Last bottle. I have had 2022 down as the last year of my drink window for this wine. I had the second to last bottle about three months ago and found it off a little from prior tastings. This bottle was the same as the one from three months. That tells me that this one is beginning to tire a little. I suggest it is time to drink it up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was good, but not quite as good as earlier bottles. I have had 2022 down as the back-end year of the drink window. Should have drunk up a little quicker. One bottle left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monthly Tasting Group HWS; Rioja (By RW and PB): Beautiful and complex, somewhat rustic bouquet with sweet spices and some graphite. On the palate soft and lush fruits, herbs and spices, chocolate and beautifully dosed oak. Beautiful and full bodied wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
As before in March 2020 for my last bottle, this exceeded my expectations, particularly for the price. Perhaps even a bit more balanced and complex than last time, though still carrying its modern-made hallmarks. It was delicious as a change of pace. Still has time if you'd like to hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I continue to have a somewhat better drinking experience with this wine that most other cellartracker.com tasters. It is a classic wine for its style and still drinking very well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
after pouring Luis into the glass its unbelievable that the colour shows very limited aging. no brownish notes but stil a good ruby teint. The wine is fresh with a medium + acidity which counterbalances the woodspice vanilla impression very well. Cassis, berries, maybe a bit of ripe cherry. I feel this bottle is a bit younger than my previous ones, the real tertiary aromas where not so dominant and they made the extra point last time. In my opinion no need to hurry in drinking these soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful and a bit rustic bouquet with sweet spices and dark berries. On the palate juicy red berries, some bell pepper and slightly sticky tannin. good length. Nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is the best bottle yet of this wine. I have 3 bottles left. Will not let them sit for too long. I have 2022 down as the last year in my drink window.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark with slight brown rim. Earthy, balanced, toasted oak, good fruit - including dark plums, lemon peel, beets. Soft tannins and good acid. Needed time to open and reveal its various components.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big, juicy, fresh, and not at all tasting like it's 15 years old. This is clearly a modern-styled Rioja, but I enjoyed it for what it is, and it exceeded my expectations. Good QPR, even on night 3. It went well with Chinese long life noodles at home, but the better pairing was homemade chipotle chicken and cheese quesadillas, where it played off the cheese and its oak influence nicely countered the slight chipotle heat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I had a so-so bottle of this one a while back.....that must have been a one bottle aberration, as this bottle was in line with previous tastings. I have 2022 down as the last year of my drink window, and I would stick with that back end year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice Rioja flavours. Vanilla, leather touch. Some lactic notes at the beginning which I found not familiar in this wine. Nevertheless drinking well. Fruit is declining.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle shows the same character and quality as in end 2018. I'm quite sure that it will evolve in a positive way for at least another decade, shed some of its tannins and develope further tertiary scents and flavors. 5/13/17/10
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #133; Spain, Rioja Reserva (By WW): In the bouquet red and dark berries and a good dose of pleasant oak. On the palate chocolate and caramel, dark and red berries, smoke, toast, good acidity and juicy tannin. Good complexity and length. Beautiful wine. Ready now, but no real hurry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby purple without any signs of age. Even if it is just uncorked and poured and a bit cold from the cellar it shows great fruit concentration, complexity and length that is shown by wines that are clearly outstanding. The score from Neal Martin (95 points in 2012) is well deserved. Black currant, cherries, mulberries, espresso and tea, vanilla. The new oak is present here, but it is not overwhelming the fruit anyway. And it is, oh, so young as the colour predicts. It is easy to drink now and fully satisfying, but it has future as well, though nobody could call you a fool if you drink up your bottles now. On the palate it is well balanced and fruit, tannin and acidity carry this wine in a long fruity finish. A modern rioja of course, but truly great. -2030+ in a cool cellar. 13/17/10
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still an awesome wine with tertiary flavours of forest leaves and leather. The coconut and oakyness is still there but nicely integrated. Also Pretty fresh. Extremely good but for 12 euro's Some years ago. Has a few years left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
excellent color and smell for this age. also very fruity and more on the modern side of a rioja. not as heavy pounding you down after a glass. can recommend this one - especially for the cost.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still a bit of a bruiser but softening from 5 years ago and the alcohol was less intrusive. Despite that I liked it less. I recommend to serve this slightly chilled to catch its “fresh” side.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This really started opening up after an hour or so. Good QPR. Nice slow running legs. On the nose red cherries,plum and a dash of pepper. On the palette its quite silky and smooth, still lots of fruit, and some dark chocolate. This was my last bottle. Would buy again, this is as good as casual bottles get. Crowd pleaser.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On the nose: still fruity but with elements of cough syrup. Licorice. Forest floor. On the palette: nice acidity. Still fruity. Oak. Medium aftertaste. Good QPR. Can hold a few years longer. I think it is slowly developing secondary and tertiary flavours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Generous Ripe nose some vanilla oak. Palate slightly dried out compared to nose. Medium plus tannin. Let this breathe first. Day two tannins and alcohol stick out but fruit remains (though still a bit dried out). Solid wine a notch below expectations.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice drinking. Nice acidity, vanilla hints. Still great performance but not showing the expression of my previous bottle. Maybe it is time to drink this wine now it is on its top.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
smoke, black fruits, a small citrus touch in the nose, wood, burned touches, full bodied, ripe, fine, the fresh acidity provides stucture, pepper, complex
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted again after a few months. Outstanding wine. Best and ripe Tempanillo fruit, very long and warm aftertaste. Tasted after three very good and ripe St. Emilion wines some days before (all between 90-92 points). Although being a spanish wine , i don`t want to miss such a delicious sensation and it`s good to enjoy the best wines from all over the world.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rond, plein et suave, puissant mais velouté. Beaucoup de fruit: confiture de framboise, cassis, mûre, cerise confite, prune. Pas mal de bois aussi: café, vanille très crémeuse. Chanceux sont ceux qui en ont encore quelques bouteilles à faire vieillir car je pense que 2-3 ans encore feraient des merveilles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Weekly tasting group RWP #242: A randomly chosen blind tasted set. (@ JdB): Concentrated dark forest fruits and vanilla in the bouquet. On the palate full bodied dark and red berries, a firm amount of juicy acidity, some pleasant sweetness, round tannin and well integrated oak. Ready now and the next few years. Beautiful wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
What a nice bottle of wine! Smells like ripe fat cherries, cassis, soft vanilla and oak in the background. Still fruity with dark chocolate aftertaste, very soft tannins. Some acidity zing puts it all in balance. Excellent QPR!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tempranillo Reserva of a very good vintage. Tasted several times. Lots of ripe berries on the palate. A typical Tempranillo Reserva with an intense long lasting aftertaste. Good value. Tasted another bottle. Silky, polished beauty. Perfect integration of its Tempranillo fruit, acidity and tannin. Again 92 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank blind for a Christmas wine tasting with Judy, Mike, John, and Monica. Dry, dark fruit, and spice. The oak is still #1 flavor, overpowering the remainder of the wine. The group's last price wine, by far. Unfortunately it was the most expensive!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious fresh oak and spice at the nose. Purity is extraordinary; brambles, leather and and tobacco. Medium intense but very volatile. Well-balanced and fresh on the palate, nice attack of acids and sweet fruit, spices and toast poping in towards the finish. Seductive, dark and chewy. Lots of finely grained tannins at the long finish. Will age well for a long long time. Quality for price is awesome (17 EUR), Spain!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Similar to prior tastings. P&P.....did not need a decant. Good wine for the price, but (as others have said) not quite up to the WA rating. Perhaps a little more fruity and complex than in the past.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #102; Rioja (By CvR): Tonight we tasted 3 of these wines fully blind beside each other; the 2005, 2006 and 2008. This will be one tasting note for all three of them. All three have a beautiful bouquet with dark fruits, sweet spices and a good dose of beautiful oak. In the 2006 and 2008 there is sweet licorice in the bouquet as well. In the 2006 also some cherries. The 2005 has as an extra some leather and tobacco and a pleasant touch of barnyard. The oak seems to be even more luxurious. On the palate all three vintages show dark forest fruits, some creamy red fruits, vanilla from the oak, juicy acidity and good tannin. In the 2008 there were some plums and cherries as well and the tannin still has a firm bite. The 2006 showed some laurel and slightly sticky tannin and is in its early maturity stage. In the 2005 the acidity and tannin is soft and mild. Overall; the 2005 the most ready and luxurious wine at the moment. No hurry for the next 3+ years. The 2006 a little less ready and luxurious, but still a lovely wine. Wait until 2017 – 2019 for optimal pleasure. The 2008 is beautiful as well, but the least interesting at this moment. Give it another 3+ years of ageing to see what it really has to offer. 2005; 91. 2006; 90. 2008; 89 - 90+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice, seemed much younger than the 04 CUNE G.R. Beautiful black cherry and blue fruits, modest oak, nice structure with plenty of time to go. 92 points
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry. It tastes like blackberry and oak. The body is medium/full. The wine has narrow texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
this bottle performed much better than my previous one, 3 hours of decanter, butter, vanilla, a very long middle part, the amount of wood was wel dosed, offered blind at a tasting of Ebriosi Vini and all the members liked it a lot
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Grenat intense avec disque poourpré. Au nez, pas le plus expressif, notes blasamiques, vanille(mais non exagéré), boite a cigar. En bouche, fruits noirs un peu de vanille, bois assez bien intégré avec un bonne dose d'acidité, bonne longueur. Bon RQP. 89-90
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monthly tasting club "The Tasting Club" 2014-05; Spain: Rioja. (@ CH): Bouquet with dark and red berry fruits, salty licorice and beautiful oak. On the palate a juicy wine with a lot of ripe dark forest fruits, a good balance between acidity and sweetness and round tannin. A lot of everything in a pleasant way. Ready now and probably until the end of the decade. 89 for tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Carmine at the rim - shy but fruit driven nose. Medium bodied, but fairly intense, bright and fresh acidity, not plump - more racy, fine tannins but still a trifle drying on the finish. Really quite classy with years ahead of it - there may be quite a bit of bottle/lot variation as this bottle is definitely not over oaked as other people have found. Modern style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Espagne et plus (Château St-Marc): Vin qui a remplacé le El vinculo Reserva 2005, car ce dernier était bouchonné. En conséquence, c'était presque un "pop and pour" bien que le vin a été mis dans une carafe une quinzaine de minutes. Le vin a été dégusté sur une période de 2 heures environ et c'est près une heure en coupe qu'il s'est ouvert et est demeuré relativement stable par la suite. À ma grande surprise, la surabondance de chêne qui était présent dans ma première bouteille, il y a 3 mois exactement, n'était pas présente ici. Le vin était bien intégré, bien fait. Nous avons tous convenu que ça ne valait pas le 95 points de M. Parker, mais très bon quand même. Il reste encore de la vie là-dedans pour un 5-10 ans.
Sur le plan des arômes, on perçoit la vanille un peu (sans être dérangeant) à cause du chêne américain à 50%, la boite à cigare, le cuir et des fruits noirs. La bouche est fidèle au nez et est bien balancée, sans toutefois avoir une très grande finale.
Ce vin m'a semblé un des bons rapport qualité/prix de la soirée pour 28.50$.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A lot better than my previous bottle a year ago, which was a tad bluntish and overoaked. But now a completely different story, even without a decant the wine presented itself nicely with smooth fruits, elegant tannines and the oak has integrated nicely! Think i should have bought more at the knock of price of only 12 euros.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Inky purple in color and heady fragrances of dark fruit, graphite and leather. Little difference from pnp to 4 hour decant Initial taste has layer upon layer of flavors. Dark fruit and tar lead the way but then comes vanilla, leather and a touch of spice. Lots going on but well balanced. L O N G finish with a touch of chocolate
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Slow. It smells like Blackberry. It tastes like Oak. The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Round texture. The wine finishes Long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Paars/robijn rood van kleur, in de neus een Bouquet van vanille, zoethout, subtiel cederhout, iets toasterigs, zwarte bessen en gedroogd fruit. Het mondgevoel heeft alles, aangename zuren, zachte tannines die mooi zijn afgerond en een mooie volle lange afdronk waarin de vanille en het gedroogd fruit goed naar voren komen. Fantastische wijn, wat een complexiteit!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
nice well balanced rioja which is a fantastic QPR. Probably not one for the cellar but a great everyday fruit forward item that does not evoke deep thought.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine can be summed up in 1 word: OAK For my palate, this wine is incredibly overoaked. I smell it, taste it, and it lingers on the finish. There is a small amount of fruit here which competes with the oak, but it badly loses the battle. PnP from wine fridge, with the oak dominant at the start, and just giving a little over time. Prominent yet smooth tannins do add nice structure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby borders with deep core hue. Nose seductive with underwood notes. Excellent concentration and vivacity with a fine integrated oak: blueberries, blackberries, tobacco and leather. RP95 sticker on the bottle. Consistent rate. I do have doubt on the thruth of the vintage. Who do to ?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From memory almost cab-like in both taste and mouth weight tannins were still pretty strong but decanted for 3+ hours. Overall, great purchase from WTSO. Highly recommend QPR
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not sure if this is bottle variation, or just the effect of a time and the sun. Either way, the first 2 bottles of this, bought in Spain, were lovely and delicate and reminded me a lot of Pessac. This bottle, bought here at the end of last year in the Netherlands, is quite differant. Its much bigger, with more pronounced oak and rich red fruit, and looks like a steriod enhanced version of the previous bottles. Seems to be a marked difference in opinion on this wine and i really wonder if they have had more that 1 bottle run or they have slightly differant cuvees for different markets. Possible, but its also possible that i drank the first 2 before they entered an awkward phase.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium deep ruby; quite intense fruit and typically oaky (vanilla toast and balsamic notes) - pretty impressive though its taken a while for the fruit to come through (several hours in the decanter); very silky and refined but very young and marked by the oak though there is good weight - you would ideally want to keep this in the cellar a bit longer unless you love oaky Rioja.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Regular dinner group (@ EM): On the palate a lot of juicy cassis and other ripe black forest fruits. A lot of acidity and bitterness, but also some pleasant acidity. The tannin has still a firm bite. Overall a beautiful and classical wine that needs a few more years of ageing. Around 2015?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
this wine is much better than the Reserva, was on its best during the third day, so an indication that this wine is still on the young side and it has a bright future ahead of it, fantastic P/Q
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Geproefd: 25-11-2012 85% Tempranillo, 15% andere druivenrassen 20 maanden rijping op nieuw eiken 50% Frans en 50% Amerikaans. Middeldiepe tot diepe robijn/kersenkleur met nog maar weinig ontwikkeling naar de rand toe. In de neus rijp braamfruit, pruimen, hint vanille, specerijen. Hele fraaie neus die veel belooft. In de mond veel rijp en sappig braamfruit, cassis en pruimen. Veel concentratie en zeer fijne tannines, poederachtig. Geweldige balans tussen zoet, zuur en ook mineralen en op het einde die aangename bitterheid van de fijne tannine. Ook hier een mooie frisheid die de wijn van begin tot einde begeleidt. Fraaie houttonen die op de achtergrond waarneembaar zijn in de vorm van romigheid en babbelaar. Een complete wijn met karakter, finesse, diepgang en bewaarpotentieel. Lekker lange afdronk. Wat een wijn, alles zit erop en eraan. Nu reeds lekker op dronk, maar kan zeker nog 5 tot 6 jaar (of langer) rijpen waardoor het geheel nog afgeronder en rijper gaat worden en meer finesse aan de dag gelegd zal worden. Een klassieke Rioja uit een groot jaar van een gerenommeerde producent . Score: 17+/20 (93/100) ...uitstekende pk-verhouding
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had this a while back at a restaurant on the Rioja. Loved it and it does not disappoint. Sophisticated mix of oak, fruit and spice. Well balanced and very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Elegant and smooth for a Spanish wine. So, somewhat out of character, but still very good. Did not seem to benefit from decanting. Ready to drink. WA rating of 95 is a little high. Irrespective of that, the wine is a great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My impressions are consistent with other notes here. Tobacco leaf and some well integrated American oak on the nose, with a light, velvet body of bright red fruits and cranberries. This is drinking very well now and is great value at the price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I totally understand the lighter comments here. I found the weight a bit odd too. Nevertheless, it did have all the right notes, but a bit tuned down, yet well integrated. Blackberry bramble with significant violet and lavender notes gave way to a soft, red fruits with young tobacco and worn saddle leather, faint smoked sea salt. Finish was long with hints of strawberry and violet. Needed about an hour to open after a mild decant; still a lot of time left in this bottle, but is hitting it's stride now. B+/92 = 50/5/12/8/8/9
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Solid Rioja, but a little surprising that WA gave this a 95. Recently had a 2001 Rioja that was much cheaper than this one that packed a much larger flavor punch. I don't think cellaring these past 2015 is going to make much of a difference.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
De mooiste fles tot nog toe. Heerlijke snuffelneus met vers geroosterde koffiebonen, kersen, provencaalse kruiden en cederhout. Vol van smaak met kauwbare tannines en een lange afdronk.
Wat aan deze wijn wel opvalt is dat de zuren behoorlijk de overhand krijgen als de fles een dag openstaat. Hierdoor heb ik toch wat m'n twijfels over de levensduur van deze wijn. Maar waarom ook langer wachten?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Expected a lot from this wine, massive Parker score and good CT reviews. Wine itself did not live up to expectations. Bold nose and thick structure but lacked finesse and depth. Drank it after an hour decanting, maybe to soon? Will poor the next bottle in de caraf a few hours earlier.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice Rioja, full bodied, balanced, excellent for its price. Obtained 95 points from Robert Parker, which is a bit high in my opinion, compared to wines like Deyrem Valentin, Cambon La Pelouse and others.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #075; American vs French oak (By MO): Just limited notes. In the bouquet dark berries and some licorice. On the palate juicy dark and red berries, sweet spices, vanilla. Overall a bit dusty, round and mild. No score for today.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Judgement of Six Fours, France vs. Spain. Blind tasting. Twelve tasters. Dark hue. Rich and fine nose : light tobacco, jammy strawberries and blackberries, leather and sap. Mouth of these fruit extracted, good alcohol and still young tannins. It does match Pata Negra ham of course. Very lively, balanced, and delicate, at the beginning of his life. Buy and keep five year. The wine of the best Q/P of the night. Avg 14.6/20
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blind tasted and wrongly guessed a CDP or a Priorat. Dark cherries and strong coffee nose. More red fruits, raspberries, on the palate with a bonbon zingyness, chalky tannins and some heat from the alcohol. This was superb on the second day and having seen the price I must say an excellent buy for a wine to lay down 5-10 years and enjoy in a more evolved state. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ik heb nu de 2003 en de 2004 gedronken. Deze is veel zuurder dan zijn voorlopers en valt mij niet in de smaak. Ik houd het er op dat dit een slecht fles was.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice wine that changed a lot over 2 nights. Day 1 its rich with saturated tannins. Day 2 its very pure and tastes like a good Pessac. Didn't make it to day 3 as it was just to nice to drink. Can be drunk now or left a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/4/2022 - rnellans wrote: 92 Points
Spice , leather food fruit. Ready to drink
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2022 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 92 Points
Last bottle. I have had 2022 down as the last year of my drink window for this wine. I had the second to last bottle about three months ago and found it off a little from prior tastings. This bottle was the same as the one from three months. That tells me that this one is beginning to tire a little. I suggest it is time to drink it up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2022 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 92 Points
This bottle was good, but not quite as good as earlier bottles. I have had 2022 down as the back-end year of the drink window. Should have drunk up a little quicker. One bottle left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2022 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Monthly Tasting Group HWS; Rioja (By RW and PB): Beautiful and complex, somewhat rustic bouquet with sweet spices and some graphite. On the palate soft and lush fruits, herbs and spices, chocolate and beautifully dosed oak. Beautiful and full bodied wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2022 - SeaWine Likes this wine:
As before in March 2020 for my last bottle, this exceeded my expectations, particularly for the price. Perhaps even a bit more balanced and complex than last time, though still carrying its modern-made hallmarks. It was delicious as a change of pace. Still has time if you'd like to hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2022 - Vandelaar Likes this wine: 92 Points
This bottle was singing again en appeared still youthful. Perfect balance between Rioja warmth, lingering fruits, acidity and a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2022 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 93 Points
I continue to have a somewhat better drinking experience with this wine that most other cellartracker.com tasters. It is a classic wine for its style and still drinking very well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2021 - Vandelaar Likes this wine: 90 Points
after pouring Luis into the glass its unbelievable that the colour shows very limited aging. no brownish notes but stil a good ruby teint.
The wine is fresh with a medium + acidity which counterbalances the woodspice vanilla impression very well. Cassis, berries, maybe a bit of ripe cherry. I feel this bottle is a bit younger than my previous ones, the real tertiary aromas where not so dominant and they made the extra point last time.
In my opinion no need to hurry in drinking these soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2021 - Liskit Likes this wine: 88 Points
Medium to full body, Ripe dark fruits, medium to high acidity, high a bit astringent tannins and a medium spicy finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2021 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful and a bit rustic bouquet with sweet spices and dark berries. On the palate juicy red berries, some bell pepper and slightly sticky tannin. good length. Nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2021 - srb_lowe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very drinkable, delisciously smooth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2021 - srb_lowe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Silky and smooth
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2020 - Bruce 1er wrote: 90 Points
Third bottle. Rich, dark, with briar and tobacco notes and a smooth finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2020 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is the best bottle yet of this wine. I have 3 bottles left. Will not let them sit for too long. I have 2022 down as the last year in my drink window.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2020 - Bruce 1er wrote: 90 Points
Dark with slight brown rim. Earthy, balanced, toasted oak, good fruit - including dark plums, lemon peel, beets. Soft tannins and good acid. Needed time to open and reveal its various components.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2020 - bilnjil Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still very good structure after 15 years. Nice finish. Have a few left and this is at or near peak so will be drinking them soon
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2020 - SeaWine wrote:
Big, juicy, fresh, and not at all tasting like it's 15 years old. This is clearly a modern-styled Rioja, but I enjoyed it for what it is, and it exceeded my expectations. Good QPR, even on night 3. It went well with Chinese long life noodles at home, but the better pairing was homemade chipotle chicken and cheese quesadillas, where it played off the cheese and its oak influence nicely countered the slight chipotle heat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2020 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 92 Points
I had a so-so bottle of this one a while back.....that must have been a one bottle aberration, as this bottle was in line with previous tastings. I have 2022 down as the last year of my drink window, and I would stick with that back end year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2019 - Mr T wrote:
easy drinking rioja if a little modern....paired well with beef stew
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2019 - WilD wrote: 91 Points
Nice Rioja flavours. Vanilla, leather touch. Some lactic notes at the beginning which I found not familiar in this wine. Nevertheless drinking well. Fruit is declining.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2019 - Vandelaar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still performing! Loove this wine :-) As Caruso mentioned still a whole life ahead for Luis
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2019 - Caruso Likes this wine: 95 Points
This bottle shows the same character and quality as in end 2018. I'm quite sure that it will evolve in a positive way for at least another decade, shed some of its tannins and develope further tertiary scents and flavors. 5/13/17/10
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2019 - Kris G wrote:
great just after opening but started to suffer from oxidation after 30 minutes or so in the glass
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2018 - Zweder wrote: 91 Points
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #133; Spain, Rioja Reserva (By WW): In the bouquet red and dark berries and a good dose of pleasant oak. On the palate chocolate and caramel, dark and red berries, smoke, toast, good acidity and juicy tannin. Good complexity and length. Beautiful wine. Ready now, but no real hurry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2018 - Caruso Likes this wine: 95 Points
Ruby purple without any signs of age. Even if it is just uncorked and poured and a bit cold from the cellar it shows great fruit concentration, complexity and length that is shown by wines that are clearly outstanding. The score from Neal Martin (95 points in 2012) is well deserved. Black currant, cherries, mulberries, espresso and tea, vanilla. The new oak is present here, but it is not overwhelming the fruit anyway. And it is, oh, so young as the colour predicts. It is easy to drink now and fully satisfying, but it has future as well, though nobody could call you a fool if you drink up your bottles now. On the palate it is well balanced and fruit, tannin and acidity carry this wine in a long fruity finish. A modern rioja of course, but truly great. -2030+ in a cool cellar. 13/17/10
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2018 - WilD wrote: 91 Points
Still holding strong. Good acidity with dark fruit. Vanilla touch. Very nice complex Rioja.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2018 - Vandelaar wrote: 92 Points
Still an awesome wine with tertiary flavours of forest leaves and leather. The coconut and oakyness is still there but nicely integrated. Also Pretty fresh. Extremely good but for 12 euro's Some years ago. Has a few years left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2018 - michigan66 wrote: 92 Points
excellent color and smell for this age.
also very fruity and more on the modern side of a rioja.
not as heavy pounding you down after a glass.
can recommend this one - especially for the cost.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2018 - Capt Cutlass Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still a bit of a bruiser but softening from 5 years ago and the alcohol was less intrusive. Despite that I liked it less. I recommend to serve this slightly chilled to catch its “fresh” side.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2018 - vr.bart Likes this wine: 93 Points
This really started opening up after an hour or so. Good QPR. Nice slow running legs. On the nose red cherries,plum and a dash of pepper. On the palette its quite silky and smooth, still lots of fruit, and some dark chocolate. This was my last bottle. Would buy again, this is as good as casual bottles get. Crowd pleaser.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2017 - WineGuyFL wrote: 88 Points
This was a disappointing bottle....well below prior tastings. I hope this is a one off bad bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2017 - Arvidien wrote: 88 Points
Très bien.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2017 - WilD wrote: 91 Points
Still tres Rioja. Leather, herbs, vailla, American oak, nice acidity. Still in great shape.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2017 - vr.bart Likes this wine: 91 Points
On the nose: still fruity but with elements of cough syrup. Licorice. Forest floor.
On the palette: nice acidity. Still fruity. Oak. Medium aftertaste. Good QPR. Can hold a few years longer. I think it is slowly developing secondary and tertiary flavours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2017 - vr.bart Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still has amazing QPR. Lots of ripe cherries and red fruit on the nose, some vanilla from the oak. Soft on the palette. Smooth tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2017 - ephorn Likes this wine: 91 Points
Generous Ripe nose some vanilla oak. Palate slightly dried out compared to nose. Medium plus tannin. Let this breathe first. Day two tannins and alcohol stick out but fruit remains (though still a bit dried out). Solid wine a notch below expectations.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2017 - WilD wrote: 90 Points
Nice drinking. Nice acidity, vanilla hints. Still great performance but not showing the expression of my previous bottle. Maybe it is time to drink this wine now it is on its top.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2017 - Kris G Likes this wine: 92 Points
smoke, black fruits, a small citrus touch in the nose, wood, burned touches, full bodied, ripe, fine, the fresh acidity provides stucture, pepper, complex
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2017 - Stefan and Ingrid wrote: 93 Points
Tasted again after a few months. Outstanding wine. Best and ripe Tempanillo fruit, very long and warm aftertaste. Tasted after three very good and ripe St. Emilion wines some days before (all between 90-92 points). Although being a spanish wine , i don`t want to miss such a delicious sensation and it`s good to enjoy the best wines from all over the world.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2017 - rwpalmer wrote: 88 Points
Attractively ripe, dark-fruited nose. Well integrated oak. Supple, round, almost a little too soft.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2017 - Lemmy-W wrote: 92 Points
snif, last bottle. drinking really nice right now. opens well after 1 hour. Red berries, smooth tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2017 - Sachaa Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rond, plein et suave, puissant mais velouté. Beaucoup de fruit: confiture de framboise, cassis, mûre, cerise confite, prune. Pas mal de bois aussi: café, vanille très crémeuse. Chanceux sont ceux qui en ont encore quelques bouteilles à faire vieillir car je pense que 2-3 ans encore feraient des merveilles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2017 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Weekly tasting group RWP #242: A randomly chosen blind tasted set. (@ JdB): Concentrated dark forest fruits and vanilla in the bouquet. On the palate full bodied dark and red berries, a firm amount of juicy acidity, some pleasant sweetness, round tannin and well integrated oak. Ready now and the next few years. Beautiful wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2016 - vr.bart Likes this wine: 94 Points
What a nice bottle of wine! Smells like ripe fat cherries, cassis, soft vanilla and oak in the background. Still fruity with dark chocolate aftertaste, very soft tannins. Some acidity zing puts it all in balance. Excellent QPR!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2016 - WilD wrote: 90 Points
Still performing well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2016 - Sachaa Likes this wine: 89 Points
Beaucoup de bois, beau fruit en confiture, c'est très rond, sans astringence, concentré. Feeling nouveau monde.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2016 - keio Likes this wine: 91 Points
boisée excellent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2016 - Stefan and Ingrid wrote: 92 Points
Tempranillo Reserva of a very good vintage. Tasted several times. Lots of ripe berries on the palate. A typical Tempranillo Reserva with an intense long lasting aftertaste. Good value.
Tasted another bottle. Silky, polished beauty. Perfect integration of its Tempranillo fruit, acidity and tannin. Again 92 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2016 - Dar3 wrote: 91 Points
Classic rioja, tastes much younger than the last 2005 rioja I had
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2015 - GoBlue2002 Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Drank blind for a Christmas wine tasting with Judy, Mike, John, and Monica.
Dry, dark fruit, and spice. The oak is still #1 flavor, overpowering the remainder of the wine.
The group's last price wine, by far. Unfortunately it was the most expensive!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2015 - stassivo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious fresh oak and spice at the nose. Purity is extraordinary; brambles, leather and and tobacco. Medium intense but very volatile. Well-balanced and fresh on the palate, nice attack of acids and sweet fruit, spices and toast poping in towards the finish. Seductive, dark and chewy. Lots of finely grained tannins at the long finish. Will age well for a long long time. Quality for price is awesome (17 EUR), Spain!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2015 - lovemycab Does not like this wine:
Both bottles showed seepage signs. Got from wtso. Both bottles were bad.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2015 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar to prior tastings. P&P.....did not need a decant. Good wine for the price, but (as others have said) not quite up to the WA rating. Perhaps a little more fruity and complex than in the past.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2015 - Zweder wrote: 91 Points
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #102; Rioja (By CvR): Tonight we tasted 3 of these wines fully blind beside each other; the 2005, 2006 and 2008. This will be one tasting note for all three of them. All three have a beautiful bouquet with dark fruits, sweet spices and a good dose of beautiful oak. In the 2006 and 2008 there is sweet licorice in the bouquet as well. In the 2006 also some cherries. The 2005 has as an extra some leather and tobacco and a pleasant touch of barnyard. The oak seems to be even more luxurious. On the palate all three vintages show dark forest fruits, some creamy red fruits, vanilla from the oak, juicy acidity and good tannin. In the 2008 there were some plums and cherries as well and the tannin still has a firm bite. The 2006 showed some laurel and slightly sticky tannin and is in its early maturity stage. In the 2005 the acidity and tannin is soft and mild. Overall; the 2005 the most ready and luxurious wine at the moment. No hurry for the next 3+ years. The 2006 a little less ready and luxurious, but still a lovely wine. Wait until 2017 – 2019 for optimal pleasure. The 2008 is beautiful as well, but the least interesting at this moment. Give it another 3+ years of ageing to see what it really has to offer. 2005; 91. 2006; 90. 2008; 89 - 90+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2015 - WilD wrote: 91 Points
P&P. Great performance. Nice acidity and vanilla. Dark fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2015 - sastewart wrote: 92 Points
Very nice, seemed much younger than the 04 CUNE G.R. Beautiful black cherry and blue fruits, modest oak, nice structure with plenty of time to go. 92 points
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2015 - G.O. wrote: 91 Points
Parker's 95 is too much.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2015 - Androurse wrote: 91 Points
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry. It tastes like blackberry and oak. The body is medium/full. The wine has narrow texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2015 - ancherrera Likes this wine: 95 Points
Robert Parker 95. Who am I to argue? Powerful aromas, licorice and berries. Oak, Very much a Rioja. Great body and flavor. Vanilla, wood, berries.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2015 - Kris G Likes this wine: 92 Points
this bottle performed much better than my previous one, 3 hours of decanter, butter, vanilla, a very long middle part, the amount of wood was wel dosed, offered blind at a tasting of Ebriosi Vini and all the members liked it a lot
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2014 - jorivesud Likes this wine: 89 Points
Grenat intense avec disque poourpré.
Au nez, pas le plus expressif, notes blasamiques, vanille(mais non exagéré), boite a cigar.
En bouche, fruits noirs un peu de vanille, bois assez bien intégré avec un bonne dose d'acidité, bonne longueur. Bon RQP. 89-90
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2014 - Zweder wrote: 89 Points
Monthly tasting club "The Tasting Club" 2014-05; Spain: Rioja. (@ CH): Bouquet with dark and red berry fruits, salty licorice and beautiful oak. On the palate a juicy wine with a lot of ripe dark forest fruits, a good balance between acidity and sweetness and round tannin. A lot of everything in a pleasant way. Ready now and probably until the end of the decade. 89 for tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2014 - WilD wrote: 89 Points
P&P. High acidity. Needs some air. Nice Rioja. Still great qpr.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2014 - Kris G wrote: 88 Points
this bottle couldn't convince me in the same amount as my previous one, lacking balance
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2014 - Jasper May wrote: 91 Points
Carmine at the rim - shy but fruit driven nose. Medium bodied, but fairly intense, bright and fresh acidity, not plump - more racy, fine tannins but still a trifle drying on the finish. Really quite classy with years ahead of it - there may be quite a bit of bottle/lot variation as this bottle is definitely not over oaked as other people have found. Modern style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2014 - thewineoceros wrote: 90 Points
Good quality - not massively complex. Enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2014 - thestefs wrote: 87 Points
décevant
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2014 - mychurch wrote: 92 Points
Getting better. Bottle variation, but this was smokey, pure and justified NM high rating.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2014 - WilD wrote: 90 Points
Needs some air. Nice Rioja. Still great qpr.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2014 - Frontal wrote: 89 Points
Espagne et plus (Château St-Marc): Vin qui a remplacé le El vinculo Reserva 2005, car ce dernier était bouchonné. En conséquence, c'était presque un "pop and pour" bien que le vin a été mis dans une carafe une quinzaine de minutes. Le vin a été dégusté sur une période de 2 heures environ et c'est près une heure en coupe qu'il s'est ouvert et est demeuré relativement stable par la suite. À ma grande surprise, la surabondance de chêne qui était présent dans ma première bouteille, il y a 3 mois exactement, n'était pas présente ici. Le vin était bien intégré, bien fait. Nous avons tous convenu que ça ne valait pas le 95 points de M. Parker, mais très bon quand même. Il reste encore de la vie là-dedans pour un 5-10 ans.
Sur le plan des arômes, on perçoit la vanille un peu (sans être dérangeant) à cause du chêne américain à 50%, la boite à cigare, le cuir et des fruits noirs. La bouche est fidèle au nez et est bien balancée, sans toutefois avoir une très grande finale.
Ce vin m'a semblé un des bons rapport qualité/prix de la soirée pour 28.50$.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2014 - Vandelaar wrote: 91 Points
A lot better than my previous bottle a year ago, which was a tad bluntish and overoaked. But now a completely different story, even without a decant the wine presented itself nicely with smooth fruits, elegant tannines and the oak has integrated nicely! Think i should have bought more at the knock of price of only 12 euros.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2014 - Doni.Bertolami wrote: 89 Points
A solid Rioja for a reasonable price. Oak is on the higher end of the scale.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2014 - Strikermax wrote: 84 Points
Een stuk minder fruit (eigenlijk geen, of het moet rotte sinaasappel zijn) dan voorgaande flessen, flink wat flesvariatie bij deze wijn.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2014 - angelo619 wrote: 90 Points
good fruit, ridiculous OAK!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2014 - Bruce 1er Likes this wine: 89 Points
Beautiful complex fruit flavors (black currants, plums, black cherries) that coat the palette. However, it finishes abruptly with dusty tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2014 - LEXKYWINE wrote: 92 Points
Inky purple in color and heady fragrances of dark fruit, graphite and leather. Little difference from pnp to 4 hour decant Initial taste has layer upon layer of flavors. Dark fruit and tar lead the way but then comes vanilla, leather and a touch of spice. Lots going on but well balanced. L O N G finish with a touch of chocolate
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2013 - Xfactor wrote: 90 Points
Paired with roast lamb leg. Firmer than my recollection, but was round and enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2013 - Frontal Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice wine but a lot of oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2013 - PaulHig wrote: 90 Points
Deep, rich, thick and a touch reduced. Possibly too heavy, but sexy and enjoyable at the same time!??!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2013 - Androurse wrote: 91 Points
The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Slow. It smells like Blackberry. It tastes like Oak. The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Round texture. The wine finishes Long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2013 - Andre-Raafs wrote: 92 Points
Paars/robijn rood van kleur, in de neus een Bouquet van vanille, zoethout, subtiel cederhout, iets toasterigs, zwarte bessen en gedroogd fruit. Het mondgevoel heeft alles, aangename zuren, zachte tannines die mooi zijn afgerond en een mooie volle lange afdronk waarin de vanille en het gedroogd fruit goed naar voren komen. Fantastische wijn, wat een complexiteit!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2013 - _Xenon wrote: 89 Points
OAK.... My guess is that this wine will never be ready to drink.
Day three. Quite nice vanilla, Marzipan and almond taste. Still too astringent but somewhat ready to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/18/2013 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 90 Points
nice well balanced rioja which is a fantastic QPR. Probably not one for the cellar but a great everyday fruit forward item that does not evoke deep thought.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2013 - GoBlue2002 Does not like this wine: 88 Points
This wine can be summed up in 1 word: OAK
For my palate, this wine is incredibly overoaked. I smell it, taste it, and it lingers on the finish. There is a small amount of fruit here which competes with the oak, but it badly loses the battle.
PnP from wine fridge, with the oak dominant at the start, and just giving a little over time. Prominent yet smooth tannins do add nice structure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2013 - jonggj wrote: 92 Points
- Crimsom color with medium forming legs.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2013 - Xfactor wrote: 90 Points
So good with pig, but gaining a bit too much of a detracting raisin note.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2013 - dead puddle Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ruby borders with deep core hue. Nose seductive with underwood notes. Excellent concentration and vivacity with a fine integrated oak: blueberries, blackberries, tobacco and leather. RP95 sticker on the bottle.
Consistent rate. I do have doubt on the thruth of the vintage. Who do to ?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2013 - WilD wrote: 90 Points
Great performance. Decanted for one hour. Great QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2013 - golfwineski Likes this wine: 91 Points
From memory almost cab-like in both taste and mouth weight tannins were still pretty strong but decanted for 3+ hours. Overall, great purchase from WTSO. Highly recommend QPR
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2013 - mychurch wrote: 88 Points
Not sure if this is bottle variation, or just the effect of a time and the sun. Either way, the first 2 bottles of this, bought in Spain, were lovely and delicate and reminded me a lot of Pessac. This bottle, bought here at the end of last year in the Netherlands, is quite differant. Its much bigger, with more pronounced oak and rich red fruit, and looks like a steriod enhanced version of the previous bottles. Seems to be a marked difference in opinion on this wine and i really wonder if they have had more that 1 bottle run or they have slightly differant cuvees for different markets. Possible, but its also possible that i drank the first 2 before they entered an awkward phase.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2013 - michigan66 wrote: 91 Points
Very dense and round. Enough fruit to enjoy and also classy for a Spanish Rioja
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2013 - gg4 wrote: 84 Points
Very intresting nose (good fruit.....) but is need more body (because is have little high acidity) and is not have good balance
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2013 - vespasian wrote: 90 Points
Medium deep ruby; quite intense fruit and typically oaky (vanilla toast and balsamic notes) - pretty impressive though its taken a while for the fruit to come through (several hours in the decanter); very silky and refined but very young and marked by the oak though there is good weight - you would ideally want to keep this in the cellar a bit longer unless you love oaky Rioja.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2013 - lator wrote: 88 Points
No formal notes. 88-89 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2013 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Regular dinner group (@ EM): On the palate a lot of juicy cassis and other ripe black forest fruits. A lot of acidity and bitterness, but also some pleasant acidity. The tannin has still a firm bite. Overall a beautiful and classical wine that needs a few more years of ageing. Around 2015?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2013 - Kris G Likes this wine: 91 Points
this wine is much better than the Reserva, was on its best during the third day, so an indication that this wine is still on the young side and it has a bright future ahead of it, fantastic P/Q
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2013 - f22nickell Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Seattle Wine Group - April Wine Tasting Event - Theme: Rioja/Tempranillo (Amaroso Room - Wine Storage Bellevue): Color was a deep purple. Aromas of dark fruit and oak. Palate was very weak and insipid. tastes of oak and nothing more. Parker was high on something to give this a 95 pt rating. 86 pts. 3rd place of 7 wines tasted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2013 - Xfactor wrote: 91 Points
As before, but was losing steam after 6+ hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2013 - EnoDoc wrote: 97 Points
As perfect a wine as I have ever drank. As good, if not better than my other favorite Rioja, Bodega Muga. I recomend it
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2013 - jfroklage wrote:
Geproefd: 25-11-2012
85% Tempranillo, 15% andere druivenrassen
20 maanden rijping op nieuw eiken 50% Frans en 50% Amerikaans.
Middeldiepe tot diepe robijn/kersenkleur met nog maar weinig ontwikkeling naar de rand toe.
In de neus rijp braamfruit, pruimen, hint vanille, specerijen. Hele fraaie neus die veel belooft.
In de mond veel rijp en sappig braamfruit, cassis en pruimen. Veel concentratie en zeer fijne tannines, poederachtig. Geweldige balans tussen zoet, zuur en ook mineralen en op het einde die aangename bitterheid van de fijne tannine. Ook hier een mooie frisheid die de wijn van begin tot einde begeleidt.
Fraaie houttonen die op de achtergrond waarneembaar zijn in de vorm van romigheid en babbelaar.
Een complete wijn met karakter, finesse, diepgang en bewaarpotentieel.
Lekker lange afdronk.
Wat een wijn, alles zit erop en eraan. Nu reeds lekker op dronk, maar kan zeker nog 5 tot 6 jaar (of langer) rijpen waardoor het geheel nog afgeronder en rijper gaat worden en meer finesse aan de dag gelegd zal worden.
Een klassieke Rioja uit een groot jaar van een gerenommeerde producent .
Score: 17+/20 (93/100) ...uitstekende pk-verhouding
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2013 - vino_Kaz wrote: 92 Points
Had this a while back at a restaurant on the Rioja. Loved it and it does not disappoint. Sophisticated mix of oak, fruit and spice. Well balanced and very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2013 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 93 Points
Elegant and smooth for a Spanish wine. So, somewhat out of character, but still very good. Did not seem to benefit from decanting. Ready to drink. WA rating of 95 is a little high. Irrespective of that, the wine is a great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2013 - WilD wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for one hour. Velvetty smoothness. Very nice vanilla oak. Freshness. Great QPR.......
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2013 - IconeWino wrote: 91 Points
Freakishly smooth
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2013 - smphelps wrote: 91 Points
My impressions are consistent with other notes here. Tobacco leaf and some well integrated American oak on the nose, with a light, velvet body of bright red fruits and cranberries. This is drinking very well now and is great value at the price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2013 - Xfactor wrote: 92 Points
I totally understand the lighter comments here. I found the weight a bit odd too. Nevertheless, it did have all the right notes, but a bit tuned down, yet well integrated. Blackberry bramble with significant violet and lavender notes gave way to a soft, red fruits with young tobacco and worn saddle leather, faint smoked sea salt. Finish was long with hints of strawberry and violet. Needed about an hour to open after a mild decant; still a lot of time left in this bottle, but is hitting it's stride now. B+/92 = 50/5/12/8/8/9
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2013 - pwarms Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent full bodied wine but a bit light for what I think of as Rioja. Not bad, just different.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2013 - wanderlust wrote: 90 Points
Solid Rioja, but a little surprising that WA gave this a 95. Recently had a 2001 Rioja that was much cheaper than this one that packed a much larger flavor punch. I don't think cellaring these past 2015 is going to make much of a difference.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2013 - Strikermax wrote: 93 Points
De mooiste fles tot nog toe. Heerlijke snuffelneus met vers geroosterde koffiebonen, kersen, provencaalse kruiden en cederhout. Vol van smaak met kauwbare tannines en een lange afdronk.
Wat aan deze wijn wel opvalt is dat de zuren behoorlijk de overhand krijgen als de fles een dag openstaat. Hierdoor heb ik toch wat m'n twijfels over de levensduur van deze wijn. Maar waarom ook langer wachten?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2013 - Vandelaar wrote: 89 Points
Expected a lot from this wine, massive Parker score and good CT reviews. Wine itself did not live up to expectations. Bold nose and thick structure but lacked finesse and depth. Drank it after an hour decanting, maybe to soon? Will poor the next bottle in de caraf a few hours earlier.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2013 - michigan66 wrote: 91 Points
Dunkles rubinrot, beeriges, holziges aber zurueckhaltende Nase.
Ist noch am Beginn, braucht noch mind. bis 2015 fuer den Hoehepunkt.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2013 - tmoser911 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice Rioja, full bodied, balanced, excellent for its price. Obtained 95 points from Robert Parker, which is a bit high in my opinion, compared to wines like Deyrem Valentin, Cambon La Pelouse and others.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2013 - Zweder wrote:
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #075; American vs French oak (By MO): Just limited notes. In the bouquet dark berries and some licorice. On the palate juicy dark and red berries, sweet spices, vanilla. Overall a bit dusty, round and mild. No score for today.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2012 - Strikermax wrote: 91 Points
Als voorgaande jaren. Fantastische prijs-kwaliteitverhouding!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2012 - Biglama wrote: 90 Points
prima glas, niet echt een hoogvlieger, maar alles voor een Rioja is aanwezig, moderne variant,
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2012 - dead puddle wrote: 91 Points
Judgement of Six Fours, France vs. Spain. Blind tasting. Twelve tasters. Dark hue. Rich and fine nose : light tobacco, jammy strawberries and blackberries, leather and sap. Mouth of these fruit extracted, good alcohol and still young tannins. It does match Pata Negra ham of course. Very lively, balanced, and delicate, at the beginning of his life. Buy and keep five year. The wine of the best Q/P of the night. Avg 14.6/20
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2012 - Capt Cutlass wrote: 92 Points
Blind tasted and wrongly guessed a CDP or a Priorat. Dark cherries and strong coffee nose. More red fruits, raspberries, on the palate with a bonbon zingyness, chalky tannins and some heat from the alcohol. This was superb on the second day and having seen the price I must say an excellent buy for a wine to lay down 5-10 years and enjoy in a more evolved state. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2012 - theoakkermans wrote: flawed
Ik heb nu de 2003 en de 2004 gedronken. Deze is veel zuurder dan zijn voorlopers en valt mij niet in de smaak. Ik houd het er op dat dit een slecht fles was.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2012 - mychurch wrote: 90 Points
Nice wine that changed a lot over 2 nights. Day 1 its rich with saturated tannins. Day 2 its very pure and tastes like a good Pessac. Didn't make it to day 3 as it was just to nice to drink. Can be drunk now or left a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment