Riojathon (London SW11): Slightly worried as it's a European 2003. Pretty gold in the glass, but not so deep. An utterly satisfying first sniff. This is going to be good. And it is. Notes of honeysuckle and nuts, with a really tangy and exciting finish. It remains compact and focussed. No blowsiness here. A triumph but especially in the context of 2003.
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Bromley Wine Circle does Rioja - 16th November 2023: Rich, beguiling and (just as one would expect) oxidative nose. Hints of lanolin and tangerine. Palate rich, freshing with bitter orange notes. With air a little orange leaf appears on the nose. My second favourite wine of the night.
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Riojathon (South West London): Colour - deep gold. Fresh, a kind of vanilla cream character and real backbone. White of the night and probably 2 or 3 of the night overall. Yum.
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Wednesday night wine night (Phoenix Palace London): Not the first time I’ve been offered this, but the first time I’ve tasted it. Really lovely stuff - no hint at all of the 03 heat, has the oxidative notes but fully in balance, a waxy mouthfeel and it just goes on. Maybe wotn - this is so good.
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Caramel, butterscotch, apples, flowery, beautiful. So much energy in this wine, very long finish. Fantastic value. Far from being tired. Timeless wines from a super classic winery.
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Monthly Tasting Group - Spain: My note from 5 years ago still resonates, and I'm not changing my score. At a Spanish tasting where you'd think the reds would dominate, this bottle stole the show. Complex, old school, great caramel and lemon oil.
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Monthly Tasting Group: Spain (Estelle, St. Paul, MN): Very small pour. This was my favorite of our white tonight. Savory, white flowers, fantastic minerality with great penetration, mulled spices, white fruit, tangerine, ground nuts, full bodied, a little oil to the texture yet quite lithe, long and resonant finish. Loved it.
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We opened this outside on this beautiful summer night. A taster quickly said: wow, this has a powerful aroma of candle wax. I said, no, silly, I lit a couple of citronella candles to keep the bugs away. She said: It’s in the glass, I swear. I walked my glass inside, and was shocked how right she was. Citronella on its own might not appeal, but it’s a complex bouquet with orange oil, preserved lemons, cookie dough, melon rind and crushed green almonds. I made a crabmeat frittata, w parmesan and fresh tarragon, with a quick romesco sauce, minimizing the tomatoes to highlight the marcona almonds. This dish brought out the best in this quirky, oily white: flavors of briny kelp, nut oils, green herbs, and slightly bitter sherry barrel on the finish. A unique and value added rioja, with the right dish.
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Consistent with previous bottles. Such a complex wine. Slightly oily with nutty, citrus flavors. Finishes long. Paired great with grilled octopus and potatoes.
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A few Spanish wines at Eric's: These wines are interesting, but not something I want to drink often. Oxidized, sherry like flavors. Very dry. This wine demands food, and drank best last night with fatty courses, cheese, and a simple salad with a citrus and olive oil dressing.
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Significantly improved, more depth in flavor notes, the oak is still dominant, while leather and butterscotch adds in complexity. Fruit and minerality still present, long finish.
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NR - Bouteille légèrement oxydé, je retrouve certains éléments de ma dernière bouteille bu il y a 2 an, mais le coter oxydé dérange un peu malheureusement...
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Beautiful golden color, nose smelled of oxidation and when I took a sip it was nasty. Hoping it was just a bad bottle. I have a few more and I was looking forward to drinking it after all the great current reviews.
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Please give some air and consider serving temp (pop and pour at 95F-outside passive cellar temp was a bit gross; a little more chilled and decanted was excellent).
Also, I don't get the oak flavors mentioned by many.
With air, there is a light oxidative note that is perfectly integrated into the wine. There is also a mild acetic flavor, like a shrub!
The nose is mainly white-wine secondary. The palate also features, along with the oxidative and acetic flavors, touches of ripe yellow fruit, almonds, salinity, and a rich mushroom broth on the finish.
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a bit more developed than a recent 06 and i enjoyed it more as a result. we had a 1991 recently as well and that was no fruit all structure. so it looks like 10-15 years is a good time frame on these.
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From memory. Light 14k gold to almost clear rim. Medium nose of ripe lemon, mild apple, and a hint of smoke. The palate is riper and surprisingly soft at warmer temperature, savory citrus and white pommes. The finish is long and repeats the palate, with a distinct pucker. Enjoyed with shrimp and grits
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De couleur or foncé, on y retrouve un aspect rancio mais bien vivant, avec les noix, la vanille, le citron confit, les abricots séchés, la cire d'abeille et j'en passe! Complexe et très agréable. Le corps fait penser à un rouge, l'acidité est élevé, on a de la profondeur et une longue finale imprégnant une saine amertume en bouche. Très bon.
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This was taken from storage at 48F and opened for a light airing while allowing it to come up to ~57F. It was served with chicken provencal, porcini saffron risotto, oven roasted asparagus, and finished with a selection of Spanish and Vermont cheeses. This was exquisite with our dinner. It is a distinctive style of white wine that you will love or detest, but never feel indefinite about. It is a wine that needs food and will find few friends as a solo sipper. The angular, lightly oxidative, oaky, saline aspects provided a fascinating counterpoint to the green apple, lemon rind, beeswax, vanilla, honey, marcona almond group. With a solid weighty mouthfeel, it seemed very precise, energetic, and well balanced with a finish that slowly trailed off. This was my second bottle of this and I am smitten. Priced ~ $25, it is an outstanding value………if you like this stye.
Oxidative style whites and orange wines: Nose starts off with reduction - there were aromas of plasticine and watercolours, with air it changed to creamy-roasted notes, herbs, buttery sweetness. Multilayered palate, full, round and pleasant. It seems that the winemaking was stronger than the hot vintage here. (88)
Improved on day two, there appeared a good vanilla sweatness and excellent mouthfeel. (91)
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The was an excellent bottle, especially considering the vintage. Fino, malt, and candle wax on the nose. Trademark oak, in that crazy way that works so well for LdH whites. And despite the oak, age, oxidation, and hot vintage, a freshness springs from this wine on the palate with citrus notes brightening its more brooding characteristics.
LdH whites are so unique and one of my favorite wines. Fantastic value as well.
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Fresh and vibrant almost closed. Lemons and limes with complimenting oxidation notes. Long finish. Weighty and dense with almonds, hazelnuts and creamy biscuit notes. Restrained.
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Medium golden color. Aromas of yellow apple, calvados, sliced almonds, saline, and a slight oxidative note. Full body, medium acid and finish, and flavors largely mirroring the nose. I recall more oxidative notes from previous vintages, and I missed it a bit here, but perhaps some more time would help.
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Ero molto preoccupato per questo vino. Infatti a me i vini ossidati / burrosi non piacciono, e quindi mi tengo ben alla larga dagli chardonnay della borgogna. … e invece…
Bel colore giallo, leggermente ambrato. Naso ferrroso (ossidato), dove si percepisce la mandorla, e il mallo della pesca. In bocca sorpresa. Nonostante i suoi 11 anni l'acidità è ben presente: è fresco, vivace, scattante. Molto secco. Si siede un'attimo su una "punta di burro", ma piacevole, con sfumature di mandorla, albicocca secca, pane al sesamo appena sfornato. Per me da bere ora a chi piace fresco e vivace. Per chi ama invece il sapore ossidato, di burro e di pan-brioches, aspettare almeno altri 3 anni.
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I thought just brilliant. However, others thought a change of style - cleaner, crisper, more "modern" with less oxyidization. I haven't had many of the Crianza whites in a while from Heredia so I guess I would have to agree - at least compared to the gran reservas. But delicious all the same.
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Nose: Dried citrus, melon, and cinamon. Slight fino sherry. Scotch whisky-like as well, both in its oakiness and high-toned malty scent. Lively and detailed acidity keeps it fresh and light. Finishes long and saline, getting more and more spirits-like in its lingering intensity of complex aromas, while the alcohol is never heavy. A beautifully aged wine. Food friendly despite its complexity.
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Opened one hour in advance and allowed to come up to cellar temperature. Fragrant aroma evokes a mix of spices, e.g. allspice, cinnamon, mace. Rich, smooth flavors of beeswax, spice, lemon. Beautiful, slightly oxidative finish.
This is perfectly integrated and firing on all cylinders. I did not experience the excessively oxidative qualities reported by some, possibly because of the warmer temperature and additional air time. The reds from LdH are wonderful but this wine is ethereal.
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This one had more oxidized character, and less of all else, upon opening than my last bottle. It may well have improved a lot with time, but we didn't wait for that.
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Strong oxidized character on opening, though this significantly dissipated with 30-40 minutes of air time. Dry, oaky, compelling citrus undercurrents hinted at a pleasant wine... but the oxidation was too strong. Compared to the 2004 I drank a few days later, this bottle was clearly "off." Bought a few months earlier... probably poorly stored.
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Book Club - my turn (Hatam - Mission Viejo): This has put on some weight and color since last tasted. The petrol notes seems to settled down as they are just adding to the experience instead of playing first chair. Angular wine but the finish has a slightly glycerin feel.
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This needed air to knit together as at first glass, it reminded me of tonic water, martini (not meant to suggest high alcohol but the flavor profile, that drying, flavor note of martini) and some oak, disparate parts. Witjh air, this really knits together becoming more intense in flavor, tighter with white fruits. I enjoyed this after aeration.
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This is essentially a lesser version of the 2002. Nose not as interesting,. Didn't have the complexity or acidity of the 2002, with a fairly short finish.
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Light brownish yellow color. Complex aromas of melons, fino sherry, nut skins and candle wax. Ripe, nicely structured fruit in the mouth with with very good depth and length. Still a touch young, the wine improved with about 20 minutes of air. Not the best example I've had of this curious wine but still delicious with the excellent food at Noord Restaurant.
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At a Spanish tasting where you'd think the reds would dominate, this bottle stole the show for em. Complex, old school, full-bodied, obviously oaked a nice amount. It also went well with food.
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Monthly Tasting Group: Spain (Solera, Mpls, MN): Medium gold color. PNP, drank 1 glass over an hour. This was very interesting and very good. Nose has citrus, tangerine, orange zest, lemon, nutty. The palate has great body, full, developed flavors, nutty, citrus, tangerine, waxy, slightly oxidative, richly textured with a long finish. Went well with foie gras pate. 92+pts.
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Had this with Paella. Perfect. Dry. A little oxidized. Reticent at first, but then bursting with a honeyed texture - but not sweet, oddly, melon, wild herbs, and a little funk that reminds me a little of Piedmont chinato. Typically brilliant and odd from Lopex de Heredia - one of the world's greatest wine makers.
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Light yellow color. Nose of citrus oil, wax, toasted almond, a little melon and strong white floral notes. Similar flavors on the palate with some light herbaceous flavors along with citrus and nutty flavors on the back end. Nice acidity, silky and slightly creamy mouthfeel and a moderate finish. Just a really interesting wine that seemed to get better over the course of dinner.
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Chicago Rotating Dinner Series - March 2014 (Aged Rioja) (Paris Club - Chicago, IL): Tasted single blind. Most at the table got the same cheesy note on the nose, I thought it had a touch of cantaloupe and herb too. The palate, while soft, had some interesting melon and white fruit (is there such a thing?) flavors with nice depth. Liked this a touch more than the 1998.
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Oh dear. I've loved previous vintages of this wine, which is of course very much in the old school style of Rioja Blanco, and eschews freshness of fruit in favor of texture and tradition; besides which, this wine is never about fruit anyway. But I'm afraid in this vintage, it's not about much of anything at all, other than being a vacant, rather lifeless and bony wine. There's none of the taffeta-richness and buttery-leather texture that made the absence of fruit and screaming acidity pleasurable in better installments I've enjoyed in the past. And instead of lending savory intrigue, the oxidative quality of this vintage tastes just like that - oxidation, not as a stylistic intent but a symptom of a wine past its best days. Overall the wine comes across as moribund and screechy, and finishing a glass took way more effort than I'd hoped or expected it would. Not happy!
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After recently tasting the 2001 Tondonia Reserva and the 2003 Bosconia Reserva, this Gravonia helped to round out what Rioja wines are about. Of the three, this wine best provided an indication of what it might become with several years of aging. Consumed this over three days. It was best on the third day. By comparison, the Tondonia and Bosconia showed best on the first or second days.
Like the two reds, the Gravonia also shows heavy oak treatment and is very acidic. For whatever reason, probably because it is a white wine, the intense acidity in the Gravonia comes off better than in the reds; it makes the most sense. As for taste profile, I suspect one has to really enjoy overpowering oak elements, including fungus (expensive mushrooms), damp deciduous forest floor, nuttiness, and pickle barrel notes, along with marked oxidative characteristics, to really appreciate white or red Rioja.
This wine opened up nicely by the third day and hinted at how it may drink in 5+ years. I certainly do not care for the intense oakiness in Rioja, but this wine caught my attention on the third day.
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Good but not great white wine if/when you are the mood for something non run of the mill. Give it a little time in the glass, or a decanter, in order to open it up some. The flavor is a bit subdued, and this is definitely best on night one.
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Hard to score since I'm not very familiar with the style. Oxidative nose of pears, stewed lemons, honey and crushed rock. Similar notes in the mouth. Dense but not heavy. Flavors by themselves are somewhat flat but the structure provides lift and liveliness through the mid-palate. Finish is a bit clipped. Very interesting if not entirely delicious. 88-91?
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Lovely aged white Rioja drinking well right now. Honey/yellow color. Nose of lime zest, lemon peel, and wild grass. Palate brings more citrus notes, honey, dill pickle, mixed nuts, hint of olives, and assorted herbs. Finish is clean and zesty. I'd drink in the short term.
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This is a wonderful wine that eschews big fruit, in fact almost any fruit, in favor of old world subtlety. It is a gorgeous amber. There are waves of assorted honeys, hints of tangerine and melon, subtle green licorice, and an elusive earthy graphite minerality. Yet it is all nuance, nothing is overstated, and it invites you to work a little. When you get to the citrus element at the end it is more like a discovery of something hidden than freely offered. Despite the oak, this is as far from chardonnay as you can get. Delicious.
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Opened last night and started with cheese and crackers and then salmon, roast brussels sprouts and mushrooms, and roast sweat potatoes. We thought the wine was okay. Opened with freshness and pineapple and finished tart, bit astringent.
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A caramel tan color and substantially oxidized. Opened with a nutty pineapple, and generally improved for several hours. At about 5 hours the wine began to fall apart, turning quite tart and astringent. In the window, very interesting lightly oily tart pineapple and ripe pear with some fruit sweetness and nuts.
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Another unique masterpiece from LdH. Less acidic than most vintages so drink sooner than later tho on this vintage of an amzing $25 white with the usual sherry, dried yellow fruits, almond, hint of orange/lemon.
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Quite remarkable! Think of this wine as the little brother of the bodega's Reserva wine. There are hints of oxidation in the color, aromas, and palate which are not as pronounced as the Reserva. It has medium viscosity and is still tight. Upon opening, it needs several hours (days?) to fully open AND appreciate. Even 48 hours after opening, it is still blossoming. It has a subtle complexity and is fresh, crisp, and well balanced. Best enjoyed with great Spanish food - tapas, Paella(?).
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Intriguingly powerful and dense fruit with a slightly oxidative character that isn't unusual for these wines at these early stages of their evolution. Very interesting if not quite pleasurable right now, this was much nicer today than another bottle tried 6 months ago.
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With the other Rioja reds in the line-up this got lost. People were wary of the color and the other wine consultants even had disparaging remarks. I have to admit amidst everything else poured today, the brief little glimpses I had were deceiving. I wasn't a fan. I only could put the wine into context later, after we had closed and I could focus on the wine. The deep golden hue might be a little off-putting to most ( I always think they should bottle this in a different color bottle ). The nose is full of rancio, almond, chestnuts? and baked pear. There is also a spicy element that someone in a previous note remarked was remindful of curry. The palate is very rich and waxy, almost creamy. There's plenty of acidity to give some good delineation. The almond and chestnut notes just linger… A couple hours ago I would have given this an 84. But, I always know that this is a contemplative wine that demands your full attention. The extra time opening up, probably helped too. I've had the previous three vintages and this is the best yet.
Paella Dinner (Home): Slightly dark in color, as if oxidized. Interesting nose that reminded me a bit of a dry sherry, although less pronounced. Good acidity and varied palate, with a long finish that goes from tart to nutty. For me this was the wine of the night due to it's originality and great price/value. Glad to have bought 2 bottles.
(Kindly provided by Lynn.)
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Wine Institute of New Orleans; 11/5/2013-11/6/2013 (New Orleans, LA): Classic LdH Blanco nose of oil, lanolin, mixed with slightly oxidized orange and lemon. Some zip to the acid, with an oily, waxy mouthfeel. Dried apricot and orange peel flavors play with notes of almond and sunflower oil. Fun stuff, perhaps not the most accessible white, but unique and fun, as always.
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Citrus, pears, wax, salt. slight vanilla oak. Very exciting acidity which makes wine taste very fresh, with only slight oxidation notes. Great balance with mouth coating richness. Seems like 2003 is a great vintage for this wine, noticeably better than 2002. Preferred this over 1998 tondonia reserva white, richer and more weight/body.
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Slightly oxidative nose, with peach and almond, and yes reminiscent of champagne. Very fresh and clean palate with a subtle richness on the finish. Very enjoyable wine.
(Note: this wine held up very well over the course of a whole week!)
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La moglie dica "It smells like a middle eastern spice, curry or something." Earlier she said it smelled like ash. She never talks about such specifics or smells. This is new ground. I'll write my own review next time because we are certainly getting this wine again.
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Pale gold in colour with initial notes suggesting champagne without the mousse. Toasty, yeasty aromas followed by smoke and some citrus undertones. Full on the palate with crisp acidity and mouth filling structure.
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Jaune doré intense. Nez sur les noisettes, amandes, cailloux et pierre a fusil. En bouche, caramel, beurre, amandes, noisettes avec une touche d'acidité en appuis. Tout en longueur, avec une très belle finale. Excellent. Bon RQP.
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Lovely aromatic nose, opens like tea and crushed almost, over time getting richer with a lovely caramel note. Nice sweetness of fruit contrasting the slight sherried character on the entry with notes of orange peel and boiled lemon sweets. Lovely complexity with flavours of honey and walnuts lingering on the finish. Must be one of the best purchases in the world looking at QPR.
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Light yellow color. Really nice nose of lemon oil, white floral notes, a touch of stone fruit with hazelnut and other nut aromas as well. Had that ever so slightly oxidative note to it as well that would remind you of a nutty sherry but just slightly so. Similar flavors on the palate with bright acidity, a smooth mouthfeel and a touch of creaminess on the finish. Really well balanced and interesting wine. Still just a baby too. This wine will continue to evolve with more time in the bottle.
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Remarquable vin blanc de Rioja peu alcoolisé et sans manque d'acidité pour le millésime. Complètement atypique en ce sens qu'il est bien sûr évolué (petite oxydation) mais sans être sur le déclin. Robe dorée évidente dans une bouteille transparente, nez de noisette et d'amande avec un peu d'abricot et une belle concentration. Un vrai plaisir que de découvrir ce blanc qui fête ses 10 ans et qui tiendra encore la route au moins 2 ans. Ce vin renforce mon sentiment qu'on a trop tendance à boire nos vins jeunes. Félicitons les producteurs espagnols qui ne mettent en marché leur vin que lorsqu'il est prêt à donner son plein potentiel.
Light golden color. Nose shows oxidative notes, nuts, chicken stock. The palate is waxy, medium-bodied with just a touch of acid and creamy peach and lemon notes. Very floral. The nose is especially interesting over time. I prefer this to the '02.
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A complex and energetic blend. On the nose: golden apple, beeswax, some oxidative qualities. On the palate, lots of orchard fruit skins, marcona almonds. Waxy/chalky mouthfeel from skin contact and some oxy funkiness, this wine isn't for everyone. Significant impact and grip to pair with richer dishes: garlic butter potatoes, stronger cheeses, spinach ravioli with roasted pine nuts.
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I didn't get the oxidative notes, but this bottle (my 1st) tasted very young. Integrated oak, freshness, nice acidity and a long finish, this would go with just about any food you care to throw at it! An ideal summer white IMO..
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Very interesting. A hint of oxidization in both color and on the palate, but in a way that adds to the complexity. Pineapple, peach and other summer fruits vie for attention in fruit cocktail, but sans sweetness. Really different and a treat at the beach with all sorts of finger foods.
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Slightly oxidised nose - as is the style with Heredia, but complex and interesting. Citrus and creamy notes, with a bit of tropical pizazz, ably supported by good structure and a rich vein of acidity. Worked well with a summer picnic and quiche. Lovely.
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This is fantastic. Fresh nose with petrol, plastic, pineapple and flinty smoky notes. Decadent with a rich finish. Nutty with walnut, almonds, lemon and butter cream. Fresh acidity and such a long finish. Still lots in the tank here. Drinking great.
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Very nice intensity, lithe and agile, tiny bit of nuttiness, the kind you expect to be introduced as a note of complexity from aging in inert old barrels. Very pleasant to drink on its own, bur really deserves some suitable food upon which to ply its acidity. Good wine, and only my second from this producer.
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These young LdH whites are really fantastic at this price. If you are a fan of slightly oxidized whites from the Jura and elsewhere you will love this, nutty, honeyed aroma but bracing acidity and structure. Incredibly complex, unique, and always interesting. This is a difficult style to get right but Maria Lopez de Heredia is a genius.
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Fantastic! Crowd pleasing (unlike their rosè) and me pleasing. Complex secondary / tertiary flavors with a little oxidation, but less than you might expect.. Overripe pear, stone fruit, orchid, minerals, honey, and then some. Paired brilliantly with paella; would've gone quite nicely with a whole lot.
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My first Rioja white. Quite nutty, oaky and marzipan. Rich full body, some oxydative notes, but missing acidity for my taste. But then the second day there was some acidity, but out of the balance for the richness to my taste. Interesting, and I understand that some may find it appealing.
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Reductive nose with lemon and a base minerality. More oxidative than the last bottle, there's a nutty quality intertwined with lemon oil and a chalky mineral note.
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Mature, maturing and immature Rioja eve (Ulf and Maria S, Umeå, Sweden): First whiff reminded me of the over oaked Chards from the Californian days of yore. However, scrutinizing this wine, renders an image of a well balanced wine that suffers a tad bit from under-concentration. Viura's character shines through well, dragging its mineral character along with the waxy, rubbery aromas it often shows off. Also terpentine. Has a small burnt character on the finish that does not resonate well with my palate. Complexity level need be higher for this to qualify for fine dining, but still a more than decent wine with future potential. Maybe it suffered from the very tough competition of this flight?
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A Particularly Pleasant Dinner Out with Dear Friends (Craft Century City): Enticing depth and complexity, with the oxidization driving a distinctly nutty aspect alongside vanilla and a touch of petrol. I love the waxy creaminess of this fawell made white Rioja, coneding that it is not for everyone.
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Paired with salmon in honey and mustard sauce, frites and salad.
Was up and down on this throughout. First, strong reminder on the nose of mother's orange candles being lit circa early 1970s power strikes and Tesco cheddar left in student fridges.
But taste was beguiling like classy white burgundy mixed with something more exotic. Best kept chilled for full waxy cheese experience, just a little acid bite on the back end - perhaps one to set aside for fish dishes on summer evenings.
Less than boozy norm - 13% - on the strength front, enough to lend a tipsy, mellow yellow sheen to a few hours.
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Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. This had a bizarre character some characterized as "cheesy" and I couldn't disagree. An unusual wine that wasn't providing much pleasure today, but clearly having lots of high quality raw material needing lots and lots more time to show its potential.
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The deep golden yellow color foreshadows a rich, complex wine. It has a rich, vanilla, petrol and citrus scent. The palate has lemon/lime, creme caramel, nut and sherry flavor with a big acidic kick on the finish. Its greatest attribute is its uniqueness; unfortunately, the more I drank the less I liked it.
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Rich golden color. Fascinating and complex nose of vinous petrol, flower petals, cherry cream bon-bon, and soda cracker; flavor brings a dry cream finish. This wine paired stunningly with wild-caught sockeye salmon topped with dilled-cream-and-butter sauce and roasted asparagus.
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A private lunch (Resturant Opera Tavern, London, UK): Lovely full yellow colour with a hint of gold; not very communicative on the nose, vinous, dry and minerally, hint of nuts; on the palate remarkably fresh and dry, much less oxidative than e.g. the Ygay Cappellania, reminiscent of an old-fashioned white Bordeaux, good length.
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I adore this extremely fresh, lots of lemony fruit. Hard to believe it's ten years old and then lots of vanilla, nuts, mouth-filling BIg wine, intense, long Superb and not a hint of sherry
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From 75cl, short but perfect cork. Flashes of motor oil, dried apricot and white spirit on the nose; oily-textured entry with hints of lime, beef consommé and old oak (duh); monolithic and rather cloying mid-palate. Tamer, perhaps more refined than Ygay Capellania (my reference for this style). I'd like to serve this to one of those annoying persons who say "white wine isn't really wine." Rebuy: unlikely. Very good nonetheless. 88P
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Classy nose, floral yet nutty and honeyed. Fresh and zippy on the entry, gains weight with a lovely honeyed nuttiness on the mid palate. Lovely verve and zip. Huge length with a lingering candied orange peel and almond flavour. Maybe one of the best value wines in the world.
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no formal notes. my first white rioja. an interesting, full bodied wine that easily held its own with some garlic sauteed shrimp. not a wine i'm likely to drink very often but certainly of interest.
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Diesel and grapefruit on the nose. Light wood tones and mineral on palate. I didn't taste as much fruit as some other reviews on here but intriguingly complex nevertheless.
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Lovely nose with ripe banana and honey. Good balance, with flavors of lemon peel, orange and pear. I think this one will be even better in another 5 or 10 years.
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I am really surprised and disappointed by this wine after reading the reviews here. Our initial impression on the nose was rotting fruit and not in a pleasant way the color was good and the wine appeared to have good legs. On the palate the wine had some woodsy bitterness that did dissipate somewhat after awhile and some candied orange came forward. We drank the wine over several hours and most of the flavors eventually faded leaving a very bland taste. My feeling is the wine is past its maturity and should be drank now. Not a bad wine if you can get over the initial scents.
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nose of lemon, liquorice, peaches, petrol. reminds me of a riesling from Alsace. Wood present but well integrated, very mineral taste. Less acid than I remembered, went well with mackerel and garlic mashed potatoes.
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Some of the expected oxidative notes on the finish. The fruit was a bit muted all evening (with Lebanese food at Marouch). Acid was a bit on the low side for my palate.
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WCC Rioja Blind (Dorato's Resturant, Guilderland, NY): [Opened around 5pm. Drunk around 7:30.] Complex fruit cocktail nose. Fascinating flavors of orange peel and spice. Long, complex finish. Needs food! Shines with the Shrimp Cake!
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The petrol and diesel aromatic is here. Good medium weight texture with lots of pear and a real nice spicy finish. The acidity and spice make the finish very good.
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Dinner with Friends (FMIII in the OC): Starting to add depth of color, medium dark gold. Nose has a good whiff of petrol and muted otherwise. Palate starts out with little lemon peel followed by a dose of diesel fuel. Medium acidity and medium plus weight for a white. Very entertaining but you better not be afraid of the petrol notes.
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Bigger and warmer than the 02, probably equal in quality though I liked the 02 better, this has wonderful notes of peaches and honey (but bone dry) and overtones of almond, all with an oxidative background that does not distract or make the wine seem tired, rather the opposite.
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Deeply herbacious and complex, fennel, celery, parsnip. Mineral and saline. Candied orange peel, lemon peel. Bright acidity. In a weird way, reminded me of matzoh ball soup, in a good way. Savory, herbal, earthy, robust.
Great Wine!!! Strong bright acid. Lime, lemon, peach, white flowers and oxidative notes (nuts). Noticeable oak but integrated and adding to the complexity. Long aftertaste. GREAT QPR, will probably buy more. 91-92p
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Fantastic wine with fresh acidity on the back end. Perfumed nose with hazel nuts, peach, pinapple and oranges. Thick consistancy and near perfect balance. Long nutty finish. Wish i had more of this. Drink now to 2018.
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Popped and poured. Wonderful aroma of cloves and honey. Flavors of beeswax, lanolin with the oxidative notes that I love in this wine. Full, lingering lemon rind finish. As always, wonderfully structured and compelling. Still very tight.
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24 carat gold color. Complex nose of peaches & cream, wood or nuts, citrus, and some petrol. The palate is as complex as the nose with surprising early power. All the action up front makes the finish seem light by comparison, but it is long and a refreshing conclusion to this distinctive taste experience. We paired this with a duet of grilled salmon and steamed cold water lobster with roasted vegetables, and the food was a little upstaged. It's a beautiful wine that would do better with a richer seafood plate, as with a savory sauce or with seafood pasta.
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golden but still youthful look. nose dominated by the wood ageing, with coconut, butter, hazelnut. very acid in the mouth but also round and creamy, faint taste of peach. nice but too young.
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Color dorado. Nariz a melocotón, orejones incluso. Sabiendo lo que el blanco de Viña Tondonia proporciona, este no es la clase de Viura que me va. De todas maneras, esta añada no ayudó.
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11/16/2023 - king-bing wrote:
Riojathon (London SW11): Slightly worried as it's a European 2003. Pretty gold in the glass, but not so deep. An utterly satisfying first sniff. This is going to be good. And it is. Notes of honeysuckle and nuts, with a really tangy and exciting finish. It remains compact and focussed. No blowsiness here. A triumph but especially in the context of 2003.
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11/16/2023 - Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine:
Bromley Wine Circle does Rioja - 16th November 2023: Rich, beguiling and (just as one would expect) oxidative nose. Hints of lanolin and tangerine. Palate rich, freshing with bitter orange notes. With air a little orange leaf appears on the nose. My second favourite wine of the night.
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11/16/2023 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Riojathon (South West London): Colour - deep gold. Fresh, a kind of vanilla cream character and real backbone. White of the night and probably 2 or 3 of the night overall. Yum.
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5/12/2022 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Wednesday night wine night (Phoenix Palace London): Not the first time I’ve been offered this, but the first time I’ve tasted it. Really lovely stuff - no hint at all of the 03 heat, has the oxidative notes but fully in balance, a waxy mouthfeel and it just goes on. Maybe wotn - this is so good.
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5/20/2021 - Yassine23 Likes this wine:
Caramel, butterscotch, apples, flowery, beautiful. So much energy in this wine, very long finish. Fantastic value. Far from being tired. Timeless wines from a super classic winery.
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11/25/2019 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
Monthly Tasting Group - Spain: My note from 5 years ago still resonates, and I'm not changing my score. At a Spanish tasting where you'd think the reds would dominate, this bottle stole the show. Complex, old school, great caramel and lemon oil.
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11/17/2019 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Spain (Estelle, St. Paul, MN): Very small pour. This was my favorite of our white tonight. Savory, white flowers, fantastic minerality with great penetration, mulled spices, white fruit, tangerine, ground nuts, full bodied, a little oil to the texture yet quite lithe, long and resonant finish. Loved it.
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6/23/2019 - OenoEd Likes this wine: 92 Points
We opened this outside on this beautiful summer night. A taster quickly said: wow, this has a powerful aroma of candle wax. I said, no, silly, I lit a couple of citronella candles to keep the bugs away. She said: It’s in the glass, I swear. I walked my glass inside, and was shocked how right she was. Citronella on its own might not appeal, but it’s a complex bouquet with orange oil, preserved lemons, cookie dough, melon rind and crushed green almonds. I made a crabmeat frittata, w parmesan and fresh tarragon, with a quick romesco sauce, minimizing the tomatoes to highlight the marcona almonds. This dish brought out the best in this quirky, oily white: flavors of briny kelp, nut oils, green herbs, and slightly bitter sherry barrel on the finish. A unique and value added rioja, with the right dish.
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12/23/2018 - Rich S Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent with previous bottles. Such a complex wine. Slightly oily with nutty, citrus flavors. Finishes long. Paired great with grilled octopus and potatoes.
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10/12/2018 - legarejm Likes this wine: 93 Points
Consistent notes.
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8/10/2018 - andtheodor wrote: 93 Points
Wow, like a grilled salted lemon. So much tangy salinity, fino, oceanic vibe. Hard to pair but magnificent, out-of-the-box stuff.
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6/7/2018 - Outplaying wrote:
A few Spanish wines at Eric's: These wines are interesting, but not something I want to drink often. Oxidized, sherry like flavors. Very dry. This wine demands food, and drank best last night with fatty courses, cheese, and a simple salad with a citrus and olive oil dressing.
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5/20/2018 - cweiner wrote: 88 Points
Not worth the wait. Body and taste gone.
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4/21/2018 - legarejm wrote: 93 Points
Significantly improved, more depth in flavor notes, the oak is still dominant, while leather and butterscotch adds in complexity. Fruit and minerality still present, long finish.
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2/11/2018 - JOsgood wrote:
Fully secondary. A bit sharp on the finish with some diesel notes.
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2/11/2018 - the godfather wrote:
Unique, well in to secondary, lots of petrol
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9/16/2017 - ManuKey wrote:
NR - Bouteille légèrement oxydé, je retrouve certains éléments de ma dernière bouteille bu il y a 2 an, mais le coter oxydé dérange un peu malheureusement...
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8/6/2017 - shleepy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Smells like a dirty Northern California Beach. Leather and tobacco in there, as well. Minerals, citrus, butterscotch in the taste. Great stuff!
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7/15/2017 - markcic wrote: flawed
Beautiful golden color, nose smelled of oxidation and when I took a sip it was nasty. Hoping it was just a bad bottle. I have a few more and I was looking forward to drinking it after all the great current reviews.
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7/9/2017 - kevin h wrote: 90 Points
Still good, golden colour, rich fruit, lemon and oak. Classic.
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2/25/2017 - cweiner Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bone dry with oak and a hint of citrus, Perfect with the trout.
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2/2/2017 - tdelorme wrote:
Drinking very well and a great value. Wish I had a couple more.
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1/6/2017 - johnnyrichardson Likes this wine: 90 Points
The freshness is fading somewhat (at least in this, my last bottle), I'm happy I still have ,04s, '05s and '06s to get through..
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1/1/2017 - kevin h wrote: 90 Points
Classic old school white Rioja. Oak and lemon fruit. Excellent.
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10/31/2016 - SteveG wrote:
From memory. Much as the previous, perhaps without the slight softness. Enjoyed with sous vide turkey breast.
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7/30/2016 - elledeca wrote:
Classic white Rioja with dill and lemon, going strong
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7/24/2016 - diggydan wrote: 93 Points
Singular, these wines.
Please give some air and consider serving temp (pop and pour at 95F-outside passive cellar temp was a bit gross; a little more chilled and decanted was excellent).
Also, I don't get the oak flavors mentioned by many.
With air, there is a light oxidative note that is perfectly integrated into the wine. There is also a mild acetic flavor, like a shrub!
The nose is mainly white-wine secondary. The palate also features, along with the oxidative and acetic flavors, touches of ripe yellow fruit, almonds, salinity, and a rich mushroom broth on the finish.
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7/17/2016 - K&J Likes this wine: 92 Points
What I said before but I think the fruit is leveling off, so perhaps it has reached its peak.
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6/19/2016 - mike l. Likes this wine: 90 Points
a bit more developed than a recent 06 and i enjoyed it more as a result. we had a 1991 recently as well and that was no fruit all structure. so it looks like 10-15 years is a good time frame on these.
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5/14/2016 - SteveG wrote: 91 Points
From memory. Light 14k gold to almost clear rim. Medium nose of ripe lemon, mild apple, and a hint of smoke. The palate is riper and surprisingly soft at warmer temperature, savory citrus and white pommes. The finish is long and repeats the palate, with a distinct pucker. Enjoyed with shrimp and grits
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3/21/2016 - fatherdamo wrote: 92 Points
simply wonderful
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2/13/2016 - hmcnally Likes this wine: 85 Points
Among the best. Every time we drink one, we're sad it's gone.
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2/6/2016 - Ron Van Holland wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful viura. Please reference my note of 12-2-12 for details, which still apply.
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12/28/2015 - cweiner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful Bone dry - perfect with fish. Great QPR
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11/7/2015 - CelebrateLife! wrote: 92 Points
Light golden yellow, citrus and pear notes with an earthy complexity on the nose and palate, medium long finish.
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9/6/2015 - TheFoodieTraveler Likes this wine: 95 Points
Love this. Perfect amount of oxidation adds a lovely complexity to the rich fruit
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9/3/2015 - millesime66 wrote: 90 Points
Idem aux dernières, mis à part un tout petit petit goût de bouchon qui gommait un peu ses très grandes qualities.
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7/13/2015 - theonlylittledog wrote: 91 Points
Interesting.
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6/8/2015 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
Six hours of air helped this. Nice integrated wine with good lemon fruit and decent acidity, subtle oxidative notes. Good food wine.
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4/19/2015 - ManuKey Likes this wine: 90 Points
De couleur or foncé, on y retrouve un aspect rancio mais bien vivant, avec les noix, la vanille, le citron confit, les abricots séchés, la cire d'abeille et j'en passe! Complexe et très agréable. Le corps fait penser à un rouge, l'acidité est élevé, on a de la profondeur et une longue finale imprégnant une saine amertume en bouche. Très bon.
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4/13/2015 - VTCellarDweller Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was taken from storage at 48F and opened for a light airing while allowing it to come up to ~57F. It was served with chicken provencal, porcini saffron risotto, oven roasted asparagus, and finished with a selection of Spanish and Vermont cheeses.
This was exquisite with our dinner. It is a distinctive style of white wine that you will love or detest, but never feel indefinite about. It is a wine that needs food and will find few friends as a solo sipper.
The angular, lightly oxidative, oaky, saline aspects provided a fascinating counterpoint to the green apple, lemon rind, beeswax, vanilla, honey, marcona almond group. With a solid weighty mouthfeel, it seemed very precise, energetic, and well balanced with a finish that slowly trailed off. This was my second bottle of this and I am smitten. Priced ~ $25, it is an outstanding value………if you like this stye.
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3/28/2015 - hsacks Likes this wine: 92 Points
This bottle was more integrated and a touch more complex than the 5/9/14 bottle. Delicious with the great paella at Torero Restaurant in Drexel Hill.
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3/10/2015 - AV2012 wrote: 90 Points
Oxidative style whites and orange wines: Nose starts off with reduction - there were aromas of plasticine and watercolours, with air it changed to creamy-roasted notes, herbs, buttery sweetness. Multilayered palate, full, round and pleasant. It seems that the winemaking was stronger than the hot vintage here. (88)
Improved on day two, there appeared a good vanilla sweatness and excellent mouthfeel. (91)
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2/20/2015 - Enfant sauvage Likes this wine:
The was an excellent bottle, especially considering the vintage. Fino, malt, and candle wax on the nose. Trademark oak, in that crazy way that works so well for LdH whites. And despite the oak, age, oxidation, and hot vintage, a freshness springs from this wine on the palate with citrus notes brightening its more brooding characteristics.
LdH whites are so unique and one of my favorite wines. Fantastic value as well.
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2/15/2015 - Vinomark wrote: 91 Points
just gets better with cellar time! Awesome with Spanish cuisine at Atuala in NW Portland.
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2/7/2015 - Poisey Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fresh and vibrant almost closed. Lemons and limes with complimenting oxidation notes. Long finish. Weighty and dense with almonds, hazelnuts and creamy biscuit notes. Restrained.
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1/5/2015 - Bruce 1er wrote: 90 Points
Extremely balanced, light, elegant, with a subtle nutty element.
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12/7/2014 - studleytrey wrote: 90 Points
Medium golden color. Aromas of yellow apple, calvados, sliced almonds, saline, and a slight oxidative note. Full body, medium acid and finish, and flavors largely mirroring the nose. I recall more oxidative notes from previous vintages, and I missed it a bit here, but perhaps some more time would help.
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12/7/2014 - Ed8888 Does not like this wine:
I think it went bad. Sour. Odd color.
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12/4/2014 - K&J Likes this wine: 93 Points
Yeah, what I said a year ago! Amazing wine.
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11/20/2014 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent with previous notes from January, only it has improved. Very distinctive in its flavors and texture. Went great with Minestrone soup.
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10/2/2014 - petitblanc wrote:
No detailed notes but this showed a nice, smoothing oak treatment. Good to sip or with food at 12.5% abv. JE hosts Spanish night at Tornado.
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9/29/2014 - Euge67 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ero molto preoccupato per questo vino. Infatti a me i vini ossidati / burrosi non piacciono, e quindi mi tengo ben alla larga dagli chardonnay della borgogna.
… e invece…
Bel colore giallo, leggermente ambrato.
Naso ferrroso (ossidato), dove si percepisce la mandorla, e il mallo della pesca.
In bocca sorpresa. Nonostante i suoi 11 anni l'acidità è ben presente: è fresco, vivace, scattante. Molto secco. Si siede un'attimo su una "punta di burro", ma piacevole, con sfumature di mandorla, albicocca secca, pane al sesamo appena sfornato.
Per me da bere ora a chi piace fresco e vivace. Per chi ama invece il sapore ossidato, di burro e di pan-brioches, aspettare almeno altri 3 anni.
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9/20/2014 - rcrisa wrote: 92 Points
Absolutely awesome. The oxidized nose and palate is just sublime.
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8/30/2014 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
I thought just brilliant. However, others thought a change of style - cleaner, crisper, more "modern" with less oxyidization. I haven't had many of the Crianza whites in a while from Heredia so I guess I would have to agree - at least compared to the gran reservas. But delicious all the same.
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8/18/2014 - mks83 wrote: 91 Points
Nose: Dried citrus, melon, and cinamon. Slight fino sherry. Scotch whisky-like as well, both in its oakiness and high-toned malty scent.
Lively and detailed acidity keeps it fresh and light. Finishes long and saline, getting more and more spirits-like in its lingering intensity of complex aromas, while the alcohol is never heavy.
A beautifully aged wine. Food friendly despite its complexity.
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8/2/2014 - wineshlub wrote: 93 Points
Opened one hour in advance and allowed to come up to cellar temperature. Fragrant aroma evokes a mix of spices, e.g. allspice, cinnamon, mace. Rich, smooth flavors of beeswax, spice, lemon. Beautiful, slightly oxidative finish.
This is perfectly integrated and firing on all cylinders. I did not experience the excessively oxidative qualities reported by some, possibly because of the warmer temperature and additional air time. The reds from LdH are wonderful but this wine is ethereal.
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7/28/2014 - Charlie Pendejo wrote:
This one had more oxidized character, and less of all else, upon opening than my last bottle. It may well have improved a lot with time, but we didn't wait for that.
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7/5/2014 - aChave wrote: flawed
Strong oxidized character on opening, though this significantly dissipated with 30-40 minutes of air time. Dry, oaky, compelling citrus undercurrents hinted at a pleasant wine... but the oxidation was too strong. Compared to the 2004 I drank a few days later, this bottle was clearly "off." Bought a few months earlier... probably poorly stored.
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6/28/2014 - flaco22 wrote: 90 Points
- Yellow gold color with medium forming legs.
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6/22/2014 - cartime Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar notes. Nutty and mineral stone fruit flavors. Not declining yet.
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6/14/2014 - Svengali_Luddite Likes this wine: 88 Points
Slightly oxidized, notes of pear and melon. I like this style but was underwhelmed by this bottle. Might have drunk it too soon.
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6/14/2014 - kevin h wrote: 90 Points
Good oak and lemon fruit. Not especially complex but typical of old style white rioja. Went well with paella.
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6/13/2014 - brigcampbell wrote:
Book Club - my turn (Hatam - Mission Viejo): This has put on some weight and color since last tasted. The petrol notes seems to settled down as they are just adding to the experience instead of playing first chair. Angular wine but the finish has a slightly glycerin feel.
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6/13/2014 - Frank Murray III wrote:
This needed air to knit together as at first glass, it reminded me of tonic water, martini (not meant to suggest high alcohol but the flavor profile, that drying, flavor note of martini) and some oak, disparate parts. Witjh air, this really knits together becoming more intense in flavor, tighter with white fruits. I enjoyed this after aeration.
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5/31/2014 - Supes wrote: 90 Points
Waxy, oxidised (slightly), nutty, touch of honey, complex and utterly delicious.
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5/20/2014 - 10centpower wrote:
This is essentially a lesser version of the 2002. Nose not as interesting,. Didn't have the complexity or acidity of the 2002, with a fairly short finish.
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5/15/2014 - TheFoodieTraveler Likes this wine: 93 Points
A little oxidized but still great
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5/13/2014 - Bill Bucklew wrote: 89 Points
Identical to the last bottle, nutty aromas with lemon oil on the palate and a mineral finish.
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5/11/2014 - mtaczak wrote: 89 Points
Interesting but not delicious. Probably needs a lot of air.
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5/9/2014 - hsacks Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light brownish yellow color. Complex aromas of melons, fino sherry, nut skins and candle wax. Ripe, nicely structured fruit in the mouth with with very good depth and length. Still a touch young, the wine improved with about 20 minutes of air. Not the best example I've had of this curious wine but still delicious with the excellent food at Noord Restaurant.
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5/1/2014 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
At a Spanish tasting where you'd think the reds would dominate, this bottle stole the show for em. Complex, old school, full-bodied, obviously oaked a nice amount. It also went well with food.
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4/27/2014 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Spain (Solera, Mpls, MN): Medium gold color. PNP, drank 1 glass over an hour. This was very interesting and very good. Nose has citrus, tangerine, orange zest, lemon, nutty. The palate has great body, full, developed flavors, nutty, citrus, tangerine, waxy, slightly oxidative, richly textured with a long finish. Went well with foie gras pate. 92+pts.
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4/9/2014 - ekenneth wrote: 91 Points
Had this with Paella. Perfect. Dry. A little oxidized. Reticent at first, but then bursting with a honeyed texture - but not sweet, oddly, melon, wild herbs, and a little funk that reminds me a little of Piedmont chinato. Typically brilliant and odd from Lopex de Heredia - one of the world's greatest wine makers.
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3/24/2014 - Rich S Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light yellow color. Nose of citrus oil, wax, toasted almond, a little melon and strong white floral notes. Similar flavors on the palate with some light herbaceous flavors along with citrus and nutty flavors on the back end. Nice acidity, silky and slightly creamy mouthfeel and a moderate finish. Just a really interesting wine that seemed to get better over the course of dinner.
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3/18/2014 - tooch wrote: 90 Points
Chicago Rotating Dinner Series - March 2014 (Aged Rioja) (Paris Club - Chicago, IL): Tasted single blind. Most at the table got the same cheesy note on the nose, I thought it had a touch of cantaloupe and herb too. The palate, while soft, had some interesting melon and white fruit (is there such a thing?) flavors with nice depth. Liked this a touch more than the 1998.
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3/14/2014 - Arinbraghe Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Oh dear. I've loved previous vintages of this wine, which is of course very much in the old school style of Rioja Blanco, and eschews freshness of fruit in favor of texture and tradition; besides which, this wine is never about fruit anyway. But I'm afraid in this vintage, it's not about much of anything at all, other than being a vacant, rather lifeless and bony wine. There's none of the taffeta-richness and buttery-leather texture that made the absence of fruit and screaming acidity pleasurable in better installments I've enjoyed in the past. And instead of lending savory intrigue, the oxidative quality of this vintage tastes just like that - oxidation, not as a stylistic intent but a symptom of a wine past its best days. Overall the wine comes across as moribund and screechy, and finishing a glass took way more effort than I'd hoped or expected it would. Not happy!
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3/9/2014 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 88 Points
Least favorite bottle of this yet, but still delicious of course. Maybe it just didn't resonate with the salmon, cheeses and other fare tonight.
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2/22/2014 - Motz wrote: 91 Points
After recently tasting the 2001 Tondonia Reserva and the 2003 Bosconia Reserva, this Gravonia helped to round out what Rioja wines are about. Of the three, this wine best provided an indication of what it might become with several years of aging. Consumed this over three days. It was best on the third day. By comparison, the Tondonia and Bosconia showed best on the first or second days.
Like the two reds, the Gravonia also shows heavy oak treatment and is very acidic. For whatever reason, probably because it is a white wine, the intense acidity in the Gravonia comes off better than in the reds; it makes the most sense. As for taste profile, I suspect one has to really enjoy overpowering oak elements, including fungus (expensive mushrooms), damp deciduous forest floor, nuttiness, and pickle barrel notes, along with marked oxidative characteristics, to really appreciate white or red Rioja.
This wine opened up nicely by the third day and hinted at how it may drink in 5+ years. I certainly do not care for the intense oakiness in Rioja, but this wine caught my attention on the third day.
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2/20/2014 - jlaws7lh Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good but not great white wine if/when you are the mood for something non run of the mill. Give it a little time in the glass, or a decanter, in order to open it up some. The flavor is a bit subdued, and this is definitely best on night one.
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2/16/2014 - jshearer Likes this wine:
Hard to score since I'm not very familiar with the style. Oxidative nose of pears, stewed lemons, honey and crushed rock. Similar notes in the mouth. Dense but not heavy. Flavors by themselves are somewhat flat but the structure provides lift and liveliness through the mid-palate. Finish is a bit clipped. Very interesting if not entirely delicious. 88-91?
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1/19/2014 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 90 Points
Hasn't disappointed yet. Killed with a soft truffle cheese. Went with everything.
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1/19/2014 - joshwoodward Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very interesting, slightly oxidized but still fresh.
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1/11/2014 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely aged white Rioja drinking well right now. Honey/yellow color. Nose of lime zest, lemon peel, and wild grass. Palate brings more citrus notes, honey, dill pickle, mixed nuts, hint of olives, and assorted herbs. Finish is clean and zesty. I'd drink in the short term.
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1/10/2014 - Decanting fool wrote: 93 Points
This is a wonderful wine that eschews big fruit, in fact almost any fruit, in favor of old world subtlety. It is a gorgeous amber. There are waves of assorted honeys, hints of tangerine and melon, subtle green licorice, and an elusive earthy graphite minerality. Yet it is all nuance, nothing is overstated, and it invites you to work a little. When you get to the citrus element at the end it is more like a discovery of something hidden than freely offered. Despite the oak, this is as far from chardonnay as you can get. Delicious.
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12/29/2013 - NNV Likes this wine: 92 Points
Superb wine and quite harmonious. Nice balance of delicate fruit with good acids. Sumptuous. Love it. Amazing QPR.
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12/29/2013 - awitz78 wrote: 87 Points
Opened last night and started with cheese and crackers and then salmon, roast brussels sprouts and mushrooms, and roast sweat potatoes. We thought the wine was okay. Opened with freshness and pineapple and finished tart, bit astringent.
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12/28/2013 - kevin h wrote: 89 Points
As before, a bit muted perhaps
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12/25/2013 - smphelps wrote: 88 Points
A caramel tan color and substantially oxidized. Opened with a nutty pineapple, and generally improved for several hours. At about 5 hours the wine began to fall apart, turning quite tart and astringent. In the window, very interesting lightly oily tart pineapple and ripe pear with some fruit sweetness and nuts.
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12/6/2013 - Vinomark wrote: 90 Points
Another unique masterpiece from LdH. Less acidic than most vintages so drink sooner than later tho on this vintage of an amzing $25 white with the usual sherry, dried yellow fruits, almond, hint of orange/lemon.
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12/6/2013 - jorivesud Likes this wine: 91 Points
Jaune doré. Nez assé complexe, amandes, beurre, caramel. En bouche, octueux, beurre, caramel, noisettes avec une bonne acidité en appuis. Bonne longueur. Excellent RQP.
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12/3/2013 - K&J Likes this wine: 93 Points
Quite remarkable! Think of this wine as the little brother of the bodega's Reserva wine. There are hints of oxidation in the color, aromas, and palate which are not as pronounced as the Reserva. It has medium viscosity and is still tight. Upon opening, it needs several hours (days?) to fully open AND appreciate. Even 48 hours after opening, it is still blossoming. It has a subtle complexity and is fresh, crisp, and well balanced. Best enjoyed with great Spanish food - tapas, Paella(?).
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11/30/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Intriguingly powerful and dense fruit with a slightly oxidative character that isn't unusual for these wines at these early stages of their evolution. Very interesting if not quite pleasurable right now, this was much nicer today than another bottle tried 6 months ago.
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11/28/2013 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 90 Points
Just love this, and almost everyone at dinner did too. Old world charm. Food friendly. No fruit, just love.
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11/23/2013 - shaftlet Likes this wine: 92 Points
With the other Rioja reds in the line-up this got lost. People were wary of the color and the other wine consultants even had disparaging remarks. I have to admit amidst everything else poured today, the brief little glimpses I had were deceiving. I wasn't a fan. I only could put the wine into context later, after we had closed and I could focus on the wine.
The deep golden hue might be a little off-putting to most ( I always think they should bottle this in a different color bottle ). The nose is full of rancio, almond, chestnuts? and baked pear. There is also a spicy element that someone in a previous note remarked was remindful of curry.
The palate is very rich and waxy, almost creamy. There's plenty of acidity to give some good delineation. The almond and chestnut notes just linger…
A couple hours ago I would have given this an 84. But, I always know that this is a contemplative wine that demands your full attention. The extra time opening up, probably helped too. I've had the previous three vintages and this is the best yet.
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11/16/2013 - djdaqm Likes this wine: 92 Points
Paella Dinner (Home): Slightly dark in color, as if oxidized. Interesting nose that reminded me a bit of a dry sherry, although less pronounced. Good acidity and varied palate, with a long finish that goes from tart to nutty. For me this was the wine of the night due to it's originality and great price/value. Glad to have bought 2 bottles.
(Kindly provided by Lynn.)
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11/6/2013 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 88 Points
Wine Institute of New Orleans; 11/5/2013-11/6/2013 (New Orleans, LA): Classic LdH Blanco nose of oil, lanolin, mixed with slightly oxidized orange and lemon. Some zip to the acid, with an oily, waxy mouthfeel. Dried apricot and orange peel flavors play with notes of almond and sunflower oil. Fun stuff, perhaps not the most accessible white, but unique and fun, as always.
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11/6/2013 - fanglangzhe Likes this wine: 91 Points
Citrus, pears, wax, salt. slight vanilla oak. Very exciting acidity which makes wine taste very fresh, with only slight oxidation notes. Great balance with mouth coating richness. Seems like 2003 is a great vintage for this wine, noticeably better than 2002. Preferred this over 1998 tondonia reserva white, richer and more weight/body.
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11/2/2013 - quistz wrote:
Interesting aromas of beeswax, etc. Fascinating, though not quite my thing.
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11/2/2013 - millesime66 wrote: 92 Points
Idem à la dernière.
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10/30/2013 - vilepotabissabinum wrote:
Slightly oxidative nose, with peach and almond, and yes reminiscent of champagne. Very fresh and clean palate with a subtle richness on the finish. Very enjoyable wine.
(Note: this wine held up very well over the course of a whole week!)
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10/26/2013 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 91 Points
La moglie dica "It smells like a middle eastern spice, curry or something." Earlier she said it smelled like ash. She never talks about such specifics or smells. This is new ground. I'll write my own review next time because we are certainly getting this wine again.
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10/22/2013 - Umay Ceviker wrote: 90 Points
Pale gold in colour with initial notes suggesting champagne without the mousse. Toasty, yeasty aromas followed by smoke and some citrus undertones. Full on the palate with crisp acidity and mouth filling structure.
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10/1/2013 - jorivesud Likes this wine: 91 Points
Jaune doré intense. Nez sur les noisettes, amandes, cailloux et pierre a fusil. En bouche, caramel, beurre, amandes, noisettes avec une touche d'acidité en appuis. Tout en longueur, avec une très belle finale. Excellent. Bon RQP.
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9/30/2013 - Biggsy wrote: 90 Points
Lovely aromatic nose, opens like tea and crushed almost, over time getting richer with a lovely caramel note. Nice sweetness of fruit contrasting the slight sherried character on the entry with notes of orange peel and boiled lemon sweets. Lovely complexity with flavours of honey and walnuts lingering on the finish. Must be one of the best purchases in the world looking at QPR.
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9/19/2013 - SommTim wrote:
med - med+ viscosity
med concentration yellow/gold - oxidation
nose
bruised yellow apple, tangerine
coriander, almond skin, dill, coconut = american oak
palate
pear compote, bruised yellow apple
allspice, dill, crushed stone, silky
dry, med+ acid, med + etoh, finish med+,
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9/12/2013 - Rich S Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light yellow color. Really nice nose of lemon oil, white floral notes, a touch of stone fruit with hazelnut and other nut aromas as well. Had that ever so slightly oxidative note to it as well that would remind you of a nutty sherry but just slightly so. Similar flavors on the palate with bright acidity, a smooth mouthfeel and a touch of creaminess on the finish. Really well balanced and interesting wine. Still just a baby too. This wine will continue to evolve with more time in the bottle.
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9/12/2013 - Dj6544 wrote: 90 Points
Buttery, waxy, sara lee lemon meringue pie. Fresh, complex and alluring. 90
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9/6/2013 - eeeeeradicator wrote: 92 Points
I am just a huge fan of this. Full of minerals and old library character. An "old school" wine, pure and simple.
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9/2/2013 - millesime66 wrote: 92 Points
Remarquable vin blanc de Rioja peu alcoolisé et sans manque d'acidité pour le millésime. Complètement atypique en ce sens qu'il est bien sûr évolué (petite oxydation) mais sans être sur le déclin. Robe dorée évidente dans une bouteille transparente, nez de noisette et d'amande avec un peu d'abricot et une belle concentration. Un vrai plaisir que de découvrir ce blanc qui fête ses 10 ans et qui tiendra encore la route au moins 2 ans. Ce vin renforce mon sentiment qu'on a trop tendance à boire nos vins jeunes. Félicitons les producteurs espagnols qui ne mettent en marché leur vin que lorsqu'il est prêt à donner son plein potentiel.
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9/1/2013 - decaturwinedude Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light golden color. Nose shows oxidative notes, nuts, chicken stock. The palate is waxy, medium-bodied with just a touch of acid and creamy peach and lemon notes. Very floral. The nose is especially interesting over time. I prefer this to the '02.
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8/26/2013 - defigio Likes this wine: 90 Points
A complex and energetic blend. On the nose: golden apple, beeswax, some oxidative qualities. On the palate, lots of orchard fruit skins, marcona almonds. Waxy/chalky mouthfeel from skin contact and some oxy funkiness, this wine isn't for everyone. Significant impact and grip to pair with richer dishes: garlic butter potatoes, stronger cheeses, spinach ravioli with roasted pine nuts.
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8/17/2013 - johnnyrichardson Likes this wine: 90 Points
I didn't get the oxidative notes, but this bottle (my 1st) tasted very young. Integrated oak, freshness, nice acidity and a long finish, this would go with just about any food you care to throw at it! An ideal summer white IMO..
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8/13/2013 - Colima74 wrote: 91 Points
Very interesting. A hint of oxidization in both color and on the palate, but in a way that adds to the complexity. Pineapple, peach and other summer fruits vie for attention in fruit cocktail, but sans sweetness. Really different and a treat at the beach with all sorts of finger foods.
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8/11/2013 - thewineoceros wrote: 89 Points
Slightly oxidised nose - as is the style with Heredia, but complex and interesting. Citrus and creamy notes, with a bit of tropical pizazz, ably supported by good structure and a rich vein of acidity. Worked well with a summer picnic and quiche. Lovely.
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8/8/2013 - Poisey Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is fantastic. Fresh nose with petrol, plastic, pineapple and flinty smoky notes. Decadent with a rich finish. Nutty with walnut, almonds, lemon and butter cream. Fresh acidity and such a long finish. Still lots in the tank here. Drinking great.
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8/5/2013 - pwillen1 wrote:
a bit oxidated and oaky but well integrated. long finish. Blind i'd have guessed chablis. a beautiful wine and very food friendly.
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7/27/2013 - kevin h wrote: 90 Points
Godd lemon fruit, oxidative but in check and well integrated oak. A good food wine.
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7/21/2013 - fitzi wrote:
Very nice intensity, lithe and agile, tiny bit of nuttiness, the kind you expect to be introduced as a note of complexity from aging in inert old barrels. Very pleasant to drink on its own, bur really deserves some suitable food upon which to ply its acidity. Good wine, and only my second from this producer.
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7/9/2013 - BillBell73 wrote: 92 Points
These young LdH whites are really fantastic at this price. If you are a fan of slightly oxidized whites from the Jura and elsewhere you will love this, nutty, honeyed aroma but bracing acidity and structure. Incredibly complex, unique, and always interesting. This is a difficult style to get right but Maria Lopez de Heredia is a genius.
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7/8/2013 - Merengue wrote: 82 Points
Tasting Notes from trip to Rioja; 7/5/2013-7/12/2013: 100% Viura. Sherry like nose given the oxidative profile and an onion whiff at the end. Does not do much for me at all. Not my style.
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7/5/2013 - Charlie Pendejo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fantastic! Crowd pleasing (unlike their rosè) and me pleasing. Complex secondary / tertiary flavors with a little oxidation, but less than you might expect.. Overripe pear, stone fruit, orchid, minerals, honey, and then some. Paired brilliantly with paella; would've gone quite nicely with a whole lot.
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6/22/2013 - Pierre-Yves wrote: 85 Points
My first Rioja white. Quite nutty, oaky and marzipan. Rich full body, some oxydative notes, but missing acidity for my taste. But then the second day there was some acidity, but out of the balance for the richness to my taste.
Interesting, and I understand that some may find it appealing.
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6/20/2013 - chifred wrote:
50F, P&P. Medium dark yellow. On the nose apple, pee. High acid and not as full as you would think. Some unpleasant notes. Maybe this is bad?
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6/19/2013 - Bill Bucklew wrote: 89 Points
Reductive nose with lemon and a base minerality. More oxidative than the last bottle, there's a nutty quality intertwined with lemon oil and a chalky mineral note.
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6/18/2013 - JonnyG wrote: flawed
Not corked, but no life to the wine, and I had my most recent bottle (a much more pleasant experience) less than two weeks ago. Maybe heat affected?
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6/15/2013 - legarejm wrote: 90 Points
Very good and unique white; dark yellow, oaky, almonds, a little buttery, nice minerality, well balanced.
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6/14/2013 - StefanAkiko Likes this wine: 87 Points
Mature, maturing and immature Rioja eve (Ulf and Maria S, Umeå, Sweden): First whiff reminded me of the over oaked Chards from the Californian days of yore. However, scrutinizing this wine, renders an image of a well balanced wine that suffers a tad bit from under-concentration. Viura's character shines through well, dragging its mineral character along with the waxy, rubbery aromas it often shows off. Also terpentine. Has a small burnt character on the finish that does not resonate well with my palate. Complexity level need be higher for this to qualify for fine dining, but still a more than decent wine with future potential.
Maybe it suffered from the very tough competition of this flight?
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6/9/2013 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 90 Points
A Particularly Pleasant Dinner Out with Dear Friends (Craft Century City): Enticing depth and complexity, with the oxidization driving a distinctly nutty aspect alongside vanilla and a touch of petrol. I love the waxy creaminess of this fawell made white Rioja, coneding that it is not for everyone.
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6/6/2013 - davestenton wrote:
Roberson Spanish Walkabout Tasting (Roberson, High Street Kensington, London): Aromas of wax, vanilla and toasty oak - really distinctive and alluring. Dry and slightly oxidative in style. Lovely saline finish. Pithy, citrus fruit keeps it fresh. Fantastic. 17.5/20.
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6/1/2013 - kevin h Likes this wine: 90 Points
Classic nutty white Rioja with soft lemon fruit and creamy oak. Best decanted and drunk at a cool room temperature rather than chilled.
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5/24/2013 - Exered68 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Paired with salmon in honey and mustard sauce, frites and salad.
Was up and down on this throughout. First, strong reminder on the nose of mother's orange candles being lit circa early 1970s power strikes and Tesco cheddar left in student fridges.
But taste was beguiling like classy white burgundy mixed with something more exotic. Best kept chilled for full waxy cheese experience, just a little acid bite on the back end - perhaps one to set aside for fish dishes on summer evenings.
Less than boozy norm - 13% - on the strength front, enough to lend a tipsy, mellow yellow sheen to a few hours.
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5/11/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. This had a bizarre character some characterized as "cheesy" and I couldn't disagree. An unusual wine that wasn't providing much pleasure today, but clearly having lots of high quality raw material needing lots and lots more time to show its potential.
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5/6/2013 - bin905 Does not like this wine: 86 Points
The deep golden yellow color foreshadows a rich, complex wine. It has a rich, vanilla, petrol and citrus scent. The palate has lemon/lime, creme caramel, nut and sherry flavor with a big acidic kick on the finish. Its greatest attribute is its uniqueness; unfortunately, the more I drank the less I liked it.
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5/5/2013 - Ron Van Holland wrote: 91 Points
Rich golden color. Fascinating and complex nose of vinous petrol, flower petals, cherry cream bon-bon, and soda cracker; flavor brings a dry cream finish. This wine paired stunningly with wild-caught sockeye salmon topped with dilled-cream-and-butter sauce and roasted asparagus.
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5/3/2013 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 91 Points
A private lunch (Resturant Opera Tavern, London, UK): Lovely full yellow colour with a hint of gold; not very communicative on the nose, vinous, dry and minerally, hint of nuts; on the palate remarkably fresh and dry, much less oxidative than e.g. the Ygay Cappellania, reminiscent of an old-fashioned white Bordeaux, good length.
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4/30/2013 - henrygjeffreys Likes this wine:
I adore this
extremely fresh, lots of lemony fruit. Hard to believe it's ten years old
and then lots of vanilla, nuts, mouth-filling
BIg wine, intense, long
Superb and not a hint of sherry
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4/28/2013 - honest bob wrote: 88 Points
From 75cl, short but perfect cork. Flashes of motor oil, dried apricot and white spirit on the nose; oily-textured entry with hints of lime, beef consommé and old oak (duh); monolithic and rather cloying mid-palate. Tamer, perhaps more refined than Ygay Capellania (my reference for this style). I'd like to serve this to one of those annoying persons who say "white wine isn't really wine." Rebuy: unlikely. Very good nonetheless. 88P
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4/24/2013 - Biggsy wrote: 91 Points
Classy nose, floral yet nutty and honeyed. Fresh and zippy on the entry, gains weight with a lovely honeyed nuttiness on the mid palate. Lovely verve and zip. Huge length with a lingering candied orange peel and almond flavour. Maybe one of the best value wines in the world.
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4/21/2013 - prof b wrote:
no formal notes. my first white rioja. an interesting, full bodied wine that easily held its own with some garlic sauteed shrimp. not a wine i'm likely to drink very often but certainly of interest.
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3/29/2013 - MissHighwater wrote: 88 Points
Diesel and grapefruit on the nose. Light wood tones and mineral on palate. I didn't taste as much fruit as some other reviews on here but intriguingly complex nevertheless.
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3/28/2013 - La Peste Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely nose with ripe banana and honey. Good balance, with flavors of lemon peel, orange and pear. I think this one will be even better in another 5 or 10 years.
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3/28/2013 - bzell wrote: 84 Points
I am really surprised and disappointed by this wine after reading the reviews here. Our initial impression on the nose was rotting fruit and not in a pleasant way the color was good and the wine appeared to have good legs. On the palate the wine had some woodsy bitterness that did dissipate somewhat after awhile and some candied orange came forward. We drank the wine over several hours and most of the flavors eventually faded leaving a very bland taste. My feeling is the wine is past its maturity and should be drank now. Not a bad wine if you can get over the initial scents.
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3/21/2013 - lovanc@outlook.com wrote:
This is an amazing wine to try. Almost sherry like. Complex flavors well rounded great mouthfeel.
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3/17/2013 - elledeca wrote:
nose of lemon, liquorice, peaches, petrol. reminds me of a riesling from Alsace. Wood present but well integrated, very mineral taste. Less acid than I remembered, went well with mackerel and garlic mashed potatoes.
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3/16/2013 - sharkarama wrote: 92 Points
Really enjoyable, mellow fruit and a lovely balance.
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3/14/2013 - drwine2001 wrote:
Young Lopez de Heredia Whites and Reds (Arlequin Wine Merchant, San Francisco): Ripe, exotic fruit. Medium to full bodied with buttery oak. A touch of citrus, some acidity, and vintage considered, pretty lively.
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3/11/2013 - Colima74 wrote: 89 Points
Some of the expected oxidative notes on the finish. The fruit was a bit muted all evening (with Lebanese food at Marouch). Acid was a bit on the low side for my palate.
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1/31/2013 - kenv Likes this wine: 91 Points
WCC Rioja Blind (Dorato's Resturant, Guilderland, NY): [Opened around 5pm. Drunk around 7:30.] Complex fruit cocktail nose. Fascinating flavors of orange peel and spice. Long, complex finish. Needs food! Shines with the Shrimp Cake!
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1/27/2013 - Frank Murray III Likes this wine:
The petrol and diesel aromatic is here. Good medium weight texture with lots of pear and a real nice spicy finish. The acidity and spice make the finish very good.
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1/26/2013 - brigcampbell wrote:
Dinner with Friends (FMIII in the OC): Starting to add depth of color, medium dark gold. Nose has a good whiff of petrol and muted otherwise. Palate starts out with little lemon peel followed by a dose of diesel fuel. Medium acidity and medium plus weight for a white. Very entertaining but you better not be afraid of the petrol notes.
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1/22/2013 - c-check wrote: 92 Points
Dry and flavorful. Smoked gouda, lightly woody, some apricot. Tart on the finish, but dry and subtle.
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1/20/2013 - yofog wrote: 90 Points
Bigger and warmer than the 02, probably equal in quality though I liked the 02 better, this has wonderful notes of peaches and honey (but bone dry) and overtones of almond, all with an oxidative background that does not distract or make the wine seem tired, rather the opposite.
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1/18/2013 - nypataphysics Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deeply herbacious and complex, fennel, celery, parsnip. Mineral and saline. Candied orange peel, lemon peel. Bright acidity. In a weird way, reminded me of matzoh ball soup, in a good way. Savory, herbal, earthy, robust.
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1/6/2013 - Carstennoe Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great Wine!!! Strong bright acid. Lime, lemon, peach, white flowers and oxidative notes (nuts). Noticeable oak but integrated and adding to the complexity. Long aftertaste. GREAT QPR, will probably buy more. 91-92p
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1/3/2013 - Poisey Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic wine with fresh acidity on the back end. Perfumed nose with hazel nuts, peach, pinapple and oranges. Thick consistancy and near perfect balance. Long nutty finish. Wish i had more of this. Drink now to 2018.
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12/30/2012 - Eblum418 wrote: 92 Points
Surprised to see it had legs and a full mouthy feel, almost drinks more like a red then a white.
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12/14/2012 - cartime Likes this wine: 91 Points
Marcona almond, lemon pith, mineral, melon and nectarine palate with some slight oxidative notes . A great food wine.
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12/5/2012 - wineshlub Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Wonderful aroma of cloves and honey. Flavors of beeswax, lanolin with the oxidative notes that I love in this wine. Full, lingering lemon rind finish. As always, wonderfully structured and compelling. Still very tight.
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12/2/2012 - Ron Van Holland wrote: 91 Points
24 carat gold color. Complex nose of peaches & cream, wood or nuts, citrus, and some petrol. The palate is as complex as the nose with surprising early power. All the action up front makes the finish seem light by comparison, but it is long and a refreshing conclusion to this distinctive taste experience. We paired this with a duet of grilled salmon and steamed cold water lobster with roasted vegetables, and the food was a little upstaged. It's a beautiful wine that would do better with a richer seafood plate, as with a savory sauce or with seafood pasta.
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11/4/2012 - elledeca wrote:
golden but still youthful look. nose dominated by the wood ageing, with coconut, butter, hazelnut. very acid in the mouth but also round and creamy, faint taste of peach. nice but too young.
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8/23/2012 - Harley1199 wrote:
My favourites in the Estación quarter (Barrio de la Estación- Haro - Rioja): Golden colour.
Peachy nose, dried even.
Knowing what a white Viña Tondonia is giving, this is not my sort of Viura wine. Sorry
Anyway, this vintage didn´t help.
Color dorado.
Nariz a melocotón, orejones incluso.
Sabiendo lo que el blanco de Viña Tondonia proporciona, este no es la clase de Viura que me va.
De todas maneras, esta añada no ayudó.
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