From Magnum. 4.5 hour decant. It needed it. Lovely red and black fruits, just a touch of spice, Oak, herbs and Cedar. Very smooth long tannins after 4 hours of decant time.
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Had a 375ml bottle with broiled ribeye, sautéed mushrooms. Great pairing. This is a good full-bodied wine. After having this last night and a 2004 Ribera del duero last week, I am regretting that I don’t have more of these Spanish wines in my cellar.
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PnP. Developed much better within the last 3 years than I have expected. Starts with red fruit gets more tertiary notes with time and air which dominate after 30 to 60 minutes, on the palate fresh and very elegant, medium bodied and long finish, very classic. Seems as the frog needed a kiss, best bottle yet but unfortunately it was the last.
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Decanted for 1 hour. Initially nose was closed, post decant opened nicely with notes of plum, blackberry, spice and aniseed. Palate is smooth, complex, subtle fruit, spice, tobacco, leather, herbs. Tannins very fine now and a good acidity remains leaving a medium/long finish. Still got some time left in this.
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Drunk first half without a decant and the second half on the next day. Better on day one and also better than the last bottle that I have decanted. Fresh and classical with nice stone fruit and medium length on day one, a bit rustic on day two, better drink now and do not wait too long with the last bottles.
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I have had just the last bottle of this wine. It is just excellent. There is no sign of aging. You can put the half empty bottle in the fridge for days with no vacume or even a simple cork and it still tastes fresh and great. The nose is spectactular with a lot of spices. On the palate it is elegant and tasteful.
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Raisins at opening that dissolve after an hour decant. Nice nose with prune and tertiary notes, on the palate fresh, but a bit rustic and with dry finish. Good but has far not the level of the best Imperial vintages, not sure if it holds longer than another three years.
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The wine is in a nice place if you like a bit of age with some fruit, and grip. Characteristic rioja fig and olive with some vanilla and cherry. Good but nothing outstanding.
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My last tasting note still holds true but I am a bit more convinced hence 2 points up. Mainly oranges and cherries with a bit of whipped cream on top. Some Curry sprinkles, too. Also some celery sticks in the bouquet. Who doesn't like that? And nothing is over the top or heavy. Lacks a bit body and intensity to be rewarded more points.
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Color: Not that deep. You can see the bottom of the glass. Almost no signs of aging. Just at the most outer rim the wine is transparent with an orange hue but just 1 or 2 mm in thickness. Nose: Highly delicious. Notes of cigarbox and vanilla and oranges but no blockbuster wine. More of a feminine wine. Mouth: Very harmonious and smooth but not very complex. A hint of curry, too. The finish is a bit watery. I had better bottles of the same wine. In the finish there is an alcohol spike that I don't like. I recommend to drink it up in the next two or three years. The half full bottle has improved over night hence 2 point up. Now I can smell a bit of menthol and rosemary. And there are some good cherries, too. This wine really deserves each and every point.
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Deep magenta and clear in the glass. Blackberry, plums, eucalyptus, fresh forest, and coconut notes on the nose and palate. Silky and velvety on the palate with no rough edges. Really, an excellent young Rioja. Fresh and crunchy, not overly oaky. Expect this bottle would have improved over another decade or two. Have another magnum and we'll see how long I can keep it. 90-92pts.
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This is a marvellous Rioja. Subtle on the nose with some deep dark fruit, hints of tobacco and leather.
The palate extends the bouquet and develops it. It's a fine texture, smooth, light, wel balanced with a medium finish. This is a really nice wine in my opinion. Definitely one I intend to keep a bottle of in the cellar always.
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Vin til lam (Hos Espen): Dark red. Vanilla and red fruit on the nose. Solid amount of oak. Was tested in both a chianti and a bdx glass, appeared more balanced in the chianti. The oak is too dominant now, but I believe the aging potential is good.
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En kjempegod reserva fra en fin produsent. Sterk fin balansert aroma av klassisk Rioja. Fruktig og syrlige røde bær, fint balansert eik. Litt kort ettersmak men absolutt en fin vin. Men forstår denne har godt av et par år i kjelleren.
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Dark ruby color turning crimson at the rim. The nose shows off smoked vanilla, dark cherry, and licorice notes. The palate is attractively dry, medium-to-full-bodied with a silky texture. Flavors of black currant, cassis, dark cherry, chocolate, tobacco, scorched oak. Very balanced and delectable with bright acidity adding to its elegance. This is almost or just as good as the 2005 Reserva. Finishes long with hints of dried herb, earth and black tea. Drink now until 2023. 92+
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Lovely nose, juicy blue black fruit and purple, currants too. The taste is good, a little bit of vanilla at first but subtle, not overpowering/cloying as in some Riojas. Nice tannin, and a clean taste all the way through.
I think this is ready. I don't see room for growth but I do see some longevity in it. Also good on second day, maybe even a little better.
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(Decanter Fine Wine Event): A lifted nose of plumb, cherry and raspberry fruits, on a backbone of seductive damp earth, mushroom and clay. A rich palate, excellent acidity and well framed tanins, as you might expect.
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Belle robe des vieilles barriques. Nez complexe d'élevage long (boisé, épices douces, tabac, vanille), bouche similaire, vanillé, suave, pas trop puissante avec une belle fraicheur. Style pas trop corsé, entre classique et moderne. Très bon. +++(+)
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9/15/2023 - capacious Likes this wine:
Rioja is always a crowd pleaser, for the wine lover, for the new to the table. This one is a beauty and seems ready to go for a decade or more
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7/3/2023 - moods wrote: 94 Points
P D Awesome
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10/31/2021 - ID Likes this wine:
From a 1/2 bottle. Excellent with rack of lamb.
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6/25/2021 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
From Magnum. 4.5 hour decant. It needed it. Lovely red and black fruits, just a touch of spice, Oak, herbs and Cedar. Very smooth long tannins after 4 hours of decant time.
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2/27/2021 - ID Likes this wine:
Had a 375ml bottle with broiled ribeye, sautéed mushrooms. Great pairing. This is a good full-bodied wine. After having this last night and a 2004 Ribera del duero last week, I am regretting that I don’t have more of these Spanish wines in my cellar.
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2/9/2021 - amateur62 Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. Developed much better within the last 3 years than I have expected. Starts with red fruit gets more tertiary notes with time and air which dominate after 30 to 60 minutes, on the palate fresh and very elegant, medium bodied and long finish, very classic. Seems as the frog needed a kiss, best bottle yet but unfortunately it was the last.
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4/29/2020 - DanielOsman Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for 1 hour. Initially nose was closed, post decant opened nicely with notes of plum, blackberry, spice and aniseed. Palate is smooth, complex, subtle fruit, spice, tobacco, leather, herbs. Tannins very fine now and a good acidity remains leaving a medium/long finish. Still got some time left in this.
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8/23/2019 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 90 Points
From Magnum. The wine needed a 90 minutes. Loads of red fruits with a slight sour twinge. Nicely dry with dried herb and some faint Oak.
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12/17/2017 - amateur62 wrote: 89 Points
Drunk first half without a decant and the second half on the next day. Better on day one and also better than the last bottle that I have decanted. Fresh and classical with nice stone fruit and medium length on day one, a bit rustic on day two, better drink now and do not wait too long with the last bottles.
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9/7/2017 - wineaficionado Likes this wine: 92 Points
I have had just the last bottle of this wine. It is just excellent. There is no sign of aging. You can put the half empty bottle in the fridge for days with no vacume or even a simple cork and it still tastes fresh and great. The nose is spectactular with a lot of spices. On the palate it is elegant and tasteful.
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3/11/2017 - amateur62 wrote: 88 Points
Raisins at opening that dissolve after an hour decant. Nice nose with prune and tertiary notes, on the palate fresh, but a bit rustic and with dry finish. Good but has far not the level of the best Imperial vintages, not sure if it holds longer than another three years.
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2/25/2017 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 90 Points
The wine is in a nice place if you like a bit of age with some fruit, and grip. Characteristic rioja fig and olive with some vanilla and cherry. Good but nothing outstanding.
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1/30/2017 - wineaficionado Likes this wine: 90 Points
My last tasting note still holds true but I am a bit more convinced hence 2 points up. Mainly oranges and cherries with a bit of whipped cream on top. Some Curry sprinkles, too. Also some celery sticks in the bouquet. Who doesn't like that? And nothing is over the top or heavy. Lacks a bit body and intensity to be rewarded more points.
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8/30/2016 - wineaficionado Likes this wine: 89 Points
Color: Not that deep. You can see the bottom of the glass. Almost no signs of aging. Just at the most outer rim the wine is transparent with an orange hue but just 1 or 2 mm in thickness. Nose: Highly delicious. Notes of cigarbox and vanilla and oranges but no blockbuster wine. More of a feminine wine. Mouth: Very harmonious and smooth but not very complex. A hint of curry, too. The finish is a bit watery. I had better bottles of the same wine. In the finish there is an alcohol spike that I don't like. I recommend to drink it up in the next two or three years. The half full bottle has improved over night hence 2 point up. Now I can smell a bit of menthol and rosemary. And there are some good cherries, too. This wine really deserves each and every point.
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4/10/2016 - texanoblues Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep magenta and clear in the glass. Blackberry, plums, eucalyptus, fresh forest, and coconut notes on the nose and palate. Silky and velvety on the palate with no rough edges. Really, an excellent young Rioja. Fresh and crunchy, not overly oaky. Expect this bottle would have improved over another decade or two. Have another magnum and we'll see how long I can keep it. 90-92pts.
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2/28/2016 - cpost Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice wine after it opened up a bit. Decant for 30-60 minutes.
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12/4/2015 - DanielOsman Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is a marvellous Rioja. Subtle on the nose with some deep dark fruit, hints of tobacco and leather.
The palate extends the bouquet and develops it. It's a fine texture, smooth, light, wel balanced with a medium finish. This is a really nice wine in my opinion. Definitely one I intend to keep a bottle of in the cellar always.
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11/6/2015 - asheio wrote: 86 Points
Vin til lam (Hos Espen): Dark red. Vanilla and red fruit on the nose. Solid amount of oak. Was tested in both a chianti and a bdx glass, appeared more balanced in the chianti. The oak is too dominant now, but I believe the aging potential is good.
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6/27/2015 - Normann Likes this wine: 92 Points
En kjempegod reserva fra en fin produsent. Sterk fin balansert aroma av klassisk Rioja. Fruktig og syrlige røde bær, fint balansert eik. Litt kort ettersmak men absolutt en fin vin. Men forstår denne har godt av et par år i kjelleren.
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3/26/2015 - grayfont Likes this wine: 89 Points
Rioja Old-School and Modern Classics from CVNE (Chain Bridge Cellars, McLean, VA): great nose but a touch sour in the mouth. Preferred to the 2007 CVNE Imperioal Rioja Gran Reserva
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1/25/2015 - europat55 wrote: 89 Points
Riojas (Donato Enoteca, Redwood City, CA): Smooth nose (B+/B++). Smooth palate (B+/B++).
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12/21/2014 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote: 92 Points
Dark ruby color turning crimson at the rim. The nose shows off smoked vanilla, dark cherry, and licorice notes. The palate is attractively dry, medium-to-full-bodied with a silky texture. Flavors of black currant, cassis, dark cherry, chocolate, tobacco, scorched oak. Very balanced and delectable with bright acidity adding to its elegance. This is almost or just as good as the 2005 Reserva. Finishes long with hints of dried herb, earth and black tea. Drink now until 2023. 92+
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12/20/2014 - jimyeni wrote: 89 Points
At first there was a cosmetic kind of taste to it which wasn't great. It burned off but was still had too much tobacco for my liking.
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12/14/2014 - ChinaBounder Likes this wine: 88 Points
Lovely nose, juicy blue black fruit and purple, currants too. The taste is good, a little bit of vanilla at first but subtle, not overpowering/cloying as in some Riojas. Nice tannin, and a clean taste all the way through.
I think this is ready. I don't see room for growth but I do see some longevity in it. Also good on second day, maybe even a little better.
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11/16/2014 - Phenol73 Likes this wine: 93 Points
(Decanter Fine Wine Event): A lifted nose of plumb, cherry and raspberry fruits, on a backbone of seductive damp earth, mushroom and clay. A rich palate, excellent acidity and well framed tanins, as you might expect.
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2/24/2014 - itsallaboutwine Likes this wine:
Belle robe des vieilles barriques. Nez complexe d'élevage long (boisé, épices douces, tabac, vanille), bouche similaire, vanillé, suave, pas trop puissante avec une belle fraicheur. Style pas trop corsé, entre classique et moderne. Très bon. +++(+)
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12/22/2013 - red_man wrote: 87 Points
very good fruity complex nose, restrained palate, good balance, overall good upper level Rioja
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