into stainless steel tanks for MLF. Aged for 4 years (from December 1999 to spring 2004) in American oak barrels that are on average 4 years old. Bottled in April 2004. 12,6% alcohol, 6,07 g/l acidity, 0,91 g/l VA and 30,9 g/l dry extract.
Developed and slightly translucent maroon-hued dried blood color with a thin, orange rim. Evolved, savory and somewhat smoky nose with aromas of gamey meat and pipe tobacco, some sweeter notes of dried figs, a little bit of leathery funk, light raisiny notes, oaky hints of vanilla and savory old wood spice and a touch of dill. With some air the nose gains a bit more sweetness as the dried-fruit aromas gain a bit more prominence. The wine is dry, moderately evolved and somewhat concentrated by the age with a moderately full body and complex, quite mature flavors of gamey meat and umami, pipe tobacco, some dried-fruit notes of dried figs and wizened sour cherries, a little bit of ripe strawberry, light oxidative notes of soy sauce, a hint of stony minerality and a touch of leathery funk. At first there's only a barely noticeable undercurrent of dill and vanilla oak, but these notes start to emerge slowly as the wine opens. The wine still retains great sense of structure, but it relies more on the very high acidity than on the quite resolved tannins that contribute more to the texture than to the grippy structure. The finish is long, gently grippy and rich in developed umami notes with complex, mature flavors of meat stew and dill, tobacco, some old leather, a little bit of ferrous blood, light evolved nuances of soy sauce and beef jerky, dried-fruit hints of wizened cherries and dried dates and a tart touch of ripe lingonberry.
A delicious, harmonious and beautifully evolved vintage of 904. The overall feel here is relatively evolved - this vintage shows so much of those savory, matured nuances that the 1989 vintage that was tasted alongside felt almost more youthful than this vintage. However, in comparison this vintage shows more sense of ripeness, concentration and structure. It's hard to assess whether this wine is now at its peak, or if it is going to develop from here - aromatically the wine feels fully mature, but structurally there seems to be still some room for evolution - but I doubt one is going to lose much if the wine is drunk now. Although the wine is drinking nicely right now, I'd wager it can be easily kept for another decade or longer. All in all, this is pretty consistent with the previous bottle of 1998 LRA 904 I had three years ago, but perhaps showing a bit better this time with more depth and intensity of fruit. A fine old Rioja by all accounts.
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Return to La Trompette (La Trompette, Chiswick): Quite mature nose, leather, spice. Medium bodied, leather, vanilla, spice, soft tannins fresh acidity, medium/good length finish. Perhaps not the best bottle of this.
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1998 La Rioja Alta S.A. Gran Reserva 904, alc 12.5%. Some clearing of color at the edges. Sandlewood and cherries on the nose. Palate follows with cherry, cocoa and oranges. Bright and vibrant. Really at a great place but probably going down, not up
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Medium red color, after 90 minutes of airtime the nose was floral, spicy, cedar and dark cherry, on the palate the same characters came through, only slight acidity, tannins were integrated, and overall very smooth and not heavy at all. The finish was quite long (at least 60 seconds). A good match with short rib pot roast.
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Drinking well at our annual pig roast. Still dark in color. Doesn’t look or taste like a 22 year old bottle. Nice palate of spice, cedar, earth and charcoal and blackberry. A smooth drink with no tannin. Seems it will last many more years.
This was good, but not excellent. Nose was very interesting with clear forest floor, cedar, dark fruit - very intense. Palate lacked pinch. Lots of acidity and some tannan present. Fruit stil there. Perhaps lacked a bit of balance. Finished medium long. 5-9-7-15-5
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Coravin to a glass and allowed to stand for about an hour. The robe is a deep, murky ruby--hazy with fine sediment. Pronounced nose with vanilla top note and backdrop of mature red fruit and old, damp cellar (in a good way!). Lovely aromas of spice box linger in the empty glass.
Palate also delivers with m+ body, m tannin and m+ acid. The lively acid cuts through to invigorate the slightly muddled dried fruit. Well done, sorry to only have a single bottle of this particular vintage. Typical, mature tradional Rioja, very well in balance. I would consider this an excellent example that is at its peak (for my taste).
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Initially dark and dense, but opens up to show a lighter, more typically bright red fruited profile, raspberry, some spice, and just starting to develop some spice and leather notes. Mellow, smooth and satisfying. Just at the start of its plateau. Lovely, and a relief after two substandard (different wines) bottles. ****
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Stunning. Opened and let breathe for 30 minutes and then decanted for another hour. Dark red fruits on the nose. Seamless texture, fully integrated tannins and wonderful fruit. Everything is in total balance right now. 21 years old and a total delight.
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I found the LRA to be in a very nice spot at the age of 20, with potential for decades of continuing evolution. The wine was bigger than I expected, and really nicely balanced and integrated. Particularly prominent here was vanilla from the American oak, cherry, spice, grass/hay, and a nice touch of cinnamon. Also stood up quite well vs. the rib eye. While the age might have been surprising, the LRA could not be mistaken for anything other than just what it is -- which in my book is a cool thing nowadays.
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Medium light red with clear edges. Elegant dried cherry, plum, leather and dill nose. Develops some poopie earthiness as it sits in the glass. Earthy red berry flavours and a long dry finish.
A 904 in perfect balance.
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A blend of Tempranillo (90%) and Graciano (10%). Fermented in large oak vats for 14 days, then moved into stainless steel tanks for MLF. Aged for 4 years (12/1999-4/2004) in American oak barrels that are on average 4 years old, but includes some new barrels as well. 12,6% alcohol, 6,07 g/l acidity and 0,91 g/l VA.
Developed and slightly translucent maroon-hued dried blood color with a thin, almost colorless rim. Quite dense, moderately developed and somewhat aromatic nose with sweet-toned aromas of ripe strawberry, some wizened cherry notes, light dill-driven character of American oak along with lighter vanilla tones and hints of sweet, toasty oak spice. Overall the nose feels concentrated by the age, but also relatively modest by LRA 904 standards - perhaps this vintage is just somewhat underwhelming for 904? The wine is somewhat sweet-toned and dominated by the classic American oak flavors of 904: dill and vanilla. There's a lot of other things going on as well: sour cherries, sweet dried dark fruits, some sanguine meaty character, a little bit of developed oaky creaminess, light notes of stony mineral bitterness and a hint of tobacco. Overall the wine feels firm and balanced with bright, high acidity and gently grippy medium tannins. The mouthfeel is velvety and slightly chewy. The finish is firm yet silky smooth with very long flavors of vanilla, concentrated black cherry-driven fruit, some pruney character, a little bit of dill and meaty hints of umami.
Contrasting the previous time I had this wine in March 2017, when it felt that the wine was very mature and even going downhill, this bottle performed noticeably better. The wine is obviously developed with the fruit tones taking a more dried-fruit character and the mouthfeel showing certain concentration brought on by age, the wine is still very much alive and most likely going to continue improving over the following years. The typical vanilla and dill notes of 904 are still very much to the fore, but most likely they will always be there, so there's no need to expect them to go away in the future. All in all, a very pleasant expression of 904 - perhaps a bit restrained and understated, showing less intensity and vigor this wine usually does, so most likely this vintage is never going to be among the greatest vintages. Nevertheless, pretty lovely stuff.
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Light strawberry and cedar on the nose. On the palate, cherry, raspberry, old leather, and hints of vanilla and spices, with no noticeable tannins and strong acidity. This was noticeably better than a previous bottle. This was a good value at under $50.
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Deeper ruby red colour, slightly opaque. Light cherry, smooth nose. Tasted of cherry and plum, tobacco. smooth, medium/heavy body and medium/long length. very good complexity and balance. drink now!
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1998 LA RIOJA ALTA GRAN RESERVA 904 RIOJA MAGNUM- 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano aged in American cask for 4 years; this was delicious with mint, liquorice, clove, tobacco and wood spice accents to the black currant, plum and raison fruit; full bodied, deeply complex and great feel.
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Garnet hue. Cedar, dill, vanilla on nose. Oak, spice, nicely balanced, lot going on with this wine. Given the age, seemed youthful. Long finish. Enjoyed.
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Lots of dill on the nose. Cedar, leather, dried fruits. Quite a bit going on. Plenty of acidity. I like the underlying material here, but I think this would be better with less oak influence.
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This wine has blossomed since I last tried it two years ago. In fact, this is one of the best older ones that I have had in several months, and way superior to the “special” wines I brought out for Thanksgiving. It puts a 98 Beaucastl, a 00 Clos du Marquis, a 2001Asilil Produtorri Batabaresco and even a 94 L. De Heredia Tondonia Gran Reserva to shame. The wine is still inky black, with virtually no hints of Browning. The aroma is a heady mix of American oak vanilla flavors, spices, and crushed red berries. But it is on the palate where this winereally stress stuff. It manages to be both user-friendly and structured at the same time: the tannins are sweet and not the least bit angular, but there is enough acidity to keep it from feeling slovenly. Beautiful finish, still significant fruit present, this is what A old-style Rioja is all about !
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# 147220. 1/4. Excellent cork. Medium/deep garnet core, pale garnet./mahogany rim. Aromatic nose, cedary, spicy red fruit, vanilla, touch of leather and tobacco. Medium bodied, very fine tannins, creamy red fruit, spice, elegant, vibrant acidity, spicy long finish. Drinking now but with plenty in hand, excellent.
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Fresh from the bodega. Up to a couple of hours to let the acidity subside but better to let it unfurl in the glass. I enjoyed that process but preferred the wine as it lost structure, as the sweetness balanced the acidity.
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A blend of Tempranillo (90%) and Mazuelo aka. Carignan (10%). Fermented in large oak vats. Aged for 4 years in American oak barrels that are on average 4 years old, but includes some new barrels as well. 12,5% alcohol.
Developed and slightly translucent maroon-hued dried blood color with a thin, almost colorless rim. Savory, developed and slightly pungent nose with dry, mature aromas of peppery spice, leather, wizened dark fruits, some leafy greenness, a little bit of dusty earth, a hint of sharp aldehydic character and a sweet touch of raisin. The wine is full-bodied, very mature and slightly pungent on the palate with savory flavors of raisins, slightly wizened dark berries, Asian spices, some vanilla, a little bit of aged umami character reminding me of soy sauce and beef jerky and a hint of sweet plummy fruit. The wine feels pretty structured with its moderately high acidity and still pretty grippy and moderately ample tannins. The finish is very spicy and rather mouthdryingly astringent with pronounced tannins and rather tightly-knit, mature flavors of peppery spice, raisin, prunes, some tart black berries and a little bit of pungent, slightly salty and oxidative with flavors of salt-cured beef.
A wine that feels too young and over-aged at the same time, perhaps suggesting poor storage conditions? Or then this vintage is just not fit for longer aging. The firm and tightly-knit structure feels like the wine could need years - even a decade - more cellaring to resolve, whereas the flavor department feels very developed, even over-aged. Overall the wine tastes like it has been going on a downhill for some time already. The wine is still good and pretty enjoyable, but I can imagine this must've been a lot better some years ago. Not really worth the 50€ anymore.
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Spanish Wines (Craigs group) (The Kenwood): Pop and pour. This had a nice balnce and complexity to it. There was some good reddish fruit that mixed with some green aspects. Dill stood out, but it remained in check. After about 1.5 hours, it seemed to fall apart a bit. An intriguing wine.
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More mature and classically styled Rioja with less flamboyant dried fruit but all of the classic mushroom, tobacco, leather, dusty tannins and cherry you associate with great Rioja closer to the old school Lopez Heredia style. Others were less impressed, finding it under ripe and less inviting. I was happy to have it in the mix as most of our wines leaned more modern tonight. Especially the Ribera's version of tempranillo. This was a charmer.
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Intoxicating bouquet of of animalic notes, cigar box, and pepper. Delicious and mouthfilling. Tannins are integrated and hardly noticeable. Long finish. Drinking well now but I'm holding mine for another decade for the wonders this promises.
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A superb Rioja. A superb old world red in her own league. Uniquely charming aroma with layers of fruits and herbs. Supreme elegance, finesse and balance in the palate with lingering acidity. It's not a Burgundy but the smoothness, subtly and elegance can match a well-made VR 1er or Chambolle GC.
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This has a very prominent dill note on the nose from the American oak, which still needs some time to become more integrated; The palate has a concentrated core of red fruits, spice, leather and tobacco, with fairly soft and approachable tannins on the back-end; Drinking very well now, although could use a few more years to integrate the oak
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Popped and poured, though it needs about 15 minutes in the glass to let things settle and about 2 hours to let the bottle stand though no substantial sedimentation took place. In addition to my previous tasting last September 2012, here are my notes: Dark crimson turning rust at the rim with a transparent edge. Smoky cherry aromas with oak and herbaceous nuances. The palate is soft and elegant with an attractive grip. Flavors of tobacco, leather, earth, dried herbs, vanilla oak and espresso have crept to prominence over the candied cherry and licorice notes. Still very elegant, subtle and traditional in approach. Finishes long and silky smooth with hints of scorched earth. Drink now until 2023.
brick coloured, transparent, scent of austere red and dark berries elegant, nicely integrated oak, very modest vanilla, for the first time I can see the comparisons sometimes made between Burgundy and Rioja.
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Clear appearance, medium intensity, garnet-ruby colour with a small rim. Clean nose of medium intensity showing its age (but not yet over-the-hill). Red fruits on the nose along with a hint of dusty Spanish terroir. Integrated acidity and tannins, no noticeable alcohol, medium body and medium length. A lovely wine if not remarkable and not quite as good as I had hoped. Drank alongside a Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza from 2004 which was in a better place. Paired with Lamb Shoulder which worked well.
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Classic Rioja Rock'n'Roll! Sweet fruit, asian spices, tobacco, incense, wood and a "balsamico touch" (in a positive way). World class wine - will probably roll for 20 years more. Cheers!
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decanted for 7h, no residual bottle stink. The wine is very clearly at the end of the drinking window, while the first impression is still meaty and savoury, it tends to be quite a bit weaker in mid palate and length. Acidity is still somewhat visible, as are the tannins. This is an old wine and it feels like an old wine - but nevertheless a great wine. drink up if you have some left.
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A little bottle stink and I was a bit depressed, but after decanting and time in glass it blew off and some sweet red fruits came through. Good cleansing acidity to partner perfectly with a shoulder of lamb.
I have not been convinced by these wines, sadly. Nice but not exceptional.
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A surprise hit inserted amongst a tasting of 20 Bordeaux and Burgundies., this mag showed very nicely. Unlike the 2001, it was fully fruit driven but significantly less smokey and a bit less complex. Delightfully mellifluous, with a sweet--but not too sweet-- soft cherry, clay and smokey (well integrated) delivery with a hint of mint and plenty of earth leafy notes. Among the 904s I would suggest attacking this one now as it opened fully after a few hours of slow ox. Not sure if the 98s show the same inconsistency as the 2001s,of course, but if on, this is a crowd pleaser (unless put near an 890!).
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La Rioja Alta GR 904 (Brussels): The change towards riper style continues, this is lactic, soft, red fruit, clove, less acidity...looks at Bordeaux and Parker.
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Still a baby, this has a good amount of unresolved American oak that imparts a notable dill note on the finish; The underlying material seems quite nice, however, with lithe red fruits, a touch of leather and tobacco tones
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Iberian Wine Dinner (Milford, CT): A very youthful wine with cherry, tea, leather and a healthy amount of oak that still needs to be absorbed. Fortunately this doesn't have a strong dill note. Not an especially deep wine, but this seems worthy of aging a bit more to integrate the flavors a bit more.
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Iberian dinner (Milford, CT): Way too young. Way way way too young. Lots of oak here, and the fruit's still incredibly primary, with nothing else going on here. Hard to focus on this, with so many older, more resolved/developed wines at the table.
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A little over the peek. Fruit starting to become dry. Othervise, packed with lingonberries, tobaco, leader and hints of coffee with nicely integrated acidity and tannins.
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I have had many of these but this was out of a mag. Getting more convinced that mags just plain show better. Still showing light tannins and great cherry and tea and leather flavors. Perfect with a chorizo based paella.
No new oak here anymore for sure. Very pleasing light cherry to it, with a little earth. Shared with golf buddies at Pinehurst Resort cookout. Whacked it down well before the expensive Callifornias that they brought!
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Improving, with sort of a southern Rhone vibe to it now. Some pleasing earthy notes on this one. Age becomes these old style Riojas for sure. I could drink this all night. Makes me think I need to cellar the younger ones a lot more!
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Old leather and prune on the nose. On the palate, light cherry, a bit of prune, leather, and overpowering sour acidity, a bit like pickle juice but without the acetic acid component. Not bad, but not to my taste, and it also doesn't completely match what other people have described here -- I can't detect any flaw, but bottle variation might be at work here.
Marvelous old Rioja Tempranillo nose of vanilla oak and sharp cherries. Still rather angular and one- dimensional. I tend to agree with those who suggest losing this in the cellar for 4-5 years! Will,probably acquire more complexity anf suppleness.
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sehr interessant! braucht viel Luft! zunächst Medizinalton in der Nase, der sich aber legt nach kurzer Zeit. Deutlicher Reifeton in der Nase, spitz, süßliche Frucht, die nach ca. 2 Std. Dekanter auch das größte Glas fluten kann (ging sogr mit Zalto Burgunder gut). Struktur und gute Länge. Kann noch lange liegen. Fruchtaromen eindeutig nicht mehr primär!
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very nice length. Great with Thanksgiving. Decanted four hours. Good on second day as well. Even better third day and not bad on fourth. Needs to stay in the cellar awhile.
Very promising bouquet on opening, but remains unaccessible for 3 hours or so. Wood and spice nose. On the palate, it comes across as very acidic in the 2nd and 3rd hours, overpowering much else except orange peel notes. Hold for at least 5 more years. To my surprise it was even less accessible than the 2001, both require at least 3 hours now. Both spent 4 years in oak.
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This wine is coming into its own. Warm and rounds and spicy. Whatever new oak I had detected in prior bottles has resolved. In the early stages of a lovely drinking window.
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Drank this in the middle of a trio of Riojas and it benefited from the 3+ hour decant as it mellowed nicely and opened up with dried cherries, leather, cedar notes. Paula really liked this one the best. Great to share with family over a roast chicken dinner.
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Sad to have opened this, but I let curiosity get the best of me. Too young still. Really needs a min of at least 5 years of rest I reckon. Even at this stage, the wine is fantastic. Popnpour sip showed tannins, acidity and extracted cherry on top of earthiness and wood. Length was very very good. After 6 hours of breathing it came together better and integrated completely. As said before, still too young and will improve over time.
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Algo tímido al abrir, sin acabar de abrirse; dos horas reservado en botella hasta servirlo. De factura muy clásica y reconocible: lleno de fruta roja reducida, naranja escarchada, clavo, pimienta rosa, cuero ruso, un punto de cuadra y un fondo que va ganando en presencia casi ahumado con sensaciones de cacao en polvo y un tostado suavísimo. Lleno de detalles, puro, elegante, pero parece tener puesto el freno de mano.
Potente, concentrado, con taninos firmes por pulir, amargosos de calidad y una excelente acidez que lo llena todo. Hay mucho vino aquí!! Fresco, vivo, nervioso, con una estructura tremanda, algo duro en general. Todavía por hacer, muy joven aún. Un prometedor 904 que muestra indicios claros de tener un impresionante futuro por delante y muchos puntos de coincidencia con el 890 de la misma añada en este momento. Parece que los vinos de La Rioja Alta de esta cosecha van para largo y tiene ese "algo" difícil de definir que los diferencia del resto. Un tinto para guardar durante muchos años y recuperar de lustro en lustro. No merece menos!!!
Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 90% tempranillo, 10% graciano - 12.5% vol. La tempranillo proviene de los viñedos propios más viejos ubicados en subzona de la Rioja Alta, principalmente de los municipios de Briñas, Labastida y Villalba. El resto de la uva es originaria de las fincas Melchorón I y II de Briones y Rodezno. Elaboración: La fermentación alcohólica se desarrolló en 14 días, descubándose cuatro días después a temperatura controlada. La fermentación maloláctica se desarrolló en depósitos de acero inoxidable en 39 días, de forma natural. En diciembre de 1.999 los vinos pasaron a criarse en barricas seminuevas de roble americano de 225 litros durante 53 meses, siendo trasegados por el método tradicional de barrica a barrica cada 6 meses. Filtrado suave antes de ser embotellado en abril de 2004. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Gave it about an hour and it was fully open. Nice acidity makes it a food wine but it was otherwise smooth. Bright red fruits, some sweet Oak and dried herbs. A complex but clearly Tempranillo bouquet.
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Classic orange tint of aged Tempranillo, but far from past peak. Sour red fruits dominate with a solid 30 second finish. A slight splash of acidity just past mid palate. Better as a food wine but plenty enjoyable without food.
A couple hours of air time has made this taste good. The nose is still hitting me hard, in a good way (big dark sweet deep cherry and a "woodiness" akin to Bordeaux), but the palate is restrained - overall it's acid-driven, and for a Tempranillo blend, it's still rather "Bordeaux-like." The cork was in pristine condition, and there's some nice bricking going on. My only complaint here is that the acidity is a little too prominent. Really good cherry and darker red fruits on the palate.
Deep garnet color. Initial strong dose of American oak mixed with tart fruit. Palate is youthful and agitated - needs time to settle. Bitter back end. (89+?)
I wish I had let the sediment settle and/or decanted this. Many years left. Sweet barnyard funk on the nose and lots of mushrooms and sweet strawberries.
Stringente Eiche-, Zeder- und Tabaknoten, dann unterliegende Fruchtaromen von Schlehe und roten Beeren, erdige Aromen, Leder, Gewürze, Zimt; allein schon vom Nasenpotpurri bemerkenswert; am Gaumen zunächst etwas verwirrend, klare Altersnoten mit feiner Säure, im langen Abgang fast süßlichem feinen Tannin und unterschwelliger Frucht; findet sich im weiteren Verlauf des Abends gut zusammen
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I love Rioja and I truly want to enjoy this wine more, but the oak is just too prominent. I also found it to be a bit unbalanced as the acidity is taking over. I do not see this wine improving. 98 is a weak vintage and i will drink or give away the rest of my 5 bottles. Edited: Left some of the wine for the next day and it is clear now that this bottle was corked. Mushroom plus moldy scents and flavors.
I can't believe how good a value this is -- probably the best I've ever purchased! muted with modest structure but amazingly complex with solid finish. at the end of its life so drink now
This score would be higher if I didn't drink it too young. But what are you going to do when you are in Spain and find it for half as much as it is in the states? The wood is still too strong and even the dark cherry perhaps, but it's only getting better from here on out. And for a long time (more than 2024 which is what the window above suggests). My mom (who has a better palate than me) found it too overpowering in its current state, but also thought time would rectify.
First impression was the garnet/brick color. Definitely a sign of a wine that's finally growing facial hair after an adolescence of 15 years. Which is appropriate because at that time my own facial hair was coming out. Aroma is typical La Rioja Alta old, musty oak paneled basement. Very old school and very classic Rioja. The palate, however is a different story. Giant, thick, silky body and the taste Dark Maraschino cherries and plums. Tannins in the finish remind me more of chewing on an ice cream stick than strong black tea. But the dark fruit flavor lingers for a long time. Despite having been made not long after the previous government shutdown, this is a baby. It's giving up plenty of pleasure right now but it will hold for a long, long time. I'd probably get more with the intent of going the distance.
Darker in color than I remember, with lighter red edges. This was open for about 4 hours and took about 2.5 to open, but I would say its not in its best place right now to drink. It by far tasted younger than I had expected. It had both mature and youthful notes so this left me a little confused as the last time I had this it was full on mature notes on the early part of the mature spectrum.
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Needed a solid 2 hrs of decanting. Initial strong pine on the nose with red fruits which moderated over time. Smooth red fruit flavor with some earth, vanilla, herb notes and a nice supple long finish.
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Rioja tasting at Arild's (Ulsrud): From magnum. Light red, some orange edge. Intense nose of oak/vanilla, strawberry jam and some acetone. Appears quite a lot younger on magnum compared to the "normal" bottle. Smooth and juicy, very noticeable oak on the palate as well. Nice acidity, good length. The oak dominates at the moment, further storage is highly recommended.
Enjoyed at Pappa's Brothers Dallas. Popped and poured by the wonderfully gifted Som there. Initially this wine was mysterious - nice aged black cherry but then just DIED in the middle, then came back with a roaring earthy thatch-like finish, gritty, and slapped you across the face. Because of this? It was decanted while we finished the white wine. After about an hour the wine was tried again. Dusty rose color on the pour. The nose was all about the aged black cherry, cobweb, even detected a hint of cinnamon and perhaps oregano? Basil? Kind of interesting. Initial note was black cherry and fig, aged well with a rather chalky and dusty front. The wine did get quite a bit earthy and spicy towards the middle, and finished almost in a rather youthful way with quite a bit of tannin actually still present. I was very impressed with this one. It is JUST getting started - look for this one to get even better over the next 7-8 years.
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Saturday Get Together (My Place): This was drank alongside the 1995 and I thought it was just a bit better. It had the same savory character, but was just a bit more rich and assertive - two characteristics I usually do not covet, the added intensity here was awesome. I could drink this all day long!
Nice traditional Rioja nose. On the palate there is a (familiar and typical) streak of acidity. There is a slightly astringent/sour note on the finish. However this dissipates with time and the last couple of glasses are the best. I feel that this will never be a great 904 but patience will be rewarded.
Much better than my previous bottle. This one had more depth to it. Still not heavy but a great summer red. It has an interesting mix of dark red fruit, sweet orange, and plenty of oak. A medium finish this time.
Wow, this wine is truly infantile. It was open for seven hours and didn't even begin to show its stuff until the bottle was almost gone. Like all wines from this estate, it is VERY traditional, so those who seek size over finesse should look elsewhere. It is very red fruit driven with hints of orange peel and a sharp mid palate acidity that drives this wine throught it's long finish. As the wine was consumed both the initially substantial oak component and the acidity mellowed to make way for a rich red fruited freshness that was on its way to becoming stunning before we finished the bottle. For now, I would buy up and drink as much of this estate's 2001 Vina Ardanza Reserva Especial, as it is currently drinking beautifully, and let this baby sleep for another decade, at least. Both are top traditional Rioja's of the highest order. This is world class stuff that is well on its way to becoming extraordinary - 93-96.
Blind tasting at Halvor's - ham and cheese combinations (Risløkka, Oslo): Rust red, developed colour. Rich and developed nose. Sweet, cinnamon and red fruit. Juicy and delicate on the palate. Noticeable oak. Long finish with some liquorice. Fresh, good acidity. In my opinion the oak is a bit too dominant at this point, further aging is recommended.
Much better, younger, and thicker than the '95 I have a note on. The nose is all about dark fruit boxed in oak. It's also a thick scent, with a rich, sun-dried component. The palate is relatively heavy for my taste in Rioja - ripe, dark fruit - and the body viscous. Good for the style but I'll take a more finessed gran reserva over this, or a lighter joven or crianza.
Really excellent. Drank three bottles and the rest need to stay in the cellar for awhile or they will go fast. Lots of depth, vanilla. Easy to drink. Just beautiful.
absolutely fantastic! pleasant acidity and fruits well supported the mid-palate. aromas kept changing from smoke, to herbs on the second day. terribly tasty and easy-drinking either with food(I tried with cheese) or alone.
an outstanding and still young wine. the nose gives off tobacco leaf, charcoal, and dried dark fruits. the palate is equally interesting with bright acid and a long finish. some upside is possible but this is my only bottle and i'm enjoying it now.
Surprising. I've quite liked other bottles from this same case, while this seems tired and a bit oxidized. Loose cork? Don't think this is correct, a C+
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Wine tasting party - Very light orange/brown color. Nose was smoky without much alcohol. The flavor is nice and a bit light. One of the eight tasters picked this as her favorite, and all agreed it was a good sipping wine. Medium-bodied with a touch of smoke and a very short finish.
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Great nose with sweet fruit, some secondary aromas of mushrooms and decaying leafs. Some vanilla, leather and a slightly burnt herbal note. In the mouth not quite as good. The oak and vanilla is a bit overpowering, the fruit can't really cope. Still very nice in an elegant, old school style.
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Great start with medium to light body, cigar box and clove nose, restrained black fruit flavors....and then after 30-45 minutes the wine begins to fade away and oxidize. Drink quickly and you will be pleased.
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Brick red. Fantastic nose of coffee grounds, caramel, and lemon zest. A bit of a letdown on the palate, however; finish is dominated by a stale acidity.
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tasted on opening and then decanted 45 minutes and consumed over the next hour. Was at its best at the end of that time so I think a longer decant would have helped. very well enjoyed, with sweet oak on the front palate but deep fruits in the back of the mouth.
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Incredible nose, great burst of black fruits and cherry, but heavily overshadowed but leather and persistent heat. Nice, smooth tannins. Wasn't as refined as I expected but enjoyable.
Pronounced nose with some leather and herbal notes. Also cherry fruit. Pleasant on the palate with a lengthy finish. Nice with cheddar or smoked Gouda cheese. Tied with a modest Burgundy as my favorite of four red wines at a church fundraiser. I only had a small pour but have a bottle remaining and will post again when I open the second bottle. The rating may go up into the low 90's when I have more of a chance to study the wine.
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Venison medallions and an assortment of hearty wines (Private Residence): Medium to brickish color with intense nose of vanilla, cedar wood, orange peel and menthol. Entry is balanced with very lively acid. Body is supple with cherries and a touch of lemon finishing with a medium extra smooth feel. Very classic, very smooth, and and a perfect drinking stage. This is a delicate wine that should be had with very delicate foods.
A super classic Rioja. Blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano aged in American cask for four years. Red-brown colour. Need about one and a half hour to open a bit. Cedar wood, vanilla, some red fruits, cigar box, menthol and some spice on the relatively subdued nose. What I really enjoy about this wine was the palate. Incredible smooth and intense. The tannins are totally integrated. Medium body, good length and a finish with a super short touch of a lemon. I think this wine is enjoyable now.
I´m very excited about the 2001, surely a better vintage than 1998.
I admit, I`m a real fan of this bodega, this Gr R is......inimitable....., low alc. like only a few wines of this class in the world, and then this astonishing fine addicted making matchless elegance........long ++ aftertaste 90- 93+?
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not sure if it will really improve for another decade, but drinking great now. better than the ardanza in my opinion (at least now), but not quite as much of a steal.
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classic rioja style, very mature, reminds me of bordeaux but it is not!^^ nice nose very sweet, vanilla, good integrated oak even a little fruit, very elegant wine, something to think about...(old wine) harsh, earthy, some leather and a big amount of sour red cherries, some blackberries, minerality, fragile! an ancient wine of our grand fathers. complex but misses the power, a retired wine not really convicing although I pretty appreciated this one...what a pity.
and NO people, this one is going nowhere, drink it up.
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This is classic rioja, everything in balance, a little tiny bit of stankiness in a good way, and excellent with food, particularly a cloth bound cheddar. Love it.
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It's been years since I followed or cellared Rioja, having been turned off by many oaky wines, and indeed I had concerns about the oak here . . . but this was a fabulous wine, showing class and character. Alluring nose of spice and leather, which carry over to the palate, which shows gentle cherry and strawberry, somewhat mulled fruit, along with leather, sandalwood and light spice. The oak is an interesting component, but is far from dominant. The tannin is folded into the palate. I enjoyed this over four or five hours, and I noted a drop in palate intensity by the end, suggesting that this wine is perhaps not destined for much longer cellaring. But, after years of indifference to Rioja, this was just lovely.
Needed an hour to open up. Great nose of stewed red fruit, leather, leafy herbs, menthol, and something plastic-like (camphor?). Palate is smooth and finely focused, with tart dark fruit. Little tannin, and smooth palate from start to finish. Nice earthy spice on the back end. Fanatic polish on this. I haven't had may Rioja, but this strikes me as a wine on the beginning of its drinking plateau rather then the end. For those that prefer a "subtle" old world style.
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Not the greatest vintage but my this is a stonking good wine. Traditional nose of old oak, wood, sweet fruit, spice, hint of citrus peel. In the mouth it's very smooth, some of that traditional LRA acidity that keeps it fresh. Lovely. (93) At BBR Spanish Gold tasting
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A private lunch (Restaurant Moments *, Barcelona, Spain): Much livelier and deeper style than the gentle 890 tasted yesterday; wonderful nose of almonds and raspberries, plums, spices, vanilla, opens up beautifully, perfectly clean and fresh, lovely depth; on the palate excellent balance, good weight of fruit, fresh and energetic, satiny but still quite tannic; very good length, complete finish. Needs a bit more time and will last, until 2023+.
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Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Really loved this wine. Stood out amongst the rest as far as being really eccentric on the nose. Awesome caramel corn. So big and unique. Buttery red road tar, tomato soup. Creamy nose with red cotton candy and some funky earth and white pepper. Coconut oil qualities, yellow corn and Miso Ramen even. So exotic. Blood orange on the back end. Aromatics were endless. Tropical notes even. So cool. Palate was fresh and balanced. This wine was killer.
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Dark fruits and coconut oil notes. Medium bodied, maturing, but still lots of promise. Tart, acidic backbone. Deeper and more meat than the '97. Very nice.
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Classic old style rioja style, black fruit, cigar box, etc. Bright acidity, really nice and compare very favourably with '95 890 tasted alongside it but at about a third of the price.
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Enjoyed this wine quite a bit, but did not love it. Drank over a 4 day period. Very rich and somewhat ripe. Relatively classic rioja, but perhaps I've been drinking too much LdH and older CVNE. there is a note of american oak not fully resolved that persists. Perhaps it needs a few years, but very high quality for the price, but not the steal of the 01 Ardanza Espacial from same producer
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Transparent red brick color throughout. Nose started tight but unwound slightly with a bit of decanting. "Red rocks" was a recurring theme and the nose did indeed express a distinct terroir. This was echoed on the palate, with a recurrent sedimentary flavor. Also had darker notes of tobacco and leather. After an hour and a half, some faint blackberry flavors started to emerge. Tannins remained tight and pointed throughout. Slightly past the peak, with the flavors beginning to fade a bit, but a good mature wine nonetheless.
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Very suave, aromatic and distinctively elegant old world-style wine with a finely woven texture amidst a slightly austere character. This isn't an in-your-face wine. A little patience is required for the subtle flavors of licorice, candied currants, oak, vanilla, leather, and stone grille to unravel. This Rioja Alta ironically glides through a very low altitude on the palate but very steady. Finishes for about 40 seconds. Outstanding! Drink now until 2020.
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Gave a few hours in the decanter. Deep dark brick red in the glass. Multifaceted nose of spice, rasin, oak, vanilla, funk, dust, tabacco, and earth all surrounding a massive candied cherry jam that soars. Incredible in the mouth; just a swirl of all these things with excellent tanin. Finish echoing on and on. Absolutely fantastic. PJG 92
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Color ladrillo muy evolucionado. ¡Menuda nariz! Pura canela y sándalo. Delicioso. Casi listo. Suave en boca. Plena satisfacción. Quiero más y más. Voy a llenar mi bodega con botellas como esta. La clase de vino que me gusta.
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Started out covered in American oak - all dill and toasted coconut. Decanted for one hour. Nose opened a bit to show sweet red fruit (raspberry and strawberry) on the nose, and hints of musty leather, spice (cardamom). Still out of balance with the oak on the palate. After another half hour, the juice began to harmonize and reveal layers of ash, dusty fruit, and roasted coffee. The palate was light, but not without substance. Balancing acidity and a soft texture lead to a m+ earthy, dried floral finish.
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Astounding acidity at this point. Really lovely saddle leather, chocolate, red berry aromas. Still needs to integrate. Really good but not sure this will ever achieve greatness.
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P&P, ruby color, maby slight bricking. Classic rioja nose, forestfloor, Meat and oak. Palate delicate with earth, leather, red berries and bright acid. Some tannins remaining. Long aftertaste. This is a very lovely wine! Perfect with grilled lambchops with garlic.
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P&P a bit chilly. Beautiful color. Dusty reddish brick. LIght ruby at the edges, not too opaque. Nose is floral, vibrant, feminine. Soft palate, balanced, almost too light, but then the bright fruit brings a high fruit note, cranberries pie cherries all those red sour things. Interesting, liking this already more than the first bottle. Maybe my palate appreciates this style more now. Few hours later, last glass. Smokier, more herb. Some minerality in the much more complex palate and still bright smoky finish. Getting some white rock minerality weird metallic thing. Nice
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Popped & aired in the bottle, 4 hours. Color is rustic, porty, looks aged. Cork good, straight from storage. Nose is wafting. Nose is smoky cherried leather, darn . . . a bit of raison. Big mouthful of fruit. This is light on the palate but has presence. noticeable acids, bright almost spritzy, middle drops a bit then a nice lingering finish. Oak and tannins and fruit nice interplay. The acids a re a bit jumpy for a wine this age. Off perhaps. I am going to try decanting based on the previous TN's & have some food w it. Over the night it did not change much. This is really old world stuff. Nice.
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Brick red medium transparent. Classical rioja with dill and vanilla, leather, some tobacco. Maturity tones with mushrooms, moulder leaves. Decent acidity. Drink now or in a few years.
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Next bottle of the Gr. Re.904, because shared this one with some friends. I really love the aroma density of this 904. Needs not that much alcohol like most of the other bodegas to create a wondeful wine. Still quite too young, even after having given the bottle a bath for more than 3hours in a decanter....These aromas of spices, the fruit...... long, very long aftertaste, will improve in ? years.... 91-93
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Tja, what should I say? The same complex and elegant Wine I´m accustemed to nearly every Vintage in which La Rioja Alta releases this Gran Reserva 904!!Needed some Time in a big Glas to evolve a little. But then the typical Aromas of a classic L R A 904! Some Fruit, but what I most admire is this intensive Smell of Spices! Reminds me of a Marketplace somewhere in Latin America in former Days! Strong Acidity at The Moment! Watch out in 5+? Years! So I`ll give a Plus for my Credit in Evolving of this Wine......
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Capsule and cork were in perfect condition, but the color was so orange-brown that I was suspicious. Nose was very nice - wood, leather, a little smoke. Palate was disappointing - thin, acidic and tannic. Too young? Perhaps, but hard for me to believe that time alone would help this one bottle that much. That said, I'm finishing the bottle all by myself.
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Full on the fruit Rioja with its good and it's bad. The sweet core is there , the dry notes some earth but also the harshness and the barnishness. A touch too sweet on the finish but that's Rioja we guess. 85
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La Rioja Alta Dinner (Ole Restaurant, 24 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kong): Deep, blood-red semi-transparent colour. Nose is oak, mahogany, old furniture polish, powerful deep notes on a church organ. Very well made nose-wise, if that makes any sense. Palate is a disappointment - just too youg, overly thin, lean and over-predominant acid. The fruit is totally hiding but there are hints of lovely silky opulence ahead of it. Hard to score....88?
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Quick taste. Aged brownish-ruby, quite developed at the rim. Rather mature nose with strawberries, orange, vanilla, leather. Soft with moderate tea-like tannins, medium body, very moderate acidity, licorice on the palate. Can't say I was too impressed, somehow it seemed out of balance - a bit too dry or too woody or too mature... Not sure how this will turn with time.
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11/25/2023 - Keith Cooper wrote: 95 Points
Tasted at home with friends, one of three reds, all 1998 vintage. To accompany slow cooked beef cheeks.
Opened and decanted 1 hour.
This was favourite of the three reds. Drak plum colour. Looking and feeling young for its 25 years. Lovely rich palate, bursting with dark berry fruit, long and very quaffable! Heavenly and a pleasure to drink.
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9/30/2023 - remyworldpeace Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lovely plum, dark blackberry, some earthy maturity. Excellent tobacco and cedar. Tobacco and potpourri. Touch of incese and sweet fig. Still fresh.
Seemed to be at its absolute peak drinking and was everything I'd hope of from a mature Rioja Gran Reserva. Extremely enjoyable.
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6/30/2023 - Harley1199 Likes this wine:
New Opportunities by the Sea; 6/7/2023-6/30/2023 (Alicante - España): 1st of six. Half box purchased directly from property. Bottle open for lunch, slow breathing on the table for almost three hours. Low quality cork extracted in two pieces (pictured). Thanks again The Durand for coming to the rescue. Beautiful crimson colour with orange edges. Corresponding to this reserved vintage, initially on the nose appears very shy but eager to bloom. Aromas of flesh macerated in spices plus notes of box of cigars and hazelnuts stand out. Surprising complexity. Rather tough than floral and still with an lowforest wrapper (thyme, lavender and rosemary mainly). Then strawberries and vanilla appear. On the palate it offers that velvety texture of a medium-bodied wine, a very lively balancing acidity and an unforgettable taste on the middle palate. Good length and a aftertaste between a leather boot tar and a cherry soda. Splendid depth anyway.
Almost twenty-five years on and these bottles still treasure the best of their essence for years to come. All Rioja wines are about. Time for fun.
1ra de seis. Media caja comprada directamente a la propiedad. Botella abierta para el almuerzo, respirando sobre la mesa durante casi tres horas. Corcho de baja calidad extraído en dos piezas (en la imagen). Gracias de nuevo The Durand por venir al rescate. Bello color carmesí con bordes anaranjados. Correspondiendo a esta añada reservada, inicialmente en nariz aparece muy tímida pero con ganas de florecer. Sobresalen aromas a carne fresca macerada en especias más notas a caja de puros y avellanas. Complejidad sorprendente. Más recio que floral y aún así con un envoltorio de sotobosque (tomillo, lavanda y romero principalmente). Posteriormente aparecen fresas y vainilla. En boca ofrece la textura aterciopelada de un vino de cuerpo medio, de una acidez muy viva equilibrante y de un inolvidable sabor en el paladar medio. Buena longitud y un retrogusto entre la pez de una bota de cuero y un refresco de cerezas. Esplendida profundidad.
Casi veinticinco años a sus espaldas y estas botellas todavía atesoran lo mejor de su esencia para los años venideros. En gran parte de esto tratan los vinos de Rioja. Tiempo de disfrutar.
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5/6/2023 - johnh1001 wrote: 88 Points
Interesting but seemed super advanced
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4/23/2023 - Tannatastic Likes this wine: 92 Points
Perfectly in it's drinking window I would say, with plenty left in the tank.
Surprisingly midweight - given '98 being a slightly more 'robust' vintage - oak completely integrated, tannins (such as they exist in Rioja) pretty much gone, leaving the aged, acidic fruits, which always tend towards red at this age, but with a touch of black here, reflecting the vintage. Leather and other aged indicators.
I've found over the years that 904 seems to overperform in 'lesser' vintages, and this definitely fits the mould. I would say on experience the CVNE Imperial GR is the slightly more sophisticated wine (in this vintage). Just a lovely wine, and another great aged Rioja. I hope the newer, higher ABV style can still age like this in 20 or 30 years.
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12/31/2022 - grappagunnar wrote: 93 Points
No decanting, PnP.
Really nice, perfect Rioja character but fades off after one hour.
Drink now.
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12/29/2022 - Old School Fan wrote: 89 Points
It seems this wine is on its downward side. Not a bad wine but nothing special at this point either. This is the second bottle this year that is showing mostly acidity at this point with some tertiary notes. Not the ethereal complexity and interest I hope for in classic Rioja Gran Reserva wines. A bit of a disappointment as I was hoping this would last considerably longer. With these 98s, I say drink em if you got em.
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7/17/2022 - Paul D wrote: 91 Points
3/4, # 147,316. Not decanted.
Medium garnet core, pale garnet/mahogany rim. Mellow but aromatic nose showing ripe red fruit, vanilla, cinnamon, touch of orange rind. Not particularly developed. Medium bodied, classic, soft tannins, red fruits, vanilla, touch of savour, fresh acids, good length finish. Drinking well but no hurry.
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5/30/2022 - prv530 wrote: 93 Points
Good dark ruby color. Slight water line. Nose has blackberry, camphor, menthol and red fruit. Moderate acidity. Tannins relaxed. Mouthful more Burgundian. Good finish. Went well with paella.
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5/20/2022 - ash_then_chase Likes this wine: 94 Points
La Rioja Alta 904 Vertical Night (Brooklyn): So young out of the big bottle (1.5L mag). Cherry, chocolate, not a 100% cacao though definitely dark. Balance of oak and acidity, will be singing for many years to come.
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5/15/2022 - gpcoleman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aerated the first 2 glasses and still it needed 20 minutes in the glass. The next pour from the uncorked bottle sat in the glass for 20 minutes. Wow! It had opened up and was as I had tasted previously. Excellent!
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3/19/2022 - IndyTom wrote:
Decanted and then let breathe for about an hour. It never opened up. Stayed quite tight and astringent for several hours. There is a good chance that some air got into the bottle. My tasting note from a bottle of this same vintage was outstanding.
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1/7/2022 - Ernestas Likes this wine: 94 Points
Such a pleasure to come back to this Gran Reserva and experience such maturity. Medium red, amber hue. Complex aroma of cold cuts, tar, cherries, rubber, plums, tobacco, vanilla, cloves. Medium bodied palate is well in sync with aroma features. Medium light density, chewy flavours of ripe and dried red berries, spices, not overly complex, just feels so coherent with medium+ acidity and mild smooth tannins. On its peak and should hold for 5-7 years.
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8/15/2021 - gpcoleman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice.
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6/19/2021 - forceberry wrote: 94 Points
A blend of Tempranillo (90%) and Graciano (10%). Fermented and macerated for 14 days in large oak vats, then moved into stainless steel tanks for MLF. Aged for 4 years (from December 1999 to spring 2004) in American oak barrels that are on average 4 years old. Bottled in April 2004. 12,6% alcohol, 6,07 g/l acidity, 0,91 g/l VA and 30,9 g/l dry extract.
Developed and slightly translucent maroon-hued dried blood color with a thin, orange rim. Evolved, savory and somewhat smoky nose with aromas of gamey meat and pipe tobacco, some sweeter notes of dried figs, a little bit of leathery funk, light raisiny notes, oaky hints of vanilla and savory old wood spice and a touch of dill. With some air the nose gains a bit more sweetness as the dried-fruit aromas gain a bit more prominence. The wine is dry, moderately evolved and somewhat concentrated by the age with a moderately full body and complex, quite mature flavors of gamey meat and umami, pipe tobacco, some dried-fruit notes of dried figs and wizened sour cherries, a little bit of ripe strawberry, light oxidative notes of soy sauce, a hint of stony minerality and a touch of leathery funk. At first there's only a barely noticeable undercurrent of dill and vanilla oak, but these notes start to emerge slowly as the wine opens. The wine still retains great sense of structure, but it relies more on the very high acidity than on the quite resolved tannins that contribute more to the texture than to the grippy structure. The finish is long, gently grippy and rich in developed umami notes with complex, mature flavors of meat stew and dill, tobacco, some old leather, a little bit of ferrous blood, light evolved nuances of soy sauce and beef jerky, dried-fruit hints of wizened cherries and dried dates and a tart touch of ripe lingonberry.
A delicious, harmonious and beautifully evolved vintage of 904. The overall feel here is relatively evolved - this vintage shows so much of those savory, matured nuances that the 1989 vintage that was tasted alongside felt almost more youthful than this vintage. However, in comparison this vintage shows more sense of ripeness, concentration and structure. It's hard to assess whether this wine is now at its peak, or if it is going to develop from here - aromatically the wine feels fully mature, but structurally there seems to be still some room for evolution - but I doubt one is going to lose much if the wine is drunk now. Although the wine is drinking nicely right now, I'd wager it can be easily kept for another decade or longer. All in all, this is pretty consistent with the previous bottle of 1998 LRA 904 I had three years ago, but perhaps showing a bit better this time with more depth and intensity of fruit. A fine old Rioja by all accounts.
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5/27/2021 - levicn Likes this wine: 94 Points
开瓶即饮，深石榴红酒体，闻香有陈年带来的肉味，美桶淡淡的奶油味，泥土气息，黑李子和山楂一类的果香，入口酸度很高，单宁细腻如粉，咸鲜口感，泥土和矿物质感清晰，酒有着漂亮的结构感，活泼的李子、山楂一类的果香，中后段是一些橡木桶烘烤的气息，丁香和豆蔻一类的香料味，收口微甜伴随辛辣感，余味是新鲜果香、甜美花香和香草味，还有一些奶味，香气充盈，伴随着口中红果长久的回甘。收口很干，标志性的丹魄特征。从头至尾香气饱满，充满活力，你能感受到精致的结构，新鲜的果香和长时间的陈年这三者的巧妙融合和完美平衡，非常愉悦。随着醒酒时间的增加，能感觉到很弱的酱味，但马上被活泼的果香覆盖，酒液变得更甜美些，特别是后段的奶香更明显，但没有出现过重的橡木桶影响导致失衡，始终保持着非常优雅的风格和漂亮的结构，很难相信这是一支98年的酒，状态很好。
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5/19/2021 - Paul D wrote: 88 Points
Return to La Trompette (La Trompette, Chiswick): Quite mature nose, leather, spice. Medium bodied, leather, vanilla, spice, soft tannins fresh acidity, medium/good length finish. Perhaps not the best bottle of this.
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1/28/2021 - ssouth wrote: 92 Points
1998 La Rioja Alta S.A. Gran Reserva 904, alc 12.5%. Some clearing of color at the edges. Sandlewood and cherries on the nose. Palate follows with cherry, cocoa and oranges. Bright and vibrant. Really at a great place but probably going down, not up
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12/11/2020 - Schwarzer Hund Likes this wine:
Medium red color, after 90 minutes of airtime the nose was floral, spicy, cedar and dark cherry, on the palate the same characters came through, only slight acidity, tannins were integrated, and overall very smooth and not heavy at all. The finish was quite long (at least 60 seconds). A good match with short rib pot roast.
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12/6/2020 - vintage_whine wrote:
elegant, refined, powerful perfume. one of the most savory and sandalwood tinged rioja's available. not subtle or delicate.
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8/30/2020 - cos82 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking well at our annual pig roast. Still dark in color. Doesn’t look or taste like a 22 year old bottle. Nice palate of spice, cedar, earth and charcoal and blackberry. A smooth drink with no tannin. Seems it will last many more years.
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8/1/2020 - Procurare wrote: 91 Points
This was good, but not excellent. Nose was very interesting with clear forest floor, cedar, dark fruit - very intense. Palate lacked pinch. Lots of acidity and some tannan present. Fruit stil there. Perhaps lacked a bit of balance. Finished medium long.
5-9-7-15-5
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10/27/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
A little VA but still very youthful. A bit more tart than expected. A bit more lean that is. A long road ahead I would guess.
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9/9/2019 - MikeJK Likes this wine: 94 Points
Coravin to a glass and allowed to stand for about an hour. The robe is a deep, murky ruby--hazy with fine sediment. Pronounced nose with vanilla top note and backdrop of mature red fruit and old, damp cellar (in a good way!). Lovely aromas of spice box linger in the empty glass.
Palate also delivers with m+ body, m tannin and m+ acid. The lively acid cuts through to invigorate the slightly muddled dried fruit. Well done, sorry to only have a single bottle of this particular vintage. Typical, mature tradional Rioja, very well in balance. I would consider this an excellent example that is at its peak (for my taste).
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8/21/2019 - SimonG wrote: 92 Points
Initially dark and dense, but opens up to show a lighter, more typically bright red fruited profile, raspberry, some spice, and just starting to develop some spice and leather notes. Mellow, smooth and satisfying. Just at the start of its plateau. Lovely, and a relief after two substandard (different wines) bottles. ****
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2/16/2019 - kfk wrote: 92 Points
Spot on. Wine of the night at Spanish tasting. Fully integrated but I think this will live on for another decade plus to take on more tertiary.
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1/18/2019 - IndyTom Likes this wine: 94 Points
Stunning. Opened and let breathe for 30 minutes and then decanted for another hour. Dark red fruits on the nose. Seamless texture, fully integrated tannins and wonderful fruit. Everything is in total balance right now. 21 years old and a total delight.
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9/25/2018 - straight outta iowa Likes this wine: 93 Points
I found the LRA to be in a very nice spot at the age of 20, with potential for decades of continuing evolution. The wine was bigger than I expected, and really nicely balanced and integrated. Particularly prominent here was vanilla from the American oak, cherry, spice, grass/hay, and a nice touch of cinnamon. Also stood up quite well vs. the rib eye. While the age might have been surprising, the LRA could not be mistaken for anything other than just what it is -- which in my book is a cool thing nowadays.
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9/15/2018 - David J Cooper wrote: 92 Points
Medium light red with clear edges. Elegant dried cherry, plum, leather and dill nose. Develops some poopie earthiness as it sits in the glass. Earthy red berry flavours and a long dry finish.
A 904 in perfect balance.
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8/17/2018 - forceberry wrote: 93 Points
A blend of Tempranillo (90%) and Graciano (10%). Fermented in large oak vats for 14 days, then moved into stainless steel tanks for MLF. Aged for 4 years (12/1999-4/2004) in American oak barrels that are on average 4 years old, but includes some new barrels as well. 12,6% alcohol, 6,07 g/l acidity and 0,91 g/l VA.
Developed and slightly translucent maroon-hued dried blood color with a thin, almost colorless rim. Quite dense, moderately developed and somewhat aromatic nose with sweet-toned aromas of ripe strawberry, some wizened cherry notes, light dill-driven character of American oak along with lighter vanilla tones and hints of sweet, toasty oak spice. Overall the nose feels concentrated by the age, but also relatively modest by LRA 904 standards - perhaps this vintage is just somewhat underwhelming for 904? The wine is somewhat sweet-toned and dominated by the classic American oak flavors of 904: dill and vanilla. There's a lot of other things going on as well: sour cherries, sweet dried dark fruits, some sanguine meaty character, a little bit of developed oaky creaminess, light notes of stony mineral bitterness and a hint of tobacco. Overall the wine feels firm and balanced with bright, high acidity and gently grippy medium tannins. The mouthfeel is velvety and slightly chewy. The finish is firm yet silky smooth with very long flavors of vanilla, concentrated black cherry-driven fruit, some pruney character, a little bit of dill and meaty hints of umami.
Contrasting the previous time I had this wine in March 2017, when it felt that the wine was very mature and even going downhill, this bottle performed noticeably better. The wine is obviously developed with the fruit tones taking a more dried-fruit character and the mouthfeel showing certain concentration brought on by age, the wine is still very much alive and most likely going to continue improving over the following years. The typical vanilla and dill notes of 904 are still very much to the fore, but most likely they will always be there, so there's no need to expect them to go away in the future. All in all, a very pleasant expression of 904 - perhaps a bit restrained and understated, showing less intensity and vigor this wine usually does, so most likely this vintage is never going to be among the greatest vintages. Nevertheless, pretty lovely stuff.
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5/28/2018 - RichardP wrote: 91 Points
Light strawberry and cedar on the nose. On the palate, cherry, raspberry, old leather, and hints of vanilla and spices, with no noticeable tannins and strong acidity. This was noticeably better than a previous bottle. This was a good value at under $50.
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3/15/2018 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 92 Points
A bold, energetic Rioja. Classic American oak nose of spice, toasted cedar and dill. High-toned red fruit accompanied by some licorice and balsam.
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1/28/2018 - jseal@hotmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deeper ruby red colour, slightly opaque. Light cherry, smooth nose. Tasted of cherry and plum, tobacco. smooth, medium/heavy body and medium/long length. very good complexity and balance. drink now!
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1/16/2018 - Blake Brown Likes this wine:
1998 LA RIOJA ALTA GRAN RESERVA 904 RIOJA MAGNUM- 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano aged in American cask for 4 years; this was delicious with mint, liquorice, clove, tobacco and wood spice accents to the black currant, plum and raison fruit; full bodied, deeply complex and great feel.
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1/12/2018 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Garnet hue. Cedar, dill, vanilla on nose. Oak, spice, nicely balanced, lot going on with this wine. Given the age, seemed youthful. Long finish. Enjoyed.
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1/12/2018 - Outplaying wrote:
Lots of dill on the nose. Cedar, leather, dried fruits. Quite a bit going on. Plenty of acidity. I like the underlying material here, but I think this would be better with less oak influence.
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12/30/2017 - chbeaumont wrote: 89 Points
Brick red, strong core; splendid breadth to nose, signs of give; soft gentility, scratchy acidity, an attractive faded maturity; on the downslope.
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11/26/2017 - niloc36 Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine has blossomed since I last tried it two years ago. In fact, this is one of the best older ones that I have had in several months, and way superior to the “special” wines I brought out for Thanksgiving. It puts a 98 Beaucastl, a 00 Clos du Marquis, a 2001Asilil Produtorri Batabaresco and even a 94 L. De Heredia Tondonia Gran Reserva to shame. The wine is still inky black, with virtually no hints of Browning. The aroma is a heady mix of American oak vanilla flavors, spices, and crushed red berries. But it is on the palate where this winereally stress stuff. It manages to be both user-friendly and structured at the same time: the tannins are sweet and not the least bit angular, but there is enough acidity to keep it from feeling slovenly. Beautiful finish, still significant fruit present, this is what A old-style Rioja is all about !
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11/12/2017 - Paul D Likes this wine: 92 Points
# 147220. 1/4. Excellent cork.
Medium/deep garnet core, pale garnet./mahogany rim. Aromatic nose, cedary, spicy red fruit, vanilla, touch of leather and tobacco. Medium bodied, very fine tannins, creamy red fruit, spice, elegant, vibrant acidity, spicy long finish. Drinking now but with plenty in hand, excellent.
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10/15/2017 - AudunG wrote: 91 Points
A bit volatile on the nose. Pungent, but also smooth and tender on the palate. Reminds such of a Burgundy. Elegant and delicate.
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10/1/2017 - BrunelloBob wrote: 89 Points
Red fruit, coffee, a bit of green funk on the back end. Smooth, ready to drink.
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9/4/2017 - benny wrote: 95 Points
Glorious Rioja.
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7/31/2017 - Cofxc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fresh from the bodega. Up to a couple of hours to let the acidity subside but better to let it unfurl in the glass. I enjoyed that process but preferred the wine as it lost structure, as the sweetness balanced the acidity.
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3/3/2017 - Lype wrote: flawed
An off bottle.
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3/3/2017 - forceberry wrote: 86 Points
A blend of Tempranillo (90%) and Mazuelo aka. Carignan (10%). Fermented in large oak vats. Aged for 4 years in American oak barrels that are on average 4 years old, but includes some new barrels as well. 12,5% alcohol.
Developed and slightly translucent maroon-hued dried blood color with a thin, almost colorless rim. Savory, developed and slightly pungent nose with dry, mature aromas of peppery spice, leather, wizened dark fruits, some leafy greenness, a little bit of dusty earth, a hint of sharp aldehydic character and a sweet touch of raisin. The wine is full-bodied, very mature and slightly pungent on the palate with savory flavors of raisins, slightly wizened dark berries, Asian spices, some vanilla, a little bit of aged umami character reminding me of soy sauce and beef jerky and a hint of sweet plummy fruit. The wine feels pretty structured with its moderately high acidity and still pretty grippy and moderately ample tannins. The finish is very spicy and rather mouthdryingly astringent with pronounced tannins and rather tightly-knit, mature flavors of peppery spice, raisin, prunes, some tart black berries and a little bit of pungent, slightly salty and oxidative with flavors of salt-cured beef.
A wine that feels too young and over-aged at the same time, perhaps suggesting poor storage conditions? Or then this vintage is just not fit for longer aging. The firm and tightly-knit structure feels like the wine could need years - even a decade - more cellaring to resolve, whereas the flavor department feels very developed, even over-aged. Overall the wine tastes like it has been going on a downhill for some time already. The wine is still good and pretty enjoyable, but I can imagine this must've been a lot better some years ago. Not really worth the 50€ anymore.
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1/26/2017 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
Spanish Wines (Craigs group) (The Kenwood): Pop and pour. This had a nice balnce and complexity to it. There was some good reddish fruit that mixed with some green aspects. Dill stood out, but it remained in check. After about 1.5 hours, it seemed to fall apart a bit. An intriguing wine.
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1/22/2017 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Spain (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): Small pour. This had dill, lacquer, dried cherry, sour cherry, medium body, a little alcohol and a bit of a green aspect.
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1/22/2017 - chablis28 wrote: 93 Points
More mature and classically styled Rioja with less flamboyant dried fruit but all of the classic mushroom, tobacco, leather, dusty tannins and cherry you associate with great Rioja closer to the old school Lopez Heredia style. Others were less impressed, finding it under ripe and less inviting. I was happy to have it in the mix as most of our wines leaned more modern tonight. Especially the Ribera's version of tempranillo. This was a charmer.
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12/19/2016 - MarkinBaltimore Likes this wine:
Intoxicating bouquet of of animalic notes, cigar box, and pepper. Delicious and mouthfilling. Tannins are integrated and hardly noticeable. Long finish. Drinking well now but I'm holding mine for another decade for the wonders this promises.
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12/10/2016 - JEP007 Likes this wine: 95 Points
From magnum. This was a crowd favorite over a 1998 Chateau Haut-Corbin. Full of life and probably even better with a few more years. Classic rioja.
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11/5/2016 - burgburgburg wrote: 93 Points
A superb Rioja. A superb old world red in her own league. Uniquely charming aroma with layers of fruits and herbs. Supreme elegance, finesse and balance in the palate with lingering acidity. It's not a Burgundy but the smoothness, subtly and elegance can match a well-made VR 1er or Chambolle GC.
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10/25/2016 - LauraTruitt Likes this wine: 95 Points
One of our favorite Riojas. Always a great choice.
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10/22/2016 - VDLT Wine Likes this wine:
From magnum - excellent.
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7/24/2016 - eluebchow wrote: 90 Points
This has a very prominent dill note on the nose from the American oak, which still needs some time to become more integrated; The palate has a concentrated core of red fruits, spice, leather and tobacco, with fairly soft and approachable tannins on the back-end; Drinking very well now, although could use a few more years to integrate the oak
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6/6/2016 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote: 94 Points
Popped and poured, though it needs about 15 minutes in the glass to let things settle and about 2 hours to let the bottle stand though no substantial sedimentation took place. In addition to my previous tasting last September 2012, here are my notes: Dark crimson turning rust at the rim with a transparent edge. Smoky cherry aromas with oak and herbaceous nuances. The palate is soft and elegant with an attractive grip. Flavors of tobacco, leather, earth, dried herbs, vanilla oak and espresso have crept to prominence over the candied cherry and licorice notes. Still very elegant, subtle and traditional in approach. Finishes long and silky smooth with hints of scorched earth. Drink now until 2023.
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5/22/2016 - Mad Dog Mikey Likes this wine: 91 Points
brick coloured, transparent, scent of austere red and dark berries elegant, nicely integrated oak, very modest vanilla, for the first time I can see the comparisons sometimes made between Burgundy and Rioja.
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5/21/2016 - benny wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for 1 hour. This wine had no sediment and was very fresh with lively fruity acidity. Outstanding.
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5/1/2016 - sethmill Likes this wine:
An earlier bottle was flawed, but this was quite good, more tart and cherry than bordeaus--had with lamb, perfect pairing
The wine looks rosy colored.
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4/23/2016 - Cooky474 wrote: 90 Points
Clear appearance, medium intensity, garnet-ruby colour with a small rim. Clean nose of medium intensity showing its age (but not yet over-the-hill). Red fruits on the nose along with a hint of dusty Spanish terroir. Integrated acidity and tannins, no noticeable alcohol, medium body and medium length. A lovely wine if not remarkable and not quite as good as I had hoped. Drank alongside a Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza from 2004 which was in a better place. Paired with Lamb Shoulder which worked well.
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4/7/2016 - DerSchonWieder wrote: 96 Points
Classic Rioja Rock'n'Roll! Sweet fruit, asian spices, tobacco, incense, wood and a "balsamico touch" (in a positive way). World class wine - will probably roll for 20 years more. Cheers!
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4/3/2016 - dhammer wrote: 90 Points
decanted for 7h, no residual bottle stink. The wine is very clearly at the end of the drinking window, while the first impression is still meaty and savoury, it tends to be quite a bit weaker in mid palate and length. Acidity is still somewhat visible, as are the tannins. This is an old wine and it feels like an old wine - but nevertheless a great wine. drink up if you have some left.
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3/26/2016 - Lordswood wrote: 88 Points
A little bottle stink and I was a bit depressed, but after decanting and time in glass it blew off and some sweet red fruits came through. Good cleansing acidity to partner perfectly with a shoulder of lamb.
I have not been convinced by these wines, sadly. Nice but not exceptional.
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12/15/2015 - Sotto325 wrote: 92 Points
A surprise hit inserted amongst a tasting of 20 Bordeaux and Burgundies., this mag showed very nicely. Unlike the 2001, it was fully fruit driven but significantly less smokey and a bit less complex. Delightfully mellifluous, with a sweet--but not too sweet-- soft cherry, clay and smokey (well integrated) delivery with a hint of mint and plenty of earth leafy notes. Among the 904s I would suggest attacking this one now as it opened fully after a few hours of slow ox. Not sure if the 98s show the same inconsistency as the 2001s,of course, but if on, this is a crowd pleaser (unless put near an 890!).
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12/12/2015 - elledeca wrote:
La Rioja Alta GR 904 (Brussels): The change towards riper style continues, this is lactic, soft, red fruit, clove, less acidity...looks at Bordeaux and Parker.
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11/14/2015 - eluebchow wrote: 90 Points
Still a baby, this has a good amount of unresolved American oak that imparts a notable dill note on the finish; The underlying material seems quite nice, however, with lithe red fruits, a touch of leather and tobacco tones
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10/11/2015 - JimmyBubbles Likes this wine:
Insultantemente joven en mi opinión.
Intenso, con madera aún por integrar pero empezando a mostrar hechuras de clasicidad riojana. Carboncillo, humedad, boletus y canela. El rollo....
Boca en proceso como el resto del vino. Impecable, un vino para el tiempo. La pregunta es, ¿cómo de bueno va a ser?.
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10/3/2015 - mdefreitas wrote: 90 Points
Iberian Wine Dinner (Milford, CT): A very youthful wine with cherry, tea, leather and a healthy amount of oak that still needs to be absorbed. Fortunately this doesn't have a strong dill note. Not an especially deep wine, but this seems worthy of aging a bit more to integrate the flavors a bit more.
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10/3/2015 - salil wrote:
Iberian dinner (Milford, CT): Way too young. Way way way too young. Lots of oak here, and the fruit's still incredibly primary, with nothing else going on here. Hard to focus on this, with so many older, more resolved/developed wines at the table.
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10/1/2015 - jerkerdelsing wrote: 89 Points
A little over the peek. Fruit starting to become dry.
Othervise, packed with lingonberries, tobaco, leader and hints of coffee with nicely integrated acidity and tannins.
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9/25/2015 - Old Claret Likes this wine: 95 Points
drinking beautifully
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8/15/2015 - portman63 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I have had many of these but this was out of a mag. Getting more convinced that mags just plain show better. Still showing light tannins and great cherry and tea and leather flavors. Perfect with a chorizo based paella.
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8/8/2015 - jdporter3 Likes this wine:
No new oak here anymore for sure. Very pleasing light cherry to it, with a little earth. Shared with golf buddies at Pinehurst Resort cookout. Whacked it down well before the expensive Callifornias that they brought!
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5/1/2015 - jdporter3 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Improving, with sort of a southern Rhone vibe to it now. Some pleasing earthy notes on this one. Age becomes these old style Riojas for sure. I could drink this all night. Makes me think I need to cellar the younger ones a lot more!
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3/2/2015 - RichardP wrote: 88 Points
Old leather and prune on the nose. On the palate, light cherry, a bit of prune, leather, and overpowering sour acidity, a bit like pickle juice but without the acetic acid component. Not bad, but not to my taste, and it also doesn't completely match what other people have described here -- I can't detect any flaw, but bottle variation might be at work here.
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2/13/2015 - niloc36 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Marvelous old Rioja Tempranillo nose of vanilla oak and sharp cherries. Still rather angular and one- dimensional. I tend to agree with those who suggest losing this in the cellar for 4-5 years! Will,probably acquire more complexity anf suppleness.
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2/7/2015 - absolut wrote: 91 Points
sehr interessant! braucht viel Luft! zunächst Medizinalton in der Nase, der sich aber legt nach kurzer Zeit. Deutlicher Reifeton in der Nase, spitz, süßliche Frucht, die nach ca. 2 Std. Dekanter auch das größte Glas fluten kann (ging sogr mit Zalto Burgunder gut). Struktur und gute Länge. Kann noch lange liegen. Fruchtaromen eindeutig nicht mehr primär!
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11/27/2014 - jdporter3 Likes this wine:
very nice length. Great with Thanksgiving. Decanted four hours. Good on second day as well. Even better third day and not bad on fourth. Needs to stay in the cellar awhile.
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11/11/2014 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:
Very promising bouquet on opening, but remains unaccessible for 3 hours or so. Wood and spice nose. On the palate, it comes across as very acidic in the 2nd and 3rd hours, overpowering much else except orange peel notes.
Hold for at least 5 more years.
To my surprise it was even less accessible than the 2001, both require at least 3 hours now. Both spent 4 years in oak.
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11/9/2014 - baroloboy55 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is coming into its own. Warm and rounds and spicy. Whatever new oak I had detected in prior bottles has resolved. In the early stages of a lovely drinking window.
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11/7/2014 - Arch57 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank this in the middle of a trio of Riojas and it benefited from the 3+ hour decant as it mellowed nicely and opened up with dried cherries, leather, cedar notes. Paula really liked this one the best. Great to share with family over a roast chicken dinner.
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9/6/2014 - cristian_m wrote: 94 Points
Sad to have opened this, but I let curiosity get the best of me. Too young still. Really needs a min of at least 5 years of rest I reckon. Even at this stage, the wine is fantastic. Popnpour sip showed tannins, acidity and extracted cherry on top of earthiness and wood. Length was very very good. After 6 hours of breathing it came together better and integrated completely. As said before, still too young and will improve over time.
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8/31/2014 - Lordswood wrote: 87 Points
I have yet to be overwhelmed. All pleasant and correct.
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8/28/2014 - Loekkeboe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fine mature Rioja. starting out with quite a lot of dark, almost bordeauxlike fruit, and af bit of lactic.
Evolves in the glas revealing a bit of volatile acid - not obtrusive, just adding complexety. But in that sens old school, and not for everybody.
I think it will keep - but it will (probably quite soon) evolve towards something significantly more tertiary.
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8/9/2014 - unrelenting Likes this wine:
Declining quite rapidly so drink now. Per other notes, still other notes, Complex and balanced
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7/5/2014 - mr21cbs wrote: 92 Points
Very nice!
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7/3/2014 - Valbonne Likes this wine: 95 Points
Brick color, good acidity, slight oxidation in taste - port notes.
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5/26/2014 - Los 12 Glotones Likes this wine: 91 Points
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Els12golafres Wine Tasting Group: http://vinosclasicos.blogspot.com.es/2013/09/la-rioja-alta-904-gran-reserva-1998.html
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De color rubí rojizo claro de capa media, brillante, muy limpio, luminoso. Reflejos anaranjados, borde medio, cobrizo.
Algo tímido al abrir, sin acabar de abrirse; dos horas reservado en botella hasta servirlo. De factura muy clásica y reconocible: lleno de fruta roja reducida, naranja escarchada, clavo, pimienta rosa, cuero ruso, un punto de cuadra y un fondo que va ganando en presencia casi ahumado con sensaciones de cacao en polvo y un tostado suavísimo. Lleno de detalles, puro, elegante, pero parece tener puesto el freno de mano.
Potente, concentrado, con taninos firmes por pulir, amargosos de calidad y una excelente acidez que lo llena todo. Hay mucho vino aquí!! Fresco, vivo, nervioso, con una estructura tremanda, algo duro en general. Todavía por hacer, muy joven aún. Un prometedor 904 que muestra indicios claros de tener un impresionante futuro por delante y muchos puntos de coincidencia con el 890 de la misma añada en este momento. Parece que los vinos de La Rioja Alta de esta cosecha van para largo y tiene ese "algo" difícil de definir que los diferencia del resto. Un tinto para guardar durante muchos años y recuperar de lustro en lustro. No merece menos!!!
Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
90% tempranillo, 10% graciano - 12.5% vol.
La tempranillo proviene de los viñedos propios más viejos ubicados en subzona de la Rioja Alta, principalmente de los municipios de Briñas, Labastida y Villalba. El resto de la uva es originaria de las fincas Melchorón I y II de Briones y Rodezno.
Elaboración: La fermentación alcohólica se desarrolló en 14 días, descubándose cuatro días después a temperatura controlada. La fermentación maloláctica se desarrolló en depósitos de acero inoxidable en 39 días, de forma natural. En diciembre de 1.999 los vinos pasaron a criarse en barricas seminuevas de roble americano de 225 litros durante 53 meses, siendo trasegados por el método tradicional de barrica a barrica cada 6 meses. Filtrado suave antes de ser embotellado en abril de 2004.
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5/19/2014 - rebs1 wrote: 92 Points
Still young and needs a few hours to open up. Traditional rioja style. Will be great in time.
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5/9/2014 - scorrea wrote: flawed
Done. Kaput. Finito.
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5/2/2014 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Untamed, raw, needing more time but expressing greatness.
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4/26/2014 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Gave it about an hour and it was fully open. Nice acidity makes it a food wine but it was otherwise smooth. Bright red fruits, some sweet Oak and dried herbs. A complex but clearly Tempranillo bouquet.
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3/15/2014 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic orange tint of aged Tempranillo, but far from past peak. Sour red fruits dominate with a solid 30 second finish. A slight splash of acidity just past mid palate. Better as a food wine but plenty enjoyable without food.
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2/22/2014 - Old Doug wrote: 92 Points
A couple hours of air time has made this taste good. The nose is still hitting me hard, in a good way (big dark sweet deep cherry and a "woodiness" akin to Bordeaux), but the palate is restrained - overall it's acid-driven, and for a Tempranillo blend, it's still rather "Bordeaux-like." The cork was in pristine condition, and there's some nice bricking going on. My only complaint here is that the acidity is a little too prominent. Really good cherry and darker red fruits on the palate.
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2/6/2014 - dbkitc wrote: 89 Points
Deep garnet color. Initial strong dose of American oak mixed with tart fruit. Palate is youthful and agitated - needs time to settle. Bitter back end. (89+?)
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12/10/2013 - redwhiteandrich wrote: 89 Points
I wish I had let the sediment settle and/or decanted this. Many years left. Sweet barnyard funk on the nose and lots of mushrooms and sweet strawberries.
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11/29/2013 - wurzel68 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Stringente Eiche-, Zeder- und Tabaknoten, dann unterliegende Fruchtaromen von Schlehe und roten Beeren, erdige Aromen, Leder, Gewürze, Zimt; allein schon vom Nasenpotpurri bemerkenswert; am Gaumen zunächst etwas verwirrend, klare Altersnoten mit feiner Säure, im langen Abgang fast süßlichem feinen Tannin und unterschwelliger Frucht; findet sich im weiteren Verlauf des Abends gut zusammen
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11/23/2013 - scorrea wrote: flawed
I love Rioja and I truly want to enjoy this wine more, but the oak is just too prominent. I also found it to be a bit unbalanced as the acidity is taking over. I do not see this wine improving. 98 is a weak vintage and i will drink or give away the rest of my 5 bottles.
Edited: Left some of the wine for the next day and it is clear now that this bottle was corked. Mushroom plus moldy scents and flavors.
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11/20/2013 - unrelenting Likes this wine: 95 Points
I can't believe how good a value this is -- probably the best I've ever purchased! muted with modest structure but amazingly complex with solid finish. at the end of its life so drink now
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11/10/2013 - jeffreylubowski Likes this wine: 92 Points
This score would be higher if I didn't drink it too young. But what are you going to do when you are in Spain and find it for half as much as it is in the states? The wood is still too strong and even the dark cherry perhaps, but it's only getting better from here on out. And for a long time (more than 2024 which is what the window above suggests). My mom (who has a better palate than me) found it too overpowering in its current state, but also thought time would rectify.
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11/2/2013 - CondorKhan wrote: 94 Points
First impression was the garnet/brick color. Definitely a sign of a wine that's finally growing facial hair after an adolescence of 15 years. Which is appropriate because at that time my own facial hair was coming out. Aroma is typical La Rioja Alta old, musty oak paneled basement. Very old school and very classic Rioja. The palate, however is a different story. Giant, thick, silky body and the taste Dark Maraschino cherries and plums. Tannins in the finish remind me more of chewing on an ice cream stick than strong black tea. But the dark fruit flavor lingers for a long time. Despite having been made not long after the previous government shutdown, this is a baby. It's giving up plenty of pleasure right now but it will hold for a long, long time. I'd probably get more with the intent of going the distance.
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10/30/2013 - tkoby11 wrote: 90 Points
Darker in color than I remember, with lighter red edges. This was open for about 4 hours and took about 2.5 to open, but I would say its not in its best place right now to drink. It by far tasted younger than I had expected. It had both mature and youthful notes so this left me a little confused as the last time I had this it was full on mature notes on the early part of the mature spectrum.
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10/6/2013 - ericindc Likes this wine: 90 Points
Needed a solid 2 hrs of decanting. Initial strong pine on the nose with red fruits which moderated over time. Smooth red fruit flavor with some earth, vanilla, herb notes and a nice supple long finish.
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9/24/2013 - Lype Likes this wine: 91 Points
No formal notes but a good wine.
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9/24/2013 - burgburgburg wrote: 90 Points
A good representative of the Rioja style. Still oak over the fruit. Better cellar a little longer.
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9/13/2013 - asheio wrote: 90 Points
Rioja tasting at Arild's (Ulsrud): From magnum. Light red, some orange edge. Intense nose of oak/vanilla, strawberry jam and some acetone. Appears quite a lot younger on magnum compared to the "normal" bottle. Smooth and juicy, very noticeable oak on the palate as well. Nice acidity, good length.
The oak dominates at the moment, further storage is highly recommended.
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9/2/2013 - sharonandroland Likes this wine: 91 Points
Markedly aged, lots of dried fruit, vanilla, old leather, polish.
Light on the palate, but decent enough on the length to pull it through.
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8/30/2013 - mflesh Likes this wine: 92 Points
Enjoyed at Pappa's Brothers Dallas. Popped and poured by the wonderfully gifted Som there. Initially this wine was mysterious - nice aged black cherry but then just DIED in the middle, then came back with a roaring earthy thatch-like finish, gritty, and slapped you across the face. Because of this? It was decanted while we finished the white wine. After about an hour the wine was tried again. Dusty rose color on the pour. The nose was all about the aged black cherry, cobweb, even detected a hint of cinnamon and perhaps oregano? Basil? Kind of interesting. Initial note was black cherry and fig, aged well with a rather chalky and dusty front. The wine did get quite a bit earthy and spicy towards the middle, and finished almost in a rather youthful way with quite a bit of tannin actually still present. I was very impressed with this one. It is JUST getting started - look for this one to get even better over the next 7-8 years.
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7/27/2013 - tooch wrote: 92 Points
Saturday Get Together (My Place): This was drank alongside the 1995 and I thought it was just a bit better. It had the same savory character, but was just a bit more rich and assertive - two characteristics I usually do not covet, the added intensity here was awesome. I could drink this all day long!
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7/15/2013 - rayq Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice traditional Rioja nose.
On the palate there is a (familiar and typical) streak of acidity. There is a slightly astringent/sour note on the finish. However this dissipates with time and the last couple of glasses are the best.
I feel that this will never be a great 904 but patience will be rewarded.
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7/5/2013 - Crunge wrote: 91 Points
Much better than my previous bottle. This one had more depth to it. Still not heavy but a great summer red. It has an interesting mix of dark red fruit, sweet orange, and plenty of oak. A medium finish this time.
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6/19/2013 - junglejuice wrote: 94 Points
Wow, this wine is truly infantile. It was open for seven hours and didn't even begin to show its stuff until the bottle was almost gone. Like all wines from this estate, it is VERY traditional, so those who seek size over finesse should look elsewhere. It is very red fruit driven with hints of orange peel and a sharp mid palate acidity that drives this wine throught it's long finish. As the wine was consumed both the initially substantial oak component and the acidity mellowed to make way for a rich red fruited freshness that was on its way to becoming stunning before we finished the bottle. For now, I would buy up and drink as much of this estate's 2001 Vina Ardanza Reserva Especial, as it is currently drinking beautifully, and let this baby sleep for another decade, at least. Both are top traditional Rioja's of the highest order. This is world class stuff that is well on its way to becoming extraordinary - 93-96.
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6/14/2013 - asheio wrote: 90 Points
Blind tasting at Halvor's - ham and cheese combinations (Risløkka, Oslo): Rust red, developed colour. Rich and developed nose. Sweet, cinnamon and red fruit. Juicy and delicate on the palate. Noticeable oak. Long finish with some liquorice. Fresh, good acidity.
In my opinion the oak is a bit too dominant at this point, further aging is recommended.
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6/11/2013 - diggydan wrote: 89 Points
Much better, younger, and thicker than the '95 I have a note on. The nose is all about dark fruit boxed in oak. It's also a thick scent, with a rich, sun-dried component. The palate is relatively heavy for my taste in Rioja - ripe, dark fruit - and the body viscous. Good for the style but I'll take a more finessed gran reserva over this, or a lighter joven or crianza.
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6/1/2013 - jdporter3 wrote: 93 Points
Really excellent. Drank three bottles and the rest need to stay in the cellar for awhile or they will go fast. Lots of depth, vanilla. Easy to drink. Just beautiful.
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5/13/2013 - hfc Likes this wine: 94 Points
absolutely fantastic! pleasant acidity and fruits well supported the mid-palate. aromas kept changing from smoke, to herbs on the second day. terribly tasty and easy-drinking either with food(I tried with cheese) or alone.
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5/10/2013 - thunberg wrote: 88 Points
Excellent nose, great taste but lacks the length to impress me.
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5/10/2013 - prof b Likes this wine: 92 Points
an outstanding and still young wine. the nose gives off tobacco leaf, charcoal, and dried dark fruits. the palate is equally interesting with bright acid and a long finish. some upside is possible but this is my only bottle and i'm enjoying it now.
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5/3/2013 - janka Likes this wine:
Fine Rioja, give it some air and you have a perfect friend to a fine meat dish.
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4/1/2013 - DaleW wrote:
Surprising. I've quite liked other bottles from this same case, while this seems tired and a bit oxidized. Loose cork? Don't think this is correct, a C+
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3/23/2013 - Crunge wrote: 90 Points
Wine tasting party - Very light orange/brown color. Nose was smoky without much alcohol. The flavor is nice and a bit light. One of the eight tasters picked this as her favorite, and all agreed it was a good sipping wine. Medium-bodied with a touch of smoke and a very short finish.
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3/18/2013 - Puteljen! wrote: 91 Points
Great nose with sweet fruit, some secondary aromas of mushrooms and decaying leafs. Some vanilla, leather and a slightly burnt herbal note. In the mouth not quite as good. The oak and vanilla is a bit overpowering, the fruit can't really cope. Still very nice in an elegant, old school style.
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3/14/2013 - Old Claret wrote: 89 Points
initially a pleasant, easy drink -- then lost its touch
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3/12/2013 - djarcara wrote: 86 Points
Great start with medium to light body, cigar box and clove nose, restrained black fruit flavors....and then after 30-45 minutes the wine begins to fade away and oxidize. Drink quickly and you will be pleased.
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3/8/2013 - TheSauerKraut wrote:
delicious. tart strawberry/cranberry, leather, and a hint of coconut.
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3/2/2013 - kflex wrote: 88 Points
Brick red. Fantastic nose of coffee grounds, caramel, and lemon zest. A bit of a letdown on the palate, however; finish is dominated by a stale acidity.
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2/28/2013 - Nuromri Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light ruby, amber at rim. Fine nose . Gorgeous, focused long classic sweet. Second bottle corked. River Palm Terrace
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2/16/2013 - grayfont Likes this wine: 90 Points
tasted on opening and then decanted 45 minutes and consumed over the next hour. Was at its best at the end of that time so I think a longer decant would have helped. very well enjoyed, with sweet oak on the front palate but deep fruits in the back of the mouth.
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2/15/2013 - easttide Likes this wine: 90 Points
Incredible nose, great burst of black fruits and cherry, but heavily overshadowed but leather and persistent heat. Nice, smooth tannins. Wasn't as refined as I expected but enjoyable.
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2/9/2013 - wondersofwine Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pronounced nose with some leather and herbal notes. Also cherry fruit. Pleasant on the palate with a lengthy finish. Nice with cheddar or smoked Gouda cheese. Tied with a modest Burgundy as my favorite of four red wines at a church fundraiser. I only had a small pour but have a bottle remaining and will post again when I open the second bottle. The rating may go up into the low 90's when I have more of a chance to study the wine.
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2/7/2013 - farinas Likes this wine: 93 Points
Venison medallions and an assortment of hearty wines (Private Residence): Medium to brickish color with intense nose of vanilla, cedar wood, orange peel and menthol. Entry is balanced with very lively acid. Body is supple with cherries and a touch of lemon finishing with a medium extra smooth feel.
Very classic, very smooth, and and a perfect drinking stage. This is a delicate wine that should be had with very delicate foods.
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2/6/2013 - m_arcon Likes this wine: 92 Points
A super classic Rioja. Blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano aged in American cask for four years.
Red-brown colour.
Need about one and a half hour to open a bit. Cedar wood, vanilla, some red fruits, cigar box, menthol and some spice on the relatively subdued nose.
What I really enjoy about this wine was the palate. Incredible smooth and intense. The tannins are totally integrated. Medium body, good length and a finish with a super short touch of a lemon.
I think this wine is enjoyable now.
I´m very excited about the 2001, surely a better vintage than 1998.
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2/5/2013 - fc1910 wrote: 91 Points
I admit, I`m a real fan of this bodega, this Gr R is......inimitable....., low alc. like only a few wines of this class in the world, and then this astonishing fine addicted making matchless elegance........long ++ aftertaste 90- 93+?
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2/3/2013 - mikeaukenbals Likes this wine: 92 Points
super soft tannins. great balance and drinking well. nose is good but not too big.
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1/31/2013 - kenv Likes this wine: 91 Points
WCC Rioja Blind (Dorato's Resturant, Guilderland, NY): [Double decanted around 4pm with 30 minutes of air. Served around 8:30.] Sweet, pleasant, mature. Ready now.
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1/30/2013 - mikeaukenbals Likes this wine: 93 Points
not sure if it will really improve for another decade, but drinking great now. better than the ardanza in my opinion (at least now), but not quite as much of a steal.
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1/27/2013 - Monsieur le Comte wrote: 91 Points
so this is it then, the legendary 904!?
classic rioja style, very mature, reminds me of bordeaux but it is not!^^
nice nose
very sweet, vanilla, good integrated oak even a little fruit, very elegant wine, something to think about...(old wine)
harsh, earthy, some leather and a big amount of sour red cherries, some blackberries, minerality, fragile!
an ancient wine of our grand fathers.
complex but misses the power, a retired wine
not really convicing although I pretty appreciated this one...what a pity.
and NO people, this one is going nowhere, drink it up.
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1/9/2013 - BillBell73 wrote: 94 Points
This is classic rioja, everything in balance, a little tiny bit of stankiness in a good way, and excellent with food, particularly a cloth bound cheddar. Love it.
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1/1/2013 - DaleW wrote:
Sweet red fruits, an almost Dujacish exotic cedar meets sandalwood note that gets more cigarboxy with time. Lovely, elegant wine. A-
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12/28/2012 - laralh wrote: 86 Points
Vanilje, kanel, røde bær og cedertre. For hardt eiket etter min smak, ok tanniner og syre.
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12/27/2012 - Alemany wrote: 90 Points
VERY good. Makes my Churrasco come to life!
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12/22/2012 - Pknut wrote:
It's been years since I followed or cellared Rioja, having been turned off by many oaky wines, and indeed I had concerns about the oak here . . . but this was a fabulous wine, showing class and character. Alluring nose of spice and leather, which carry over to the palate, which shows gentle cherry and strawberry, somewhat mulled fruit, along with leather, sandalwood and light spice. The oak is an interesting component, but is far from dominant. The tannin is folded into the palate. I enjoyed this over four or five hours, and I noted a drop in palate intensity by the end, suggesting that this wine is perhaps not destined for much longer cellaring. But, after years of indifference to Rioja, this was just lovely.
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12/6/2012 - Shiaxonna wrote:
Not rating this wine. I know it's a good wine, but I just can't cope with all this oak... I'm a burgundy-person.
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12/2/2012 - unrelenting Likes this wine: 94 Points
At $40 retail, a Blockbuster value. earthy, rustic with a complex finish. Paired so well with my duck mole entree.
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11/30/2012 - Nutty08 wrote: 93 Points
Needed an hour to open up. Great nose of stewed red fruit, leather, leafy herbs, menthol, and something plastic-like (camphor?). Palate is smooth and finely focused, with tart dark fruit. Little tannin, and smooth palate from start to finish. Nice earthy spice on the back end. Fanatic polish on this. I haven't had may Rioja, but this strikes me as a wine on the beginning of its drinking plateau rather then the end. For those that prefer a "subtle" old world style.
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11/12/2012 - PC73 wrote:
Really heavy on stewed plums. Really not my style of Rioja.
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10/30/2012 - rayq wrote: 93 Points
Not the greatest vintage but my this is a stonking good wine. Traditional nose of old oak, wood, sweet fruit, spice, hint of citrus peel.
In the mouth it's very smooth, some of that traditional LRA acidity that keeps it fresh. Lovely. (93)
At BBR Spanish Gold tasting
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10/27/2012 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
A private lunch (Restaurant Moments *, Barcelona, Spain): Much livelier and deeper style than the gentle 890 tasted yesterday; wonderful nose of almonds and raspberries, plums, spices, vanilla, opens up beautifully, perfectly clean and fresh, lovely depth; on the palate excellent balance, good weight of fruit, fresh and energetic, satiny but still quite tannic; very good length, complete finish. Needs a bit more time and will last, until 2023+.
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10/20/2012 - beezer6 wrote: 94 Points
Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Really loved this wine. Stood out amongst the rest as far as being really eccentric on the nose.
Awesome caramel corn. So big and unique. Buttery red road tar, tomato soup. Creamy nose with red cotton candy and some funky earth and white pepper.
Coconut oil qualities, yellow corn and Miso Ramen even. So exotic. Blood orange on the back end. Aromatics were endless. Tropical notes even. So cool.
Palate was fresh and balanced. This wine was killer.
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10/20/2012 - psmith wrote: 91 Points
Dark fruits and coconut oil notes. Medium bodied, maturing, but still lots of promise. Tart, acidic backbone. Deeper and more meat than the '97. Very nice.
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10/4/2012 - bacchus of knockholt Likes this wine: 91 Points
Classic old style rioja style, black fruit, cigar box, etc. Bright acidity, really nice and compare very favourably with '95 890 tasted alongside it but at about a third of the price.
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10/2/2012 - baroloboy55 wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyed this wine quite a bit, but did not love it. Drank over a 4 day period. Very rich and somewhat ripe. Relatively classic rioja, but perhaps I've been drinking too much LdH and older CVNE. there is a note of american oak not fully resolved that persists. Perhaps it needs a few years, but very high quality for the price, but not the steal of the 01 Ardanza Espacial from same producer
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9/28/2012 - NineteenEightyTwo wrote: 88 Points
Transparent red brick color throughout. Nose started tight but unwound slightly with a bit of decanting. "Red rocks" was a recurring theme and the nose did indeed express a distinct terroir. This was echoed on the palate, with a recurrent sedimentary flavor. Also had darker notes of tobacco and leather. After an hour and a half, some faint blackberry flavors started to emerge. Tannins remained tight and pointed throughout. Slightly past the peak, with the flavors beginning to fade a bit, but a good mature wine nonetheless.
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9/27/2012 - smcilhen wrote:
Best of the Best Tasting (Binny's Lincoln Park): Very easy to drink....definitely in the 2nd half of its life. Good QPR at $50.
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9/23/2012 - DaleW wrote:
powerful but without excess weight, pretty red fruit framed with spice,dill, and tobacco. Young but showing complexity. B+/A-
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9/12/2012 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very suave, aromatic and distinctively elegant old world-style wine with a finely woven texture amidst a slightly austere character. This isn't an in-your-face wine. A little patience is required for the subtle flavors of licorice, candied currants, oak, vanilla, leather, and stone grille to unravel. This Rioja Alta ironically glides through a very low altitude on the palate but very steady. Finishes for about 40 seconds. Outstanding! Drink now until 2020.
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9/6/2012 - noahbw Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gave a few hours in the decanter. Deep dark brick red in the glass. Multifaceted nose of spice, rasin, oak, vanilla, funk, dust, tabacco, and earth all surrounding a massive candied cherry jam that soars. Incredible in the mouth; just a swirl of all these things with excellent tanin. Finish echoing on and on. Absolutely fantastic. PJG 92
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8/23/2012 - Harley1199 Likes this wine:
My favourites in the Estación quarter (Barrio de la Estación- Haro - Rioja): Brick Colour, very evolved.
What a nose! Pure cinnamon and sandalwood. Delicious. Almost ready
Suave on palate. Full satisfaction.
Want more and more.
Gonna fill up my cellar with bottles like this one.
My sort of wine.
Color ladrillo muy evolucionado.
¡Menuda nariz! Pura canela y sándalo. Delicioso. Casi listo.
Suave en boca. Plena satisfacción.
Quiero más y más.
Voy a llenar mi bodega con botellas como esta.
La clase de vino que me gusta.
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8/8/2012 - johnh1001 wrote: 92 Points
Pretty. Light. Spicy nose and red fruits with leather and earthy nose. Light on the palate. Smooth texture with some grip. Medium finish.
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6/3/2012 - oenophilip wrote: 91 Points
Started out covered in American oak - all dill and toasted coconut. Decanted for one hour. Nose opened a bit to show sweet red fruit (raspberry and strawberry) on the nose, and hints of musty leather, spice (cardamom). Still out of balance with the oak on the palate. After another half hour, the juice began to harmonize and reveal layers of ash, dusty fruit, and roasted coffee. The palate was light, but not without substance. Balancing acidity and a soft texture lead to a m+ earthy, dried floral finish.
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5/20/2012 - atubbs wrote: 90 Points
Astounding acidity at this point. Really lovely saddle leather, chocolate, red berry aromas. Still needs to integrate. Really good but not sure this will ever achieve greatness.
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5/20/2012 - Carstennoe wrote: 92 Points
P&P, ruby color, maby slight bricking. Classic rioja nose, forestfloor, Meat and oak. Palate delicate with earth, leather, red berries and bright acid. Some tannins remaining. Long aftertaste. This is a very lovely wine! Perfect with grilled lambchops with garlic.
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5/18/2012 - tplskylrk wrote: 92 Points
P&P a bit chilly. Beautiful color. Dusty reddish brick. LIght ruby at the edges, not too opaque. Nose is floral, vibrant, feminine. Soft palate, balanced, almost too light, but then the bright fruit brings a high fruit note, cranberries pie cherries all those red sour things. Interesting, liking this already more than the first bottle. Maybe my palate appreciates this style more now.
Few hours later, last glass. Smokier, more herb. Some minerality in the much more complex palate and still bright smoky finish. Getting some white rock minerality weird metallic thing. Nice
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4/28/2012 - tplskylrk wrote: 88 Points
Popped & aired in the bottle, 4 hours. Color is rustic, porty, looks aged. Cork good, straight from storage. Nose is wafting. Nose is smoky cherried leather, darn . . . a bit of raison. Big mouthful of fruit. This is light on the palate but has presence. noticeable acids, bright almost spritzy, middle drops a bit then a nice lingering finish. Oak and tannins and fruit nice interplay. The acids a re a bit jumpy for a wine this age. Off perhaps. I am going to try decanting based on the previous TN's & have some food w it. Over the night it did not change much. This is really old world stuff. Nice.
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3/26/2012 - Oskar Nyman wrote: 89 Points
Knockout nose, typical dried-out fruit & vanilla palate - not as lively as the previous vintage.
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1/28/2012 - lessrof wrote: 88 Points
Brick red medium transparent. Classical rioja with dill and vanilla, leather, some tobacco. Maturity tones with mushrooms, moulder leaves. Decent acidity. Drink now or in a few years.
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1/15/2012 - fc1910 wrote: 92 Points
Next bottle of the Gr. Re.904, because shared this one with some friends. I really love the aroma density of this 904. Needs not that much alcohol like most of the other bodegas to create a wondeful wine. Still quite too young, even after having given the bottle a bath for more than 3hours in a decanter....These aromas of spices, the fruit...... long, very long aftertaste, will improve in ? years.... 91-93
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1/7/2012 - fc1910 wrote: 91 Points
Tja, what should I say? The same complex and elegant Wine I´m accustemed to nearly every Vintage in which La Rioja Alta releases this Gran Reserva 904!!Needed some Time in a big Glas to evolve a little. But then the typical Aromas of a classic L R A 904! Some Fruit, but what I most admire is this intensive Smell of Spices! Reminds me of a Marketplace somewhere in Latin America in former Days! Strong Acidity at The Moment! Watch out in 5+? Years! So I`ll give a Plus for my Credit in Evolving of this Wine......
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12/31/2011 - Old Doug wrote: 86 Points
Capsule and cork were in perfect condition, but the color was so orange-brown that I was suspicious. Nose was very nice - wood, leather, a little smoke. Palate was disappointing - thin, acidic and tannic. Too young? Perhaps, but hard for me to believe that time alone would help this one bottle that much. That said, I'm finishing the bottle all by myself.
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12/12/2011 - Kento61 wrote:
A solid Spanish Rioja made in the traditional way. It needs time to smooth out the tannins and oak.
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12/1/2011 - Papies wrote: 85 Points
Full on the fruit Rioja with its good and it's bad. The sweet core is there , the dry notes some earth but also the harshness and the barnishness. A touch too sweet on the finish but that's Rioja we guess. 85
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11/10/2011 - Goldstone wrote: 88 Points
La Rioja Alta Dinner (Ole Restaurant, 24 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kong): Deep, blood-red semi-transparent colour. Nose is oak, mahogany, old furniture polish, powerful deep notes on a church organ. Very well made nose-wise, if that makes any sense. Palate is a disappointment - just too youg, overly thin, lean and over-predominant acid. The fruit is totally hiding but there are hints of lovely silky opulence ahead of it. Hard to score....88?
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10/22/2011 - Keith Levenberg wrote:
There was absolutely nothing wrong with this and indeed a lot right with it, but for whatever reason it just didn't click.
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7/22/2011 - igaf wrote:
Quick taste. Aged brownish-ruby, quite developed at the rim. Rather mature nose with strawberries, orange, vanilla, leather. Soft with moderate tea-like tannins, medium body, very moderate acidity, licorice on the palate. Can't say I was too impressed, somehow it seemed out of balance - a bit too dry or too woody or too mature... Not sure how this will turn with time.
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8/25/2009 - JordiA wrote: 89 Points
Bon vi, encara amb molt bona acidesa. Té recorregut. Cal airejar-lo una estona
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