This wine from Rioja Alavesa and Bodegas Casado Morales has a wonderful crimson color and slow legs. The vintner uses no filtration and so there is moderate sediment in the bottle. It has a beautiful aroma with hints of blackberry, blueberry, red currant, cinnamon and raisin. A little sharp when first opened, it mellowed beautifully over an hour of decanting. A 2005 vintage, this wine still has many more years in the bottle. its smooth, polished texture and medium full body was further enhanced by a wonderful taste hinting of strawberry, blackberry, blueberry, black currant, with a spicy hint of cinnamon and raisin. The wine has a polished texture with a medium finish and medium to high acidity. This wine was originally rated a 93 by the old Robert Parker group. I tasted one bottle when I first purchased it in 2014. As I recall it seemed very harsh, tannic and strong. This is the first of the remaining 11 bottles that I laid up. I'll be looking forward to continuing to sample this excellent wine. Although the bottles were stored on their sides, the cork was pretty flakey and difficult to remove.
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This ruby colored Tempranillo has slow legs with no noticeable sediment in the bottle. It has a nose of strawberry, blackberry and cassis with similar tastes. It is a medium body wine with a very smooth texture, a wonderful aroma and taste and a pleasant finish with medium acidity. I bought three cases in early 2014 with one case used as a gift, one finished and we chose the first bottle of the last case to accompany a beautiful roasted lamb shank New Years eve dinner. Everyone thought the wine excellent. I judged it to be continuing to improve. I would be comfortable extending the drink dates on this wine to 2030.
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Medium(+) intense mature nose of ripe cherry, vanilla- and coconut-oak, marzipan and coffee. Similar flavors on the palate, some additional blueberry, medium(+)-bodied and intense. Very ripe tannins and just enough acidity. A bit chalky. Long, but not very complex finish. Agreeable wine without too much tension or complexity but still enough freshness.
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I had this after dinner on 12/20/16. It had a reserved and subtle bouquet of smoke, burnt toast, cocoa, blueberry, plum, black cherry and spice aromas. The palate was rich, full and dry with flavors of burnt toast, char, cocoa, blueberry, plum, black cherry and spice.
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Decent wine, well made. The one flaw, like many wines, is the best sip was the first sip. It did not get more interesting as it sat in the glass, nor as the bottle got air over a couple hours. Still, good Rioja for the price.
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A pleasant surprise from Rioja. Interesting nose, reminiscent of Bordeaux. Mineral driven palate, showing pencil lead, excellent oak treatment, gripping mid palate, and a long finish. It put my mind to the 2010 Château du Retout. Very nice!
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LOVE Spanish wines and find them to be great for the price, however Rioja is too hit or miss for me, and usually not my first choice from Iberia. This certainly possesses a layered complexity, needs time to open as others have already noted, and shows like many Reservas I've had, but the balance is off. The acidity somehow detracted from the taste rather than enhance it. A handful of tasters called the body medium plus to full, and I couldn't disagree more. This has the mouth feel & transparency of a Barbera, and some pretty quick thin legs. Still quite youthful, so maybe a few years will bring everything together.
Interesting post script to the note above. A glass worth was left in the open decanter overnight (this after a 4 hour decant before serving & consumption for 4 hours after that). The next morning it showed fairly well. Had gone a bit flabby, but the aromatics were still there, the acid had integrated and it had gotten rather opaque. At 4:00 A.M. it was probably perfect. Always amazed how much air these can take.
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Dark garnet-tinged ruby. Cola, oak, earth and a bit of blueberry on the nose. Medium to full bodied, tart black cherries, pepper, blackberries, beastly tannins, cedar, tobacco, and a slightly thin medium length finish. Good with food, but not so much by itself. Day 3 update: Surprisingly, more spicy red fruit showed up tonight, and it was a much better "sipper". 88-89. Clearly needs a lot of air time to shine.
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Nose still very assertive. Lot's of fruit, some pepper. A little hot and untamed in the mouth again with pepper. Medium to full bodied but just a brute. Would revisit in 5 years. 90.
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This was one of the better Rioja wines I have had in a long time. Rich, nice nose, finish was a little rough...could use some years for those tannins to smooth out. Would buy again.
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A solid wine once it opened up (which didn't take too long once it went in the decanter). Had it with an assortment of cheeses, and as always the truffle goat cheese did wonders in bringing the fruit forward. Hard to judge overall because my palate was overwhelmed by cheese flavors, but I would happily drink this again.
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Lush, and full bodied. Dark fruit, earthy, complex and layered. A little over the top, but nice. New World in style. I prefer more Old World style, but this bottle was nicely balanced. A little too sweet for food imo. Overall, i could see this being a real crowd pleaser. Not too much oak and lovely profile. Highly recommended, especially for the money.
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Very nice Rioja. Nice and smooth for the tannin structure. Nice nose. The wine looks Ruby colored. It smells like Black currant (cassis), Mushroom, and Tobacco. The body is Medium/Full. The wine finishes Medium.
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(Unfortunately, my detailed notes were lost in this new CellarTracker cluster-F!..) Strawberry with cedar/cigar box. Old world but with a richness. Flavors turned more modern-ish with time. Clean, balanced finish. Well made wine.
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Tastes of blueberries, tobacco, walnut, yeast and slate. Not overly complex but delicious. Good balance. Drinks well now and still has some years ahead. Excellent qpr.
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I had this at a friends Ox tail dinner on 12/15/12. It had a reserved, ripe and wonderful bouquet of smoke, mocha, cocoa, burnt toast, black cherry, plum and spice aromas. The palate was rich and ripe with flavors that followed the nose.
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Wine started off fruity with hint of oakiness and tobacco. Tannins were not overpowering and the wine had a nice finish to it. This wine was not extremely complex but still very enjoyable. Nice price point at $20 for this wine. Will buy a few bottles to have around and serve as a party wine.
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Good amount of tannins with a fruity nose and initially a touch of fruit on the palate. Then the rustic, yet smooth almost silky and dry mid palate with a shortish finish. Not sure yet if I like it enough to buy by the case?
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100% Tempranillo, unfiltered, aged for 14 months in French oak and 18months in the bottle. This wine has a super ripe nose of black cherry, leather, oak and dried herbs. Medium bodied with silky tannins, low acidity and an intense dark fruit flavor fading into a chocolate powder finish with hints of vanilla (retail $19.99).
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1/12/2021 - jwilkey Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine from Rioja Alavesa and Bodegas Casado Morales has a wonderful crimson color and slow legs. The vintner uses no filtration and so there is moderate sediment in the bottle. It has a beautiful aroma with hints of blackberry, blueberry, red currant, cinnamon and raisin. A little sharp when first opened, it mellowed beautifully over an hour of decanting. A 2005 vintage, this wine still has many more years in the bottle. its smooth, polished texture and medium full body was further enhanced by a wonderful taste hinting of strawberry, blackberry, blueberry, black currant, with a spicy hint of cinnamon and raisin. The wine has a polished texture with a medium finish and medium to high acidity. This wine was originally rated a 93 by the old Robert Parker group. I tasted one bottle when I first purchased it in 2014. As I recall it seemed very harsh, tannic and strong. This is the first of the remaining 11 bottles that I laid up. I'll be looking forward to continuing to sample this excellent wine. Although the bottles were stored on their sides, the cork was pretty flakey and difficult to remove.
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12/31/2019 - jwilkey Likes this wine: 92 Points
This ruby colored Tempranillo has slow legs with no noticeable sediment in the bottle. It has a nose of strawberry, blackberry and cassis with similar tastes. It is a medium body wine with a very smooth texture, a wonderful aroma and taste and a pleasant finish with medium acidity. I bought three cases in early 2014 with one case used as a gift, one finished and we chose the first bottle of the last case to accompany a beautiful roasted lamb shank New Years eve dinner. Everyone thought the wine excellent. I judged it to be continuing to improve. I would be comfortable extending the drink dates on this wine to 2030.
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9/9/2018 - DStone Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still showing good fruit and a nice acidity. Would be great with food, tomato-based sauces, etc.
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3/31/2017 - putter520 wrote: 86 Points
Unbalanced.
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2/19/2017 - multimax wrote: 89 Points
Medium(+) intense mature nose of ripe cherry, vanilla- and coconut-oak, marzipan and coffee.
Similar flavors on the palate, some additional blueberry, medium(+)-bodied and intense. Very ripe tannins and just enough acidity. A bit chalky. Long, but not very complex finish. Agreeable wine without too much tension or complexity but still enough freshness.
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12/20/2016 - garambler wrote: 90 Points
I had this after dinner on 12/20/16. It had a reserved and subtle bouquet of smoke, burnt toast, cocoa, blueberry, plum, black cherry and spice aromas. The palate was rich, full and dry with flavors of burnt toast, char, cocoa, blueberry, plum, black cherry and spice.
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3/10/2015 - lachord Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not complex, but well-balanced with subtle oak. Very good for the price. Lasted well over 3 days.
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8/31/2014 - cadamson Likes this wine: 88 Points
Decent wine, well made. The one flaw, like many wines, is the best sip was the first sip. It did not get more interesting as it sat in the glass, nor as the bottle got air over a couple hours. Still, good Rioja for the price.
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8/11/2014 - Motz wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous note. A quality Rioja at a very nice price. 90-91.
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2/16/2014 - Motz wrote: 91 Points
A pleasant surprise from Rioja. Interesting nose, reminiscent of Bordeaux. Mineral driven palate, showing pencil lead, excellent oak treatment, gripping mid palate, and a long finish. It put my mind to the 2010 Château du Retout. Very nice!
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2/7/2014 - millerarner wrote: 88 Points
LOVE Spanish wines and find them to be great for the price, however Rioja is too hit or miss for me, and usually not my first choice from Iberia. This certainly possesses a layered complexity, needs time to open as others have already noted, and shows like many Reservas I've had, but the balance is off. The acidity somehow detracted from the taste rather than enhance it. A handful of tasters called the body medium plus to full, and I couldn't disagree more. This has the mouth feel & transparency of a Barbera, and some pretty quick thin legs. Still quite youthful, so maybe a few years will bring everything together.
Interesting post script to the note above. A glass worth was left in the open decanter overnight (this after a 4 hour decant before serving & consumption for 4 hours after that). The next morning it showed fairly well. Had gone a bit flabby, but the aromatics were still there, the acid had integrated and it had gotten rather opaque. At 4:00 A.M. it was probably perfect. Always amazed how much air these can take.
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2/3/2014 - Vinfidel Likes this wine: 91 Points
Well done and not to be used in the sangria. Juicy, little pepper, full gentle squeeze, light old wood, mild flower nose with a tingle at the finish.
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12/15/2013 - jfurey21 wrote: 88 Points
pretty solid for this price point. we liked it.
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11/27/2013 - merryberry wrote: 87 Points
Dark garnet-tinged ruby. Cola, oak, earth and a bit of blueberry on the nose. Medium to full bodied, tart black cherries, pepper, blackberries, beastly tannins, cedar, tobacco, and a slightly thin medium length finish. Good with food, but not so much by itself.
Day 3 update: Surprisingly, more spicy red fruit showed up tonight, and it was a much better "sipper". 88-89. Clearly needs a lot of air time to shine.
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6/25/2013 - lumpyelbow wrote:
Nose still very assertive. Lot's of fruit, some pepper. A little hot and untamed in the mouth again with pepper. Medium to full bodied but just a brute. Would revisit in 5 years. 90.
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6/15/2013 - Varnerhome Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was one of the better Rioja wines I have had in a long time. Rich, nice nose, finish was a little rough...could use some years for those tannins to smooth out. Would buy again.
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3/24/2013 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
Russk. Grew to 91 on day two.
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3/23/2013 - CamraMaan wrote: 91 Points
A solid wine once it opened up (which didn't take too long once it went in the decanter). Had it with an assortment of cheeses, and as always the truffle goat cheese did wonders in bringing the fruit forward. Hard to judge overall because my palate was overwhelmed by cheese flavors, but I would happily drink this again.
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3/4/2013 - pian0_player Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lush, and full bodied. Dark fruit, earthy, complex and layered. A little over the top, but nice. New World in style. I prefer more Old World style, but this bottle was nicely balanced. A little too sweet for food imo. Overall, i could see this being a real crowd pleaser. Not too much oak and lovely profile. Highly recommended, especially for the money.
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2/5/2013 - Varnerhome Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice Rioja. Nice and smooth for the tannin structure. Nice nose.
The wine looks Ruby colored. It smells like Black currant (cassis), Mushroom, and Tobacco. The body is Medium/Full. The wine finishes Medium.
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1/22/2013 - M3Shark Likes this wine: 92 Points
Loved this wine. Very smooth with hints of berries, leading to a spice finish. Great price point, will probably pick up a few more bottles.
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1/19/2013 - Sid_Mac Likes this wine: 90 Points
I find myself in agreement with the TNs of golfwine (1/17/13) and garambler (12/15/12). I enjoyed this wine a lot.
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1/17/2013 - golfwine wrote: 90 Points
(Unfortunately, my detailed notes were lost in this new CellarTracker cluster-F!..)
Strawberry with cedar/cigar box. Old world but with a richness. Flavors turned more modern-ish with time. Clean, balanced finish. Well made wine.
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12/24/2012 - VineLine wrote: 91 Points
Very nice, smooth tannins and ample fruit. Still a bit young.
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12/22/2012 - Kento61 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good everyday wine. Well balanced, medium body
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12/19/2012 - Doni.Bertolami wrote: 91 Points
Tastes of blueberries, tobacco, walnut, yeast and slate. Not overly complex but delicious. Good balance. Drinks well now and still has some years ahead. Excellent qpr.
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12/15/2012 - garambler wrote: 91 Points
I had this at a friends Ox tail dinner on 12/15/12. It had a reserved, ripe and wonderful bouquet of smoke, mocha, cocoa, burnt toast, black cherry, plum and spice aromas. The palate was rich and ripe with flavors that followed the nose.
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11/20/2012 - Kento61 wrote: 92 Points
Excellent, med to full body wine. Well rounded and centered. Dark fruit, works well with many dishes.
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9/3/2012 - Kento61 wrote: 91 Points
I love this wine for the price. Well rounded, balanced, dark fruit - works well by itself or with the appropriate food pairing.
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6/29/2012 - MWZ wrote:
dark cherry, very dry. Good price point at $20. No motivated enough to buy a case.
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5/1/2012 - SCWineDrinker wrote: 87 Points
Wine started off fruity with hint of oakiness and tobacco. Tannins were not overpowering and the wine had a nice finish to it. This wine was not extremely complex but still very enjoyable. Nice price point at $20 for this wine. Will buy a few bottles to have around and serve as a party wine.
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4/12/2012 - cab blends wrote: 88 Points
Good amount of tannins with a fruity nose and initially a touch of fruit on the palate. Then the rustic, yet smooth almost silky and dry mid palate with a shortish finish. Not sure yet if I like it enough to buy by the case?
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3/31/2012 - Alpton Likes this wine: 92 Points
100% Tempranillo, unfiltered, aged for 14 months in French oak and 18months in the bottle. This wine has a super ripe nose of black cherry, leather, oak and dried herbs. Medium bodied with silky tannins, low acidity and an intense dark fruit flavor fading into a chocolate powder finish with hints of vanilla (retail $19.99).
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