This wine has held together well, in fact it surprised me by how well it was. No brick red edges in glass, aroma somewhat muted, still exhibits good fruit and well integrated tannins.
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Bought 2-3 bottles for 11/b from a local retailer5-7 years ago. Decant with almost no sediment. Good ruby color, fragrant, good mature fruit, simple but tasty; likely starting to decline. Seems light and simple for a Rioja Rsrva with this age. 13.5% ABV. I wonder if this would be better if less filtered before bottling. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: I've stopped giving scores on a "100-point scale" as I've become less convinced that they can be meaningful to others. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. I considered this notable when considering quality, age, and price.
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I have been told I don't drink enough Rioja so of course what do I do - grab a cheap bottle and give it a crack. I guess I was thinking that with a few years on it, it might actually amount to something.
Wrong!
Not that it was bad. It was just simple, plain and very ordinary. If you are looking for a quick sandwich pour and still have stuff to do in the afternoon, slam a glass of this down and you won't be the worse for wear.
I guess it tastes a bit like Tempranillo.....
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This wine is peaking right NOW. A master blend with characteristics of pomegranate, black cherry, smoke and a subtle spice I can't quite put my finger on. Its medium bodied with a nice dryness that actually comes in the front with the cherry peaking at the back end, keeping me coming back for more. It even has this caramel backbone that shows itself at the last slip of each glass. I decanted it for an hour and Vinturi aerated it as well. I cannot believe the flavor profile that this wine has for 12 bucks. Buy this if you see it.
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Day 2 is worth a whole new tasting note, it's that different!
Worth two of more more points... it's Much much better. Nose has opened up a bit, some violets and other cherry and smoke aromas (thank you other reviewer for identifying those). On the palate the acidity is still there but not too keen, just nice and zingy. Red fruits have come out more and the palate sings a little. More depth, more spring to the palate. Dark tars have lightened a bit, opening up depth rather than darkening the flavour. Now it's nicely balanced and the Wood tannins have come out a little and complement nicely. Cedar, says one below, so I'll remember that. Medium-long length too, gently passing into the night.
This is definitely a step up from the other Tesco-sourced offer Riojas under £10 so far, but it is the most expensive yet, not that any are at all dear. On day 2, maybe worth the £10 retail. It's not complex, but it is for £8 on offer, very good indeed. Just aerate decant and wait....or cellar it a while!
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Really keen acidity and dark fruit on the palate. Not particuarly multidimensional but beats the cheaper 5 quid Riojas, and with a bit of tar on the palate, a little much, but not horribly unpleasantly so. medium-fruit, made heavier by the tar or tannins. Some oak, more than other bottom end ones but not overly much, and some integrated tannins on the finish. Excellent mainstream cheap stuff, but I'd only pay the 8 quid offer price. I won't seek it out, but it's vry drinkable, and has quite a strong presence.
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Poured in the decanter and then forgot about for like three hours, so decanted for more than I intended. Nice purple with amber rim in glass. Nose of must and strawberries. Nice smooth palate of strawberries and vanilla with a touch of cedar oak. Very smooth, good on its own or with the roasted meat I had.
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Modest fruit flavor, holds taste well and finishes clean and pleasant--light tannins. Also the wine looks Ruby colored. The legs are Medium. The body is Light/Medium. The wine has Polished texture.
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Weekly tasting group #064; Spain (@ SB): Creamy and warm bouquet which is still a bit reticent. Some cherry yoghurt in the nose. On the palate the oak is dominating the wine. There are also ripe, mainly red fruits, firm acidity and creamy tannin and soft bitterness. Ok, but still quite basic wine.
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Holiday 2012 Wines; 12/23/2012-12/31/2012 (Santa Fe, NM): Big nose of cherry, smoke and vanilla. Certainly a crowd-pleaser this evening, it didn't have anything close to a second-gear or secondary characteristics to really grab my attention.
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Medium bodied. Fruit driven with a fair amount of oak. Not sure that the oak was top quality though as it overpowered the wine a fair bit. Not a bad mid week wine though for the price.
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Not too impressed upon opening and normal 1-2 hours decant, but after a couple of days in the fridge + a few hours to bring it back to room temperature, it opened up beautifully, gained body and integrated the oak.
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Not terribly complex, but drinkable and pleasant. Some upfront blackberry, soft tannin end. Didn't evolve much once opened. Would buy again to take to parties, etc.
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Good. Purple with some hues of rust. Fragrant bouquet of cherries and a bit of spice. The taste is flat, though: starts off with fruit, but never really goes anywhere. Flat finish.
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Agree with dill nose and some palette. I like this wine. Drank at Ceviche in Orlando. Smooth light tannins. Nice bottle for the price. Would buy retail.
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10/5/2023 - TRguy Likes this wine: 88 Points
This wine has held together well, in fact it surprised me by how well it was. No brick red edges in glass, aroma somewhat muted, still exhibits good fruit and well integrated tannins.
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4/15/2021 - t0pshelf Likes this wine:
Has held up pretty well for a budget Rioja. Aromatic and fruit forward, light bodied ... a little bitter tinge on the finish was the only negative.
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10/15/2018 - Oenecnist wrote:
Bought 2-3 bottles for 11/b from a local retailer5-7 years ago. Decant with almost no sediment. Good ruby color, fragrant, good mature fruit, simple but tasty; likely starting to decline. Seems light and simple for a Rioja Rsrva with this age. 13.5% ABV. I wonder if this would be better if less filtered before bottling. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: I've stopped giving scores on a "100-point scale" as I've become less convinced that they can be meaningful to others. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. I considered this notable when considering quality, age, and price.
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10/2/2015 - Markus IWC wrote: 90 Points
Djup intensiv fruktighet, trevlig ej överdriven fat karaktär. Mycket prisvärt vin.
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7/2/2014 - Grochol wrote: 82 Points
Nose: smoke, tobacco, cherry
Taste: firm tannins and acidity, oak very prominent, smoke, plum, flat finish
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4/18/2014 - guy12 wrote: 77 Points
Thin & weedy without a lot of flavour
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4/4/2014 - Mary Olshefski Likes this wine:
All who tried this one liked it better than the Bilbao Tempranillo.
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11/30/2013 - JerryVikki wrote:
- Rosy color - Good Rioja.
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11/28/2013 - JerryVikki wrote:
We preferred this one over the other Tempranillo we corked at the same time for comparison. Would buy again.
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10/7/2013 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 83 Points
I have been told I don't drink enough Rioja so of course what do I do - grab a cheap bottle and give it a crack. I guess I was thinking that with a few years on it, it might actually amount to something.
Wrong!
Not that it was bad. It was just simple, plain and very ordinary. If you are looking for a quick sandwich pour and still have stuff to do in the afternoon, slam a glass of this down and you won't be the worse for wear.
I guess it tastes a bit like Tempranillo.....
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9/22/2013 - Earthinator Likes this wine: 90 Points
This wine is peaking right NOW. A master blend with characteristics of pomegranate, black cherry, smoke and a subtle spice I can't quite put my finger on. Its medium bodied with a nice dryness that actually comes in the front with the cherry peaking at the back end, keeping me coming back for more. It even has this caramel backbone that shows itself at the last slip of each glass. I decanted it for an hour and Vinturi aerated it as well. I cannot believe the flavor profile that this wine has for 12 bucks. Buy this if you see it.
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9/17/2013 - CarlCP wrote: 85 Points
Nose is a little pepper/spice, tannic.
Taste is dry, a little berry,
Finish is dry, tannic
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8/23/2013 - Chris Hadley wrote: 88 Points
- Garnet color with slow forming legs.
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8/23/2013 - Chris Hadley wrote: 89 Points
- Garnet color with slow forming legs - Brambly aroma. Oaky, dry, complex flavors with evident tannin.
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8/23/2013 - Chris Hadley wrote:
- Garnet color.
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7/17/2013 - K&J Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great little wine! Nothing fancy, just typical, classic Rioja with nice fruit.
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6/25/2013 - Matches Likes this wine: 87 Points
Good QPR. Will hang on in the bottle for several more years
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6/9/2013 - Matches Likes this wine: 88 Points
Other users have given much better reviews than I can.
I'll just add, this is a terrific QPR wine.
I keep it in stock
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4/11/2013 - richardhod Likes this wine: 87 Points
Day 2 is worth a whole new tasting note, it's that different!
Worth two of more more points... it's Much much better. Nose has opened up a bit, some violets and other cherry and smoke aromas (thank you other reviewer for identifying those). On the palate the acidity is still there but not too keen, just nice and zingy. Red fruits have come out more and the palate sings a little. More depth, more spring to the palate. Dark tars have lightened a bit, opening up depth rather than darkening the flavour. Now it's nicely balanced and the Wood tannins have come out a little and complement nicely. Cedar, says one below, so I'll remember that. Medium-long length too, gently passing into the night.
This is definitely a step up from the other Tesco-sourced offer Riojas under £10 so far, but it is the most expensive yet, not that any are at all dear. On day 2, maybe worth the £10 retail. It's not complex, but it is for £8 on offer, very good indeed. Just aerate decant and wait....or cellar it a while!
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4/10/2013 - richardhod Likes this wine: 86 Points
Really keen acidity and dark fruit on the palate. Not particuarly multidimensional but beats the cheaper 5 quid Riojas, and with a bit of tar on the palate, a little much, but not horribly unpleasantly so. medium-fruit, made heavier by the tar or tannins. Some oak, more than other bottom end ones but not overly much, and some integrated tannins on the finish. Excellent mainstream cheap stuff, but I'd only pay the 8 quid offer price. I won't seek it out, but it's vry drinkable, and has quite a strong presence.
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3/27/2013 - edog77 Likes this wine: 86 Points
Poured in the decanter and then forgot about for like three hours, so decanted for more than I intended. Nice purple with amber rim in glass. Nose of must and strawberries. Nice smooth palate of strawberries and vanilla with a touch of cedar oak. Very smooth, good on its own or with the roasted meat I had.
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3/20/2013 - Jamar Likes this wine: 89 Points
Modest fruit flavor, holds taste well and finishes clean and pleasant--light tannins. Also the wine looks Ruby colored. The legs are Medium. The body is Light/Medium. The wine has Polished texture.
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3/9/2013 - Bogge Likes this wine: 87 Points
Solider Rioja. Barrique-betont, wahrscheinlich amerikanische Eiche, typischer Tempranillo-Charakter, rund. Vernünftiges Preis-Leistungsverhältnis.
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3/4/2013 - Zweder wrote: 84 Points
Weekly tasting group #064; Spain (@ SB): Creamy and warm bouquet which is still a bit reticent. Some cherry yoghurt in the nose. On the palate the oak is dominating the wine. There are also ripe, mainly red fruits, firm acidity and creamy tannin and soft bitterness. Ok, but still quite basic wine.
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2/17/2013 - SpiSan Likes this wine: 87 Points
Nice fruit with a spicy finish.
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1/13/2013 - Lucky313 wrote: 91 Points
Very good. Would definitely buy again. Could even age a few more years.
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12/27/2012 - BlancdeBlanc wrote: 84 Points
Aroma: tobacco Palate: plum, prune, tart cherry, cedar, woody. Nothing to hold my interest past one small glass.
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12/24/2012 - tooch wrote: 81 Points
Holiday 2012 Wines; 12/23/2012-12/31/2012 (Santa Fe, NM): Big nose of cherry, smoke and vanilla. Certainly a crowd-pleaser this evening, it didn't have anything close to a second-gear or secondary characteristics to really grab my attention.
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12/19/2012 - WineChief wrote: 87 Points
Medium bodied. Fruit driven with a fair amount of oak. Not sure that the oak was top quality though as it overpowered the wine a fair bit. Not a bad mid week wine though for the price.
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12/16/2012 - tudval Likes this wine: 89 Points
Not too impressed upon opening and normal 1-2 hours decant, but after a couple of days in the fridge + a few hours to bring it back to room temperature, it opened up beautifully, gained body and integrated the oak.
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12/11/2012 - CondorKhan Likes this wine: 85 Points
Not terribly complex, but drinkable and pleasant.
Some upfront blackberry, soft tannin end.
Didn't evolve much once opened.
Would buy again to take to parties, etc.
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10/9/2012 - Zuperdaave wrote: 80 Points
Good. Purple with some hues of rust. Fragrant bouquet of cherries and a bit of spice. The taste is flat, though: starts off with fruit, but never really goes anywhere. Flat finish.
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8/7/2012 - smarquardt wrote: 89 Points
Agree with dill nose and some palette. I like this wine. Drank at Ceviche in Orlando. Smooth light tannins. Nice bottle for the price. Would buy retail.
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