Not as distinct on nose as the 2007 it was tasted alongside; blackcurrant, red fruit, leather, sous-bois all here. Long finish, fine tannins, fruit still here on palate. Drinking very well but plenty more development possible; Bosconias take so long to reach full maturity. Outshone by 2007 but pipped 2009 in this tasting. (@Tufa, Rioja I 2024)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Initially concentrated soy sauce , Unami and plum , a little burley. 2 Hours later on the last glass, pure black Cherry, minerality, focus and elegance . Both stages were enjoyable, but really opened up to show its best after a few hours. The way this wine transformed over 4 hours speaks to its ability to evolve over the years. Tomorrow the Tondonia!!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened 6 hours in advance. Garnet center with tawny edge. Sharp fennel and licorice aromas. Medium weight, more dense than the Riojanas wine tasted next to it. Deep, serious black fruit and anise with outstanding acidity and a deep mineral base. It develops subtle sweetness and a bit of spice as it unfolds but still has substantial tannin to resolve. This wine has taken me on a rollercoaster ride over the years, but this was very impressive and shows that further patience will be rewarded. Less taut and more obvious flesh than Tondonia generally shows.
The next evening, more rich black cherry fruit became apparent.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Red cherry, damp cedar, sweet flowers, pine, and campfire ash on the nose. Full and savory with excellent thrust and clarity. Tart cherry, tobacco and leather lifted by juicy acidity with a firm lingering finish. Has softened since I first tasted this wine five years ago. This was quite rustic on release, but has become relatively suave. In early maturity with many years left. An excellent vintage for this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mouthwatering acidity, delicious juiciness, sour cherry and plum. Almost Barolo like, with that non ripe fruit and acid. Old world style, still a bit green and young but drinking nicely with lots of upside.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby. Quite pine resiny nose to start. Light and mineral at first, but this gained some flesh. Tart black fruit and herbs. Seemingly at an in between stage right now where the elements aren't very well melded.
More mellow and textural with sweeter red fruit the next evening, but the finish is still earthy and a bit astringent. This does make me believe that it still needs time and is on the upward slope.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright red fruit, cherry, red currant, juicy acidity. But also earthy notes, leather, balsamic and dill. Comes across a bit rustic, in a good way. So much flavor packed in. Good now and for another twenty years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A blend of Tempranillo (80%), Garnacha (15%), Mazuelo and Graciano, the grapes sourced from the El Bosque vineyard. Fermented spontaneously in old and very large oak fermenters, aged for 5 years in barrels and then for a further 3 years in bottles before release. 13,5% alcohol. Total production 80,000 bottles. Tasted in a Bosconia 2011-2002 vertical.
Dark, somewhat translucent and beautifully luminous black cherry color - still surprisingly youthful for its age. The nose feels expressive, complex and slightly sweetish with layered, slightly evolved aromas of wizened red cherries and cherry pits, some plum liqueuer, a little bit of saddle leather and horse stable funk, light developed notes of hoi sin, a hint of dried dark fruits and a touch of sweet strawberry. The wine feels dry, firm and slightly evolved on the palate with a medium body and intense flavors of wizened lingonberries, some meaty notes of umami and ferrous nuances of blood, a little bit of leathery funk, light woody oak tones, a hint of ripe cranberry and a touch of plum liqueur without any liqueurish sweetness. The combination of impressive, noticeably acidity and firm, somewhat grippy medium tannins make the wine feel very focused and sinewy with great sense of structure. The finish is long, somewhat grippy and slightly evolved with a dry, complex aftertaste of lingonberry jam and wizened cranberries, some sour cherry bitterness, a little bit of leathery funk, light woody notes of savory oak spice, a hint of earth and a salty touch of beef jerky.
Heredia's Viña Tondonia is often described as the "Bordeaux" to the "Burgundy" of Viña Bosconia - and this vintage of Bosconia is probably the best example of how Burgundian this label can be. This is as classically styled old-school Rioja as any Heredia, but coming across as lighter and more delicate than the other red wines, emphasizing finesse and precision over power or fruit. Yet, among all the other Bosconia vintages it becomes very clear that this is at the same time showing stunning intensity and exceptional sense of structure. Even if the wine is starting to show some evolved complexity, the overall feel here was still very youthful compared to the surrounding vintages. This is really a top-notch vintage of Bosconia that might be my favorite of the vintages this side of the millennium. For a Burgundy lover, this is a wine that is hard not to love and it is outstanding already now, but also shows great potential for future development. Expect the score to slowly go up over the next decade or two. Exceptional value at 26,90€. Very highly recommended.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This pours medium ruby with light bricking at the rim. The nose is fairly low intensity but high complexity showing ripe strawberry, lightly stewed dark cherry, sweet and sour pork, sage flowers, animal fur, light roast coffee bean, petrichor, and a touch of vanilla. The palate is puckering and structured entering on the deep fruit, quickly turning to medium tannin, and medium plus, almost high acid. Quick a puckering and structured feel in the mouth, demanding food. All in all this is showing well, but may be caught in an awkward adolescent stage between youth and maturity, where the structure is prominent and the fruit subdued. I'll hold the rest for at least 5 more years.
Similar to last note: Medium ruby, clean, aromatic, slight, soy and tamari; balanced alcohol 13.5%, medium-plus acidity, somewhat plummy, dark cherry; medium finish. Last time this improved over a day and I suspect this will as well. 90
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
App: pale ruby with garnet rim Nose: medium plus intensity; aromas of very perfumed fresh rose water that reminds me of Pinot Noir from Mornington Pernisula, green olive, toast, sour cherry, dry orange peel, cloves, old furniture wood. It's developing. Palate: dry, high acidity, medium plus tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, medium plus flavour intensity, apricot, iron/bloody notes, meaty and plum. Medium plus finish. Overall, very good wine. Can drink now, has potential to further cellar. Never disappointing! 'Haunting' perfumed rose notes with depth. Impressive!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Coravin. Medium ruby, clean, aromatic, slight, soy and tamari; balanced alcohol 13.5%, medium-plus acidity, somewhat plummy, dark cherry; medium finish. Lovely everyday drinker and priced well for that. 90 Day 2: really lovely, balanced tamari on the palate, superb acidity gives it great freshness throughout and makes it great for pairing with food. 91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Side by side note with the ‘06 Tondonia. This one is, by contrast, a bit lower in acid and overall a bit more mellow and rounded. But they are not that different, at least for now and in this vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The cork showed small signs of leakage, and it was as if it wasn't quite clear on the first day.
On the second day, from recorked half-bottle, it was, however, absolutely stunning, perhaps the finest Bosconia I have ever had, including the 1995 gran reserva. Succulent dark cherry fruit with all sorts of red earth and leather aromas, just so immensely good and complex and balanced. Zalto universal glasses on both occasions.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Classy old-school Rioja with a Burgundian twist. Medium-full bodied but still as elegant and subtle as it gets. Round smooth tannins plus nice acidity. Cherries and red berries with leather, vanilla, soft spices as well as some oaky notes. Despite the 16 years of age the wine is still very lively and vibrant - would still have a long drinking window ahead. Highly recommended, wonderful wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Appearance: medium ruby. Nose: medium plus intensity; aromas of mint, perfumed fresh red roses, red cherry, very pure, leather, game, a little rustic. It’s developing. Palate: dry, high acidity, medium silky tannins, medium alcohol, medium plus flavour intensity, medium plus finish. Overall, very good wine. Can drink now, has potential for further ageing. Perfectly balanced with fresh red fruits and vibrant acidity. Succulent and mouthwatering! Doesn’t feel it’s 15+ yrs already. Well made and stay true to the house style. If it has more complexity, I would rate it higher, but can’t complain really at this price point. Delicious!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My final bottle and without a doubt the best of the three. A blend of 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, with 3% Mazuelo and 2% Graciano, spontaneous fermentation, aged for 5 years in barrel and for a further 7 years in bottle before release in 2018, 13,5% ABV. Just about everything you hope for from a classically made, top-notch Rioja in early maturity (at 15+ years of age, mind you!). In its structural make-up it reminds me of left-bank claret of about the same age (of the same vintage actually), and the same applies to the gravelly elegance it displays, but the fruit is plummier, the acidity and energy are (even) higher and the spicy-sweet American oak adds a character all of its own. The fruit is ripe but fresh and the note of saddle leather adds an almost balsamic warmth, the tannins have a very fine texture and provide vibrant grip. Resonance and length are excellent. It did need three years after the initial release to really show itself, but Viña Bosconia on top form must be the greatest value on the market world-wide for lovers of classically styled reds. I paid € 23.50 for this! Long life.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dom Pérignon / Vosne-Romanée Tasting-cum-Lunch (Restaurant Slagerij De Beurs, Amsterdam, NL): Stylistically this is a halfway house between the 2007 and 2008 also tasted today, with the leather and spices of the latter vintage and the crispness and tart fruit (cranberries) of the latter, has opened up considerably since I last tasted it in 2018, excellent freshness and minerality on the palate, subtle oak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
sunburnt/dried red fruits, balanced oak, slight vanilla, a hint of black olives & sun dried tomatoes. nice acidity, very long finish. oak has mellowed out since last tasting. red fruit taste becomes darker fruits after 2 hours aeration.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
19 months after the prior, and our third. The note immediately below describes it perfectly. To that we will add: Dark ruby — all the way to the edge. Again, and like the previous, this was rather rich, with suggestions of sweet wood spices. Deep and substantial. Beautifully balanced, with lovely acidity. Highly enjoyable over three nights. We will hold our last for as many years as we can resist.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sour cherries, tomatoes, some earthy notes, quite some oak still with aromas of coconut powder and dill especially after opening. Very sensual attack on the palate, gorgeous texture, like silk, absolutely weightless quality; the tannins, while very fine, somehow poke out a bit on the finish, which has some quite pronounced iron / blood notes lingering. The fruit is still a bit in the background. A gorgeous wine in the making. Unfortunately I have only one more bottle of this vintage left, which I'll bury in the deepest corner of my cellar. 17.5+/20
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Enjoyed this delicious wine with some homemade cassoulet, which made for a wonderful pairing. Balance and class are what I expect with these wines and was not disappointed. Black cherries and plums with notes of baking spice and tobacco. It is always a pleasure to enjoy these wines and watch them evolve throughout an evening. Very happy to have more.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cassis, leather and coffee on the nose. Palate already quite mature, strong acidity with lots of red berries. Also with slight savory overtones, sun-dried tomatoes, black olives.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened at the last minute to replace a corked 2004 Bosconia. Ruby core with lighter outer 50%. Aggressive dill gave way to a gentler herbaceousness. Medium weight, wonderfully silky feel. A combination of ripe blackberry, some pungency, spice, and a fine thread of soil with soft residual tannins. Already harmonious and well integrated. Excellent and at the cusp of maturity. A relief following the off bottle from the older vintage, but also quite reassuring after a mediocre bottle of this tasted shortly after it had landed.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Immediate aromatics upon opening the bottle, but poured a glass and a portion into a 6 oz decanter while prepping steak fajitas. Will say it doesn't absolutely need a decant but doing so does allow the lovely aromatics to permeate.
In no particular order: deep primary fruits- red currants, tomatoes, red and black cherries, and pomegranate plus earthy tomato paste, tobacco, leather, toasted wood, and black pepper plus the expected healthy dose of vanilla and baking spice from the signature Rioja american oak. I say no particular order as this shows tremendous development and integrates differently each glass- red currants with hints of vanilla and spice, sweet cherry pipe tobacco, pomegranate and toasty black cherry, tomato paste and black pepper, and every other iteration of that.
The palate is a little more set with sweet and sour cherry tobacco upfront and a tomato paste umami finish on the back palate before the chewy oak tannins kick in with a black cherry skin fade. The oak is well integrated throughout the wine and its presence cannot be understated; contributing to the aroma/flavor profile, the rustic texture on the palate, and after-notes coming through the retro-nasal route. Well done. Oak + tannin > the acidity and will probably remain that way due to the oak, but the acidity does make its presence known through the sour fruit notes as well as the post tannin fade.
Extremely well crafted wine and I got these for about $30 (Wine Merchant Cary); plugging this into the 'Knurd-o-Matic and I get an A (94) evaluation (with a note saying I should have picked up more...).
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Apre su note di tabacco dolce e vaniglia che velocemente lasciano spazio a un bel balsamico-mentolato, alle radici e spezie dolci. Il sorso è marcato da una freschezza agrumata notevole, ritornano spezie e radici, i tannini sono gentili...bella bottiglia.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
red & dark fruits, a noticeable amount of vanilla oak (but still within balance), a hint of green twigs & damp leaves. nice acidity. very little change after 2 hours of aeration. this vintage seems to have more vanilla oak than previous vintages tasted.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A bit burly, acidity is a tad high as well. I would wait another 3-4 years but it seems that the 2007 of this was a tad better. Still a good quaff but is best with food.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
just a baby but drinking very well. red fruits, aged balsamic, pine needles, spice shop, cellar mold. glad i went deep on this one. an hour in the decanter was needed
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Raspberry, plum, soft vanilla, and some metallic/stony minerality on the nose. Dark fruits, raspberry, dark plum, cherry, leather, tobacco, black pepper, earthy. Moderate tannins.
Really tasty wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
25 months after the prior: I like Forceberry’s note below, and much of it coincides with our recent experience. But in one respect, it does not quite. We’ve had a few of these wines — and many of its siblings. Unlike some folks, we’ve never noticed any pronounced hit of vanalin /American oak. And we know from reading — and from visiting the winery, including its lovely barrel room — that the house-made barrels are extensively seasoned and, in effect, neutralized.
Yet despite all of this, we perceived some (not unpleasant) sweet American oak (think I recall it’s Tennessee!?) in this fellow. I suppose that could also be called “savory old wood spice.” Indeed, we were drinking it next to a previously opened and quite oaky LRA 904 (2010) — and I had expected to find, by contrast, little if any oak-like influences in this Bosconia. In any event, and whatever accounts for this impression, the wine was beautifully harmonious and extremely enjoyable over three nights.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A blend of Tempranillo (80%), Garnacha (15%), Mazuelo and Graciano, the grapes sourced from the El Bosque vineyard. Fermented spontaneously in old and very large oak fermenters, aged for 5 years in barrels and then for a further 3 years in bottles before release. 13,5% alcohol. Tasted half-blind.
Quite dark, somewhat translucent and relatively youthful deep ruby red color with a pale garnet rim. Fragrant, sweet-toned and somewhat perfumed nose with aromas of wild strawberries, some raspberries, light wild floral tones, a little bit of exotic spice, sweet developed hints of wizened red fruits and marmalade and a floral touch of violets. The wine is dry, firm and relatively acid-driven on the palate with a medium body and precise, elegant flavors of tart lingonberries and cranberries, some savory old wood spice, a little bit of marmaladey raspberry, light ferrous notes of blood, a hint of ripe black cherry and a touch of farmhouse funk. The wine has a lovely, silky texture yet it sports wonderfully precise structure with its noticeably high acidity and somewhat grippy medium-plus tannins. The finish is firm, moderately grippy and very long with complex, dry flavors of sour cherries, some leathery funk, a little bit of crunchy cranberries, light notes of savory wood spice, a hint of sweet-and-sour lingonberry jam and a touch of earth. The bright acidity makes the wine end on a quite mouthwatering note.
A wine that came across as noticeably different from the other red wines in our Spanish Tempranillo half-blind tasting. If such an analogy makes sense, all the other wines felt more "Cabernet" in style - the classicist coming across as Bordeaux, the modernist more like Napa Cabs - while this wine was the only one that was distinctively "Burgundian" in style - lighter in weight, more delicate in taste, wonderfully perfumed in the nose and sporting beautiful, Pinot Noir-like acidity. Many said this wine was underwhelming and most likely not going to age that well in the cellar, but I guess they were just expecting a more robust style of wine; for me, this was a classic, well-made Bosconia showing outstanding freshness, precision and sense of sophistication. Still a mere baby at the age of 14 years, I expect this wine to age gracefully for another two decades or so. Excellent value at 22,25€.
Left the bottle open for an hour, then poured glasses with dinner. Was improved from last encounter... or the drinker was in a different place. In any case, it had a very elegant, enveloping nose; I might have been satisfied with that only. I did drink, though! On the palate, the wine was well balanced, cherry infused, and altogether enjoyable.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Garnet colored with medium intensity. Gave off intense aromas of dark cherries, liquorice, smoked meats, cherry liqueur, blueberry pie, and a hint of vanilla. Medium bodied with a fair bit of acidity and well-integrated tannins. Layers of flavors on the palate especially juicy cherries, raspberries, and blueberries. Incredible value at this price point.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A:Medium garnet N: Medium (+) nose of dried cherry, dried raspberry, pomegranate, DILL, VANILLA, sweet tobacco, fig, toast smoke. Fully developed. P: Dry, high acidity, medium (+) chalky tannin, medium (+) body, medium alcohol, pronounced intensity and long finish C: Not suitable for ageing, This is not going to improve if you keep it though it will last several more years with that wonderful structure. Balance is wonderful between the ripe and dried fruit and the acidity, The aromas are all secondary and tertiary and lovely, I thing the intensity and finish are exemplary here and the complexity gets a half mark. It doesnt quite reach my 5 descriptive cluster test but gets very close. Still, this is an outstanding quality wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for two hours and consumed over the next three. This bottle had a really interesting nose of red fruits and flowers while the palate offered the same red fruits with solid balancing acid. Really nice now, but a long life is likely for this wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I'm a Lopez Bosconia guy, period. Its rare I don't love a vintage and this is no exception. Bravo! The winery has an almost Champagne house NV consistency of style for it's Bosconia Reserva that is both reliable and always characterfully real. I love it and especially admire how fantastic this is hovering around a mid $30 price point year after year. One of the smartest buys around for my palate. PnP in Riedel Burg glasses and slow ox 90 minutes prior to dinner. Pretty ready to go for my palate. Color is deep ruby red. Nose shows garrigue, earth and berries. The palate delivers some; raspberry, plum and earthy minerality along with underlying underbrush. An energetic sense of balanced, layered fruit and a pleasant richness. 13.5% alc.
A fairly simple Rioja, even if with some good age. Few notches below Gran Reserva Riojas from LRA or Muga, but then the price is also materially lower here. Tasted throughout 3+ hours of decanting. Classical dill notes with some earthiness and plenty of acidity. The finish is short, however, with very limited complexity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very little experience with Rioja, so take this for what it’s worth. A multitude of different kinds of earthiness. Lots of clean dirt flavors, I want to say. The dark pit fruits aren’t particularly fresh, but have a bit of sweetness that merges with the sweetness of oak in a pleasing way. The wine exhibits surprising juiciness, which gives it good grip. Medium long finish. Nice.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium red with some brown. Great LdH nose, antique store, thyme, plums and black cherry. Dry slightly unripe herbal red fruit flavours and a very dry acid driven finish.
All the Bosconia character in a lean dry packaging. Once you have been to the cellar, you can always recognize the aromas in the nose of every LdH wine.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This note is for a day-3, half-empty bottle. My perception on the nose is of heavy whipping cream and fresh raspberries served on a rough-hewn, woody country table. These notes translate to the entry but are soon submerged beneath mouth-puckering, sour cherry squeeze and pickle juice before a heavy dusting in more splintering wood-chips. There's a serious purity of fruit here, and what sweetness avails on the medium-weight palate transition is of the purest, truest form. Three days of slow-oxidation has done nothing to deteriorate the freshness and vivacious character of this wine. The acidity is bracing; its balance squarely plumbed. Iron minerals frame the excellent wine.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
red berries, dark berries, distinct vanilla oak but still in balance (although more than I recall of past vintages). nice acidity. still quite primary and seems like it should improve in another 2-3 years. 89-90.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
short decant and still needed more as there is a distracting note at first, rather medicinal but blows off after a bit, leaving a routine splash of oak that really never goes away but becomes just a normal trait for this producer/wine. Once the oak is acknowledged this wine become enjoyable, never more. I feel time, much, will help this as it's not meant to be a robust wine but an elegant one, just not yet.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour. Black cherry and dark, wet earth on the palate. This wine is always a great value on release and I prefer it to the more balanced Tondonia.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A beautiful nose of dark fruit, cinnamon, and other spices. Remarkably dark for a 15 old wine from this producer. Still somewhat tight and structured in the mouth, with tannins very much in evidence. After the first (pleasant) shock the wine becomes smoother and releases some fascinating fruit-like and tertiary aromas. The much used, but still,useful, iron fist in a silk glove metaphor comes to mind. Very long and satisfying finish. Absolutely superb and very much one for the cellar.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for an hour. It's been a while since I had a Rioja, and also a while since I had an oak laden wine! Vanillary red cherries on the nose, and also quite oaky on the palate, with good tannins and good red fruit. The wine lives up to expectations, and is in a nice spot now. Could survive for some more years in the cellar, might even get a tad better.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A: Medium garnet N: Medium intensity nose. red cherry, raspberry, orange peel, violet (after prompting), light clove, earth, leather, mushroom. The fruit is both fresh/tart and dried. P: Dry, medium intensity, medium (+) body, medium alcohol (13.5%), medium (+) acid and long finish. Tannin is medium (+) and ripe in nature C: There is an imbalance between the fruit concentration and the acid, The acid is good but the intensity is lacking compared to finer examples. The length and is good and there is some complexity here. The wine is of very good quality. This wine is not suitable for ageing. Though there is still primary fruit for conversion into great complexity, the fruit concentration is lacking/ fading making the wine unlikely to improve significantly in the long term.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
a well made table wine. full bodied. muted nose at first, then cherries, plums... weatherbeaten wood? the palate, well... stone fruits left out in the afternoon sun. good for any given tuesday, especially when you remember what you paid for it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice table wine - score is for QPR. It may just get much much better with another 5 years, but I doubt I will hold that long. Very pretty succulent nose of red fruit and some mushrooms/moss. Acidity is medium and can go to further integration.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cherries, red currants on the nose, with spicy tobacco, menthol, leather, mush. Nice tannic grip, medium+ acid, tangy cherries, smoky currants, plums. Dark and smoky with tobacco, scorched earth, savory broth and mushroom. Old wood, library dust elements. It opens up and gets a lot better with air (and on Day 2). But I feel like the tannins may outlast the fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lunch + playdate at M+M (M+M. Robin Road): A touch advanced and modern I thought, but this was very drinkable young, with gobs of ripe dark cherry fruit seasoned wth bits of earth and spice. Tannins and acidity were both present, but felt rather soft at its age. Altogether a very yummy, attractive wine, but lacking a touch of complexity and character.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I liked this a good deal better than the Tondonia from the same vintage. This has a very classic build showing driving acids behind lots of matured in wood notes. There is some oxidation mixed in with leather and spice cabinet. Unfolding complexity. Different hints at different times. The finish is a good deal tart and the fruit not super fresh. I'd have to disagree that this needs more time. The fruit density really isn't here for that and it's already drinking fairly maturely. I just don't think this the vintage to be aging. This is one to drink while the better vintages age.
This showed really young, and looked really young: it was pretty dark for a LdH. Dark red cherry, florals, savory herbs, and earth all make a showing in this beauty. A great value with a long life ahead.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Absolutely classic style and very fresh and food friendly; but there's also all sorts of berries and a lovely aromatic that does not feel like wet drift wood but more like saddle bags and a thistle perhaps. I really liked this. Best after 12 hours of air. Suggest to hold or drink now with food. great price for this wine!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Coravin. Medium ruby, clear; nose is reticent right now with some red fruit, cherry, very slight oxidation; palate is medium bodied, medium-plus acidity, some primary red fruit, some savory soy and tamari; medium length finish. Seems a bit closed right now. I'll give my other two bottles 5 years before retrying. 88 2 hours decanted: Nose is a bit more opened up with savory cherry, slight oxidation which comes across as soy; palate is similar; finish is medium length. Well balanced, elegant, certainly not too oaky, and good balance of fruit and maturity. I think this will age a lot longer, and I'm curious what this will become, but this was nice tonight. Reminds me of Musar, but without that next level of complexity. 90 Remainder of bottle: similar to my last taste after some air. Lovely balance, notable acidity, red fruit, some tamari and soy, American oak isn’t really noticeable. Really good value, but still good and not great.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still very youthful, but fantastic to drink right now with lots of bright red and dark fruit, higher toned herbal and floral notes on the nose, nicely integrated oak and earthiness on the back end, and great overall balance. I don't own enough of this.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
-- decanted approximately one hour before initial taste -- -- tasted non-blind over four hours --
NOSE: cherry Twizzlers; a touch oxidized; oaky; hint of gasoline/automotive grease; strong baked cherry; seemed to improve over the first couple of hours, before settling into its spot.
BODY: light to medium-light bodied; ruby color of medium-shallow depth with bricking throughout.
TASTE: high acidity; baked cherry; a bit oaky (not as much as on Nose, and to be expected from Rioja); nice today, but I'd like to see ten more years on it; little tiny TCA-like taste, but neither Ashley or I believe it to be corked; improved with air over 2+ hours; not tannic; alcohol not noticeable.
50, 5, 12, 17, 8 = 92+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ripe dark fruit, with some earthy flavors, but still a bit oaky and tannic. Needs some more time. The 2006 Tondonia is more approachable and enjoyable right now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
What’s not to love? Silky tannin delicious red cherries, that ever present iron, hints of molasses, delicious acidity and freshness. Drinks so good after 3 hrs of air. The beautiful of these wines are how well they can drink AND age.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Surprisingly deep colour for 13 year old wine. Indeed it does not taste that old, which is a pity but also impressive. It's very good Rioja, and a wonderful alternative to buying Reservas that are 5-7 years old.
Quite a different style than Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia's main reserva. More modern, cleaner, lower acidity. Different, perhaps overall better?
{13.5%, cork}
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP, served with family. No detailed notes. Nice earthy cherry, balsamic, tea. Surprising acids front, medium acids on finish. Still a little oak poking through but very solid.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pitched kernel aromas. Walnut skin, redder berry aromas. Dramatically more complex palate next to the 09 Cubillo. Medium tannin. More focused palate and I’d assume 06 was a cooler year next to the 09’er. Still has the red brick, hot cement note that dares a drink.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice nose, complex fruits and spice. A touch of classy vanilla and balsamic nuances; oak shows more markedly on the palate, in fact its the main characteristic. Good weight of fruit here, but the oak is troubling for my tastes. Tannic, a touch drying.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cherries, red berries, pomegranate, and vanilla on the nose. Medium+ tannins, good acidity, and flavors of red cherries, herbs, and tart plum on the palate. Good finish. This needs more time, try again in 5 years...
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rose petals and warm herbs drift atop a bed of dusty red fruit and worn leather. Sneaky tannins break through in the mid-palate, to remind me that thirteen is still so early for an LdH Rioja. Time and patience are allies.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tight at first, but when it had enough air it came off like a reimagined bordeaux. There was earth and dark fruit, but there was a tart orange and cranberry lift and a waft of age. Not powerful or momentous, but distinct.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lopez de Heredia (Lopez de Heredia, Haro, Rioja): 5 yrs in barrel. Plush, slightly plummy nose with a dusty, briary top-note. Good acidity. Finishes well. Young but promising. 80% Temp with Garnacha, Mazuela and Graciano. ****
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bit of must at the start but then settles into the usual ripe fruit, big wine that this is. Can't really find fault but not spectacular. Maybe some bottle age will make it more balanced.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clear, medium dark ruby color. Sour cherry, balsamic, balck tea leaf, spice box. Some earthiness. Mid weight with bright acidity and moderate tannins. Ticks all the right boxes for old school Rijoa. Tempranillio with 15% Garnacha and 5% Graciano and Mazuelo. Great value with years of life ahead of it.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drunk over two days out of Riedel vinum burgundy glasses, best on the second day. This seems to me to be less sweet and more structured than the 2005. It is quite deep-coloured and the nose has many dimensions, from wet dog to soot, with earthiness, black fruit, secondary aromas and something orange-like. The taste has some tannin and a lot of acidity balanced by extract. Young and very promising, probably better than the 2005.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby. Lots of VA and thyme, thin and devoid of texture. Hugely disappointing after tasting this wine and having a completely different experience (i.e., plummy fruit, seductive, sappy feel) at the domain in November. I am right on the cusp of ticking this off as flawed. Ah, the wonders of shipping.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Third wine for 2018 XMAS dinner, served with red wine & coffee braised short ribs. Very earthy, lots of tobacco leaf, tomato leaf, and spicy cameroon leaf cigar wrapper plus additional hints of barnyard, worchestire, tomato paste, and rich red fruits. Very tight and concentrated, also more Tondonia like than I recall with previous vintages of Bosconia Riserva. Didn't have the time to do a formal evaluation which is an injustice to this wine, but I did return to the merchant and purchase his last remaining bottle in inventory. This starts out at an A- (92) overall for me, and will give my next bottle a bit of a decant before really diving in.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a deceptively reticent wine, even at twelve years of age. It has been built in a thoroughly classical way, more so than the 2005, and to my mind it has the fruit, energy and balance for a career of three decades or more. The old-fashioned upbringing reveals itself in the leathery, slightly balsamic notes on the spicy nose, but the palate is bursting with mineral energy and there is a wonderful sense of freshness and youthfully ripe fruit, even if the tannic grip is quite imposing; the finish has line and length, with only a hint of American oak. If I am not mistaken, this is an amazing Bosconia, but it is not easy to read. It is relatively structural at present and the assessment must tend towards the analytical, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this will still keep me company when I am an octogenarian in 30 years’ time. The balance is immaculate. Needs food, great with Ainsley Harriot’s chicken chorizo tonight.
Some Sunday wines (Chicago, IL): Plenty of the green tones on the nose, with those expected dilly notes. The palate shows a little herbal, and some light but very pleasant red fruits. Grainy and young, this needs more time to settle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP at a wine tasting. It could have benefited from a decant but was still a spectacular wine, and oh so young. Nice bricking around the edges, dusty fruit on the nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Couple of Days in Rioja; 11/12/2018-11/13/2018 (Haro and Logroño, Spain): Light ruby. Red fruits and light balsam wood. Light weight, but seductive, sappy, spicy and supple (a lot of descriptors that begin with "s", I realize) with a base of sand or clay underpinning its delicious fruit and fine acidity. Very Burgundian in style. Shockingly good now, but this is one of those sinuous, stealthy Bosconias that will go on for many years. I thought of a young 1981 Gran Reserva as I tasted it, and wouldn't it be great if this turned out as well that wine! For me, the best wine we tasted during our visit to Rioja followed closely by a young Castillo Ygay which was bigger but perhaps less refined.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
80% tempranillo, 15% garnacho, 3% graciano, 2% mazuelo. Allowed to breathe in glass 30 minutes. Clear deep dark garnet-ruby red color. Lovely bouquet of bright red cherries, pomegranate, grilled herbs, leather, tobacco, stony red soil. Similar on the palate, full body, beautiful balance, seamless. Improved with air, seems to have plenty of life ahead of it. Classic traditional style, ideal with filet of beef.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
On the young side, sappy red fruits mingle with a smokey wet earth note that permerates throughout. Classic and elegant, there is a darker, dense quality compared to the Tondonia. Still a bit tight and ungenerous, however, and needs a long decant.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/8/2024 - CWRF Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not as distinct on nose as the 2007 it was tasted alongside; blackcurrant, red fruit, leather, sous-bois all here. Long finish, fine tannins, fruit still here on palate. Drinking very well but plenty more development possible; Bosconias take so long to reach full maturity. Outshone by 2007 but pipped 2009 in this tasting. (@Tufa, Rioja I 2024)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2023 - pilot360 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Initially concentrated soy sauce , Unami and plum , a little burley. 2
Hours later on the last glass, pure black Cherry, minerality, focus and elegance .
Both stages were enjoyable, but really opened up to show its best after a few hours.
The way this wine transformed over 4 hours speaks to its ability to evolve over the years. Tomorrow the Tondonia!!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2023 - drwine2001 wrote:
Opened 6 hours in advance. Garnet center with tawny edge. Sharp fennel and licorice aromas. Medium weight, more dense than the Riojanas wine tasted next to it. Deep, serious black fruit and anise with outstanding acidity and a deep mineral base. It develops subtle sweetness and a bit of spice as it unfolds but still has substantial tannin to resolve. This wine has taken me on a rollercoaster ride over the years, but this was very impressive and shows that further patience will be rewarded. Less taut and more obvious flesh than Tondonia generally shows.
The next evening, more rich black cherry fruit became apparent.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2023 - SirFred Likes this wine: 93 Points
Red cherry, damp cedar, sweet flowers, pine, and campfire ash on the nose. Full and savory with excellent thrust and clarity. Tart cherry, tobacco and leather lifted by juicy acidity with a firm lingering finish. Has softened since I first tasted this wine five years ago. This was quite rustic on release, but has become relatively suave. In early maturity with many years left. An excellent vintage for this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2023 - Joelene wrote: 92 Points
Great acidity, but a bit green, needs more time
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2023 - Joelene wrote: 92 Points
Mouthwatering acidity, delicious juiciness, sour cherry and plum. Almost Barolo like, with that non ripe fruit and acid. Old world style, still a bit green and young but drinking nicely with lots of upside.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2023 - dougogden wrote: 95 Points
Spectacular —in its sweet spot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2022 - Bellissimo wrote:
Quick hit note: dark cherry, balsamic, resin, nicely aged and integrated. 2 of 4 down. Will consume remainder over the next 3-5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2022 - Lemmy-W Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely as always
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2022 - drwine2001 wrote:
Ruby. Quite pine resiny nose to start. Light and mineral at first, but this gained some flesh. Tart black fruit and herbs. Seemingly at an in between stage right now where the elements aren't very well melded.
More mellow and textural with sweeter red fruit the next evening, but the finish is still earthy and a bit astringent. This does make me believe that it still needs time and is on the upward slope.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2022 - Maphill01 wrote:
Bright red fruit, cherry, red currant, juicy acidity. But also earthy notes, leather, balsamic and dill. Comes across a bit rustic, in a good way. So much flavor packed in. Good now and for another twenty years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2022 - forceberry wrote: 94 Points
A blend of Tempranillo (80%), Garnacha (15%), Mazuelo and Graciano, the grapes sourced from the El Bosque vineyard. Fermented spontaneously in old and very large oak fermenters, aged for 5 years in barrels and then for a further 3 years in bottles before release. 13,5% alcohol. Total production 80,000 bottles. Tasted in a Bosconia 2011-2002 vertical.
Dark, somewhat translucent and beautifully luminous black cherry color - still surprisingly youthful for its age. The nose feels expressive, complex and slightly sweetish with layered, slightly evolved aromas of wizened red cherries and cherry pits, some plum liqueuer, a little bit of saddle leather and horse stable funk, light developed notes of hoi sin, a hint of dried dark fruits and a touch of sweet strawberry. The wine feels dry, firm and slightly evolved on the palate with a medium body and intense flavors of wizened lingonberries, some meaty notes of umami and ferrous nuances of blood, a little bit of leathery funk, light woody oak tones, a hint of ripe cranberry and a touch of plum liqueur without any liqueurish sweetness. The combination of impressive, noticeably acidity and firm, somewhat grippy medium tannins make the wine feel very focused and sinewy with great sense of structure. The finish is long, somewhat grippy and slightly evolved with a dry, complex aftertaste of lingonberry jam and wizened cranberries, some sour cherry bitterness, a little bit of leathery funk, light woody notes of savory oak spice, a hint of earth and a salty touch of beef jerky.
Heredia's Viña Tondonia is often described as the "Bordeaux" to the "Burgundy" of Viña Bosconia - and this vintage of Bosconia is probably the best example of how Burgundian this label can be. This is as classically styled old-school Rioja as any Heredia, but coming across as lighter and more delicate than the other red wines, emphasizing finesse and precision over power or fruit. Yet, among all the other Bosconia vintages it becomes very clear that this is at the same time showing stunning intensity and exceptional sense of structure. Even if the wine is starting to show some evolved complexity, the overall feel here was still very youthful compared to the surrounding vintages. This is really a top-notch vintage of Bosconia that might be my favorite of the vintages this side of the millennium. For a Burgundy lover, this is a wine that is hard not to love and it is outstanding already now, but also shows great potential for future development. Expect the score to slowly go up over the next decade or two. Exceptional value at 26,90€. Very highly recommended.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2022 - Wine Canuck wrote: 92 Points
This pours medium ruby with light bricking at the rim. The nose is fairly low intensity but high complexity showing ripe strawberry, lightly stewed dark cherry, sweet and sour pork, sage flowers, animal fur, light roast coffee bean, petrichor, and a touch of vanilla. The palate is puckering and structured entering on the deep fruit, quickly turning to medium tannin, and medium plus, almost high acid. Quick a puckering and structured feel in the mouth, demanding food. All in all this is showing well, but may be caught in an awkward adolescent stage between youth and maturity, where the structure is prominent and the fruit subdued. I'll hold the rest for at least 5 more years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/23/2022 - aagrawal wrote: 90 Points
Similar to last note: Medium ruby, clean, aromatic, slight, soy and tamari; balanced alcohol 13.5%, medium-plus acidity, somewhat plummy, dark cherry; medium finish. Last time this improved over a day and I suspect this will as well. 90
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2022 - Eric wrote:
ESTG does Rioja (West Seattle, WA, USA): Feminine, caramel, so utterly different from the Tondonia.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2022 - Morten VB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Red Currant, leather and pine tobacco.
Very finely integrated tannins and a good fruit acidity level.
Drinks really well now as it still have a fruit expression and is not all tertiary.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2022 - Jason Wu Likes this wine: 93 Points
App: pale ruby with garnet rim
Nose: medium plus intensity; aromas of very perfumed fresh rose water that reminds me of Pinot Noir from Mornington Pernisula, green olive, toast, sour cherry, dry orange peel, cloves, old furniture wood. It's developing.
Palate: dry, high acidity, medium plus tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, medium plus flavour intensity, apricot, iron/bloody notes, meaty and plum. Medium plus finish.
Overall, very good wine. Can drink now, has potential to further cellar. Never disappointing! 'Haunting' perfumed rose notes with depth. Impressive!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/19/2022 - aagrawal wrote: 91 Points
Coravin. Medium ruby, clean, aromatic, slight, soy and tamari; balanced alcohol 13.5%, medium-plus acidity, somewhat plummy, dark cherry; medium finish. Lovely everyday drinker and priced well for that. 90
Day 2: really lovely, balanced tamari on the palate, superb acidity gives it great freshness throughout and makes it great for pairing with food. 91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2022 - Madera16 wrote:
Side by side note with the ‘06 Tondonia. This one is, by contrast, a bit lower in acid and overall a bit more mellow and rounded. But they are not that different, at least for now and in this vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2022 - DK Amateur Likes this wine:
The cork showed small signs of leakage, and it was as if it wasn't quite clear on the first day.
On the second day, from recorked half-bottle, it was, however, absolutely stunning, perhaps the finest Bosconia I have ever had, including the 1995 gran reserva. Succulent dark cherry fruit with all sorts of red earth and leather aromas, just so immensely good and complex and balanced. Zalto universal glasses on both occasions.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2022 - Hterho Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classy old-school Rioja with a Burgundian twist. Medium-full bodied but still as elegant and subtle as it gets. Round smooth tannins plus nice acidity. Cherries and red berries with leather, vanilla, soft spices as well as some oaky notes. Despite the 16 years of age the wine is still very lively and vibrant - would still have a long drinking window ahead. Highly recommended, wonderful wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2022 - Martin_G wrote: 90 Points
That couldve rested another 5 easy. Maybe better wood integration if held some years. Drink or hold.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2022 - Jason Wu Likes this wine: 93 Points
Appearance: medium ruby.
Nose: medium plus intensity; aromas of mint, perfumed fresh red roses, red cherry, very pure, leather, game, a little rustic. It’s developing.
Palate: dry, high acidity, medium silky tannins, medium alcohol, medium plus flavour intensity, medium plus finish.
Overall, very good wine. Can drink now, has potential for further ageing.
Perfectly balanced with fresh red fruits and vibrant acidity. Succulent and mouthwatering! Doesn’t feel it’s 15+ yrs already. Well made and stay true to the house style. If it has more complexity, I would rate it higher, but can’t complain really at this price point. Delicious!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2022 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
My final bottle and without a doubt the best of the three. A blend of 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, with 3% Mazuelo and 2% Graciano, spontaneous fermentation, aged for 5 years in barrel and for a further 7 years in bottle before release in 2018, 13,5% ABV. Just about everything you hope for from a classically made, top-notch Rioja in early maturity (at 15+ years of age, mind you!). In its structural make-up it reminds me of left-bank claret of about the same age (of the same vintage actually), and the same applies to the gravelly elegance it displays, but the fruit is plummier, the acidity and energy are (even) higher and the spicy-sweet American oak adds a character all of its own. The fruit is ripe but fresh and the note of saddle leather adds an almost balsamic warmth, the tannins have a very fine texture and provide vibrant grip. Resonance and length are excellent. It did need three years after the initial release to really show itself, but Viña Bosconia on top form must be the greatest value on the market world-wide for lovers of classically styled reds. I paid € 23.50 for this! Long life.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2022 - tunaguy Likes this wine:
Another great bottle. Very similar to the previous bottle. Aging at a glacial pace
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2021 - Jason Wu Likes this wine: 93 Points
Typical sweet oak flavour, rounded tannins, very enjoyable now!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2021 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Dom Pérignon / Vosne-Romanée Tasting-cum-Lunch (Restaurant Slagerij De Beurs, Amsterdam, NL): Stylistically this is a halfway house between the 2007 and 2008 also tasted today, with the leather and spices of the latter vintage and the crispness and tart fruit (cranberries) of the latter, has opened up considerably since I last tasted it in 2018, excellent freshness and minerality on the palate, subtle oak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2021 - bobbylion Likes this wine: 93 Points
MUCH better than last bottle. Absolutely ready and for this price a fantastic value. Great depth, all well integrated.
Note to myself to buy these by a case in excellent years.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2021 - andtheodor wrote: 90 Points
drink in 5 years
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2021 - fanglangzhe Likes this wine: 90 Points
sunburnt/dried red fruits, balanced oak, slight vanilla, a hint of black olives & sun dried tomatoes. nice acidity, very long finish. oak has mellowed out since last tasting. red fruit taste becomes darker fruits after 2 hours aeration.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2021 - bettyandrodger Likes this wine: 76 Points
I liked it, but it is dry. Very concentrated. Not a lot of fruit, more earth & spice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2021 - Deux Chevaux Likes this wine:
19 months after the prior, and our third. The note immediately below describes it perfectly. To that we will add: Dark ruby — all the way to the edge. Again, and like the previous, this was rather rich, with suggestions of sweet wood spices. Deep and substantial. Beautifully balanced, with lovely acidity. Highly enjoyable over three nights. We will hold our last for as many years as we can resist.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2021 - ploher wrote:
Sour cherries, tomatoes, some earthy notes, quite some oak still with aromas of coconut powder and dill especially after opening. Very sensual attack on the palate, gorgeous texture, like silk, absolutely weightless quality; the tannins, while very fine, somehow poke out a bit on the finish, which has some quite pronounced iron / blood notes lingering. The fruit is still a bit in the background. A gorgeous wine in the making. Unfortunately I have only one more bottle of this vintage left, which I'll bury in the deepest corner of my cellar. 17.5+/20
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2021 - CADomer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Enjoyed this delicious wine with some homemade cassoulet, which made for a wonderful pairing.
Balance and class are what I expect with these wines and was not disappointed. Black cherries and plums with notes of baking spice and tobacco.
It is always a pleasure to enjoy these wines and watch them evolve throughout an evening. Very happy to have more.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2021 - PatrickO33 wrote: 87 Points
Cassis, leather and coffee on the nose. Palate already quite mature, strong acidity with lots of red berries. Also with slight savory overtones, sun-dried tomatoes, black olives.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2021 - drwine2001 wrote:
Opened at the last minute to replace a corked 2004 Bosconia. Ruby core with lighter outer 50%. Aggressive dill gave way to a gentler herbaceousness. Medium weight, wonderfully silky feel. A combination of ripe blackberry, some pungency, spice, and a fine thread of soil with soft residual tannins. Already harmonious and well integrated. Excellent and at the cusp of maturity. A relief following the off bottle from the older vintage, but also quite reassuring after a mediocre bottle of this tasted shortly after it had landed.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2021 - WineKnurd Likes this wine: 94 Points
Immediate aromatics upon opening the bottle, but poured a glass and a portion into a 6 oz decanter while prepping steak fajitas. Will say it doesn't absolutely need a decant but doing so does allow the lovely aromatics to permeate.
In no particular order: deep primary fruits- red currants, tomatoes, red and black cherries, and pomegranate plus earthy tomato paste, tobacco, leather, toasted wood, and black pepper plus the expected healthy dose of vanilla and baking spice from the signature Rioja american oak. I say no particular order as this shows tremendous development and integrates differently each glass- red currants with hints of vanilla and spice, sweet cherry pipe tobacco, pomegranate and toasty black cherry, tomato paste and black pepper, and every other iteration of that.
The palate is a little more set with sweet and sour cherry tobacco upfront and a tomato paste umami finish on the back palate before the chewy oak tannins kick in with a black cherry skin fade. The oak is well integrated throughout the wine and its presence cannot be understated; contributing to the aroma/flavor profile, the rustic texture on the palate, and after-notes coming through the retro-nasal route. Well done. Oak + tannin > the acidity and will probably remain that way due to the oak, but the acidity does make its presence known through the sour fruit notes as well as the post tannin fade.
Extremely well crafted wine and I got these for about $30 (Wine Merchant Cary); plugging this into the 'Knurd-o-Matic and I get an A (94) evaluation (with a note saying I should have picked up more...).
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2021 - winepog wrote: 92 Points
Like a delicious cherry sauce you would pour on fancily roasted tender meats. Really wonderful stuff.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2020 - boston Likes this wine: 90 Points
Apre su note di tabacco dolce e vaniglia che velocemente lasciano spazio a un bel balsamico-mentolato, alle radici e spezie dolci. Il sorso è marcato da una freschezza agrumata notevole, ritornano spezie e radici, i tannini sono gentili...bella bottiglia.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2020 - fanglangzhe Likes this wine: 88 Points
red & dark fruits, a noticeable amount of vanilla oak (but still within balance), a hint of green twigs & damp leaves. nice acidity. very little change after 2 hours of aeration. this vintage seems to have more vanilla oak than previous vintages tasted.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2020 - angryphoton wrote: 89 Points
A bit burly, acidity is a tad high as well. I would wait another 3-4 years but it seems that the 2007 of this was a tad better. Still a good quaff but is best with food.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2020 - tunaguy Likes this wine: 92 Points
just a baby but drinking very well. red fruits, aged balsamic, pine needles, spice shop, cellar mold. glad i went deep on this one. an hour in the decanter was needed
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2020 - Julie Lampe Likes this wine:
Raspberry, plum, soft vanilla, and some metallic/stony minerality on the nose. Dark fruits, raspberry, dark plum, cherry, leather, tobacco, black pepper, earthy. Moderate tannins.
Really tasty wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2020 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
25 months after the prior: I like Forceberry’s note below, and much of it coincides with our recent experience. But in one respect, it does not quite. We’ve had a few of these wines — and many of its siblings. Unlike some folks, we’ve never noticed any pronounced hit of vanalin /American oak. And we know from reading — and from visiting the winery, including its lovely barrel room — that the house-made barrels are extensively seasoned and, in effect, neutralized.
Yet despite all of this, we perceived some (not unpleasant) sweet American oak (think I recall it’s Tennessee!?) in this fellow. I suppose that could also be called “savory old wood spice.” Indeed, we were drinking it next to a previously opened and quite oaky LRA 904 (2010) — and I had expected to find, by contrast, little if any oak-like influences in this Bosconia. In any event, and whatever accounts for this impression, the wine was beautifully harmonious and extremely enjoyable over three nights.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2020 - forceberry wrote: 94 Points
A blend of Tempranillo (80%), Garnacha (15%), Mazuelo and Graciano, the grapes sourced from the El Bosque vineyard. Fermented spontaneously in old and very large oak fermenters, aged for 5 years in barrels and then for a further 3 years in bottles before release. 13,5% alcohol. Tasted half-blind.
Quite dark, somewhat translucent and relatively youthful deep ruby red color with a pale garnet rim. Fragrant, sweet-toned and somewhat perfumed nose with aromas of wild strawberries, some raspberries, light wild floral tones, a little bit of exotic spice, sweet developed hints of wizened red fruits and marmalade and a floral touch of violets. The wine is dry, firm and relatively acid-driven on the palate with a medium body and precise, elegant flavors of tart lingonberries and cranberries, some savory old wood spice, a little bit of marmaladey raspberry, light ferrous notes of blood, a hint of ripe black cherry and a touch of farmhouse funk. The wine has a lovely, silky texture yet it sports wonderfully precise structure with its noticeably high acidity and somewhat grippy medium-plus tannins. The finish is firm, moderately grippy and very long with complex, dry flavors of sour cherries, some leathery funk, a little bit of crunchy cranberries, light notes of savory wood spice, a hint of sweet-and-sour lingonberry jam and a touch of earth. The bright acidity makes the wine end on a quite mouthwatering note.
A wine that came across as noticeably different from the other red wines in our Spanish Tempranillo half-blind tasting. If such an analogy makes sense, all the other wines felt more "Cabernet" in style - the classicist coming across as Bordeaux, the modernist more like Napa Cabs - while this wine was the only one that was distinctively "Burgundian" in style - lighter in weight, more delicate in taste, wonderfully perfumed in the nose and sporting beautiful, Pinot Noir-like acidity. Many said this wine was underwhelming and most likely not going to age that well in the cellar, but I guess they were just expecting a more robust style of wine; for me, this was a classic, well-made Bosconia showing outstanding freshness, precision and sense of sophistication. Still a mere baby at the age of 14 years, I expect this wine to age gracefully for another two decades or so. Excellent value at 22,25€.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
8/25/2020 - the dregs Likes this wine: 91 Points
Left the bottle open for an hour, then poured glasses with dinner. Was improved from last encounter... or the drinker was in a different place. In any case, it had a very elegant, enveloping nose; I might have been satisfied with that only. I did drink, though! On the palate, the wine was well balanced, cherry infused, and altogether enjoyable.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2020 - TMOVino2 wrote: flawed
Bottle was corked.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2020 - Nyrican wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful Rioja very complex flavor berries in the front followed by cedar leather and a nice finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2020 - timothynbond Likes this wine: 94 Points
Garnet colored with medium intensity. Gave off intense aromas of dark cherries, liquorice, smoked meats, cherry liqueur, blueberry pie, and a hint of vanilla. Medium bodied with a fair bit of acidity and well-integrated tannins. Layers of flavors on the palate especially juicy cherries, raspberries, and blueberries. Incredible value at this price point.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2020 - Heynetty wrote:
tasted blind
A:Medium garnet
N: Medium (+) nose of dried cherry, dried raspberry, pomegranate, DILL, VANILLA, sweet tobacco, fig, toast smoke. Fully developed.
P: Dry, high acidity, medium (+) chalky tannin, medium (+) body, medium alcohol, pronounced intensity and long finish
C: Not suitable for ageing, This is not going to improve if you keep it though it will last several more years with that wonderful structure.
Balance is wonderful between the ripe and dried fruit and the acidity, The aromas are all secondary and tertiary and lovely, I thing the intensity and finish are exemplary here and the complexity gets a half mark. It doesnt quite reach my 5 descriptive cluster test but gets very close.
Still, this is an outstanding quality wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2020 - prof b wrote:
Decanted for two hours and consumed over the next three. This bottle had a really interesting nose of red fruits and flowers while the palate offered the same red fruits with solid balancing acid. Really nice now, but a long life is likely for this wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2020 - chablis28 wrote: 92 Points
I'm a Lopez Bosconia guy, period. Its rare I don't love a vintage and this is no exception. Bravo! The winery has an almost Champagne house NV consistency of style for it's Bosconia Reserva that is both reliable and always characterfully real. I love it and especially admire how fantastic this is hovering around a mid $30 price point year after year. One of the smartest buys around for my palate. PnP in Riedel Burg glasses and slow ox 90 minutes prior to dinner. Pretty ready to go for my palate. Color is deep ruby red. Nose shows garrigue, earth and berries. The palate delivers some; raspberry, plum and earthy minerality along with underlying underbrush. An energetic sense of balanced, layered fruit and a pleasant richness. 13.5% alc.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (6)
5/3/2020 - Slaz wrote: 89 Points
A fairly simple Rioja, even if with some good age. Few notches below Gran Reserva Riojas from LRA or Muga, but then the price is also materially lower here. Tasted throughout 3+ hours of decanting. Classical dill notes with some earthiness and plenty of acidity. The finish is short, however, with very limited complexity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2020 - winchester-xi Likes this wine:
Very little experience with Rioja, so take this for what it’s worth. A multitude of different kinds of earthiness. Lots of clean dirt flavors, I want to say. The dark pit fruits aren’t particularly fresh, but have a bit of sweetness that merges with the sweetness of oak in a pleasing way. The wine exhibits surprising juiciness, which gives it good grip. Medium long finish. Nice.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2020 - David J Cooper wrote: 93 Points
Medium red with some brown. Great LdH nose, antique store, thyme, plums and black cherry. Dry slightly unripe herbal red fruit flavours and a very dry acid driven finish.
All the Bosconia character in a lean dry packaging. Once you have been to the cellar, you can always recognize the aromas in the nose of every LdH wine.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2020 - JanLu Likes this wine: 88 Points
Wonderful typical Rioja with lovely pepper, tobacco and leather notes. High acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2020 - MidLifeVices wrote:
Vanilla, Christmas spice, dried figs and raspberry. Dry, acidic, low tannins.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2020 - z_willus_d wrote: 91 Points
This note is for a day-3, half-empty bottle. My perception on the nose is of heavy whipping cream and fresh raspberries served on a rough-hewn, woody country table. These notes translate to the entry but are soon submerged beneath mouth-puckering, sour cherry squeeze and pickle juice before a heavy dusting in more splintering wood-chips. There's a serious purity of fruit here, and what sweetness avails on the medium-weight palate transition is of the purest, truest form. Three days of slow-oxidation has done nothing to deteriorate the freshness and vivacious character of this wine. The acidity is bracing; its balance squarely plumbed. Iron minerals frame the excellent wine.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2020 - fanglangzhe Likes this wine: 89 Points
red berries, dark berries, distinct vanilla oak but still in balance (although more than I recall of past vintages). nice acidity. still quite primary and seems like it should improve in another 2-3 years. 89-90.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2020 - Louvin wrote:
short decant and still needed more as there is a distracting note at first, rather medicinal but blows off after a bit, leaving a routine splash of oak that really never goes away but becomes just a normal trait for this producer/wine. Once the oak is acknowledged this wine become enjoyable, never more. I feel time, much, will help this as it's not meant to be a robust wine but an elegant one, just not yet.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2020 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pop and pour. Black cherry and dark, wet earth on the palate. This wine is always a great value on release and I prefer it to the more balanced Tondonia.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2020 - niloc36 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A beautiful nose of dark fruit, cinnamon, and other spices. Remarkably dark for a 15 old wine from this producer. Still somewhat tight and structured in the mouth, with tannins very much in evidence. After the first (pleasant) shock the wine becomes smoother and releases some fascinating fruit-like and tertiary aromas. The much used, but still,useful, iron fist in a silk glove metaphor comes to mind. Very long and satisfying finish. Absolutely superb and very much one for the cellar.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2020 - Mtpisgah wrote: flawed
Flawed. Cork appeared to be in good condition but the wine was vinegar. Purchased at the same time with two other bottles that were good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2020 - NiklasW Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted for an hour. It's been a while since I had a Rioja, and also a while since I had an oak laden wine! Vanillary red cherries on the nose, and also quite oaky on the palate, with good tannins and good red fruit. The wine lives up to expectations, and is in a nice spot now. Could survive for some more years in the cellar, might even get a tad better.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2020 - Heynetty wrote:
A: Medium garnet
N: Medium intensity nose. red cherry, raspberry, orange peel, violet (after prompting), light clove, earth, leather, mushroom. The fruit is both fresh/tart and dried.
P: Dry, medium intensity, medium (+) body, medium alcohol (13.5%), medium (+) acid and long finish. Tannin is medium (+) and ripe in nature
C: There is an imbalance between the fruit concentration and the acid, The acid is good but the intensity is lacking compared to finer examples. The length and is good and there is some complexity here. The wine is of very good quality.
This wine is not suitable for ageing. Though there is still primary fruit for conversion into great complexity, the fruit concentration is lacking/ fading making the wine unlikely to improve significantly in the long term.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2020 - the dregs wrote: 89 Points
a well made table wine. full bodied. muted nose at first, then cherries, plums... weatherbeaten wood? the palate, well... stone fruits left out in the afternoon sun. good for any given tuesday, especially when you remember what you paid for it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2020 - bobbylion Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice table wine - score is for QPR. It may just get much much better with another 5 years, but I doubt I will hold that long. Very pretty succulent nose of red fruit and some mushrooms/moss. Acidity is medium and can go to further integration.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2019 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 90 Points
Cherries, red currants on the nose, with spicy tobacco, menthol, leather, mush. Nice tannic grip, medium+ acid, tangy cherries, smoky currants, plums. Dark and smoky with tobacco, scorched earth, savory broth and mushroom. Old wood, library dust elements. It opens up and gets a lot better with air (and on Day 2). But I feel like the tannins may outlast the fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2019 - Skrutt (Formerly RotHead) wrote: 87 Points
Pure fruit that gets pretty opulent with some air. Low acidity, short, watery finish. I don’t really get it. 86-87.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
11/30/2019 - 83Vintage wrote: 91 Points
Apparent dill, aged wood, spice, cedar, rustic, mature fruits, earth, this is really fantastic for the price.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2019 - Meg A wrote: 80 Points
2006年ビンテージ。40ドルくらい。黒っぽい赤。アロマはフルーティ、ベリーやレモン。口に含むとカベルネに近い味わい、タバコ、ミネラルも感じる。後に残るタンニンがしっかりしている。クリーミーなチーズと相性良し。
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2019 - Paul S wrote: 91 Points
Lunch + playdate at M+M (M+M. Robin Road): A touch advanced and modern I thought, but this was very drinkable young, with gobs of ripe dark cherry fruit seasoned wth bits of earth and spice. Tannins and acidity were both present, but felt rather soft at its age. Altogether a very yummy, attractive wine, but lacking a touch of complexity and character.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2019 - WetRock wrote:
I liked this a good deal better than the Tondonia from the same vintage. This has a very classic build showing driving acids behind lots of matured in wood notes. There is some oxidation mixed in with leather and spice cabinet. Unfolding complexity. Different hints at different times. The finish is a good deal tart and the fruit not super fresh. I'd have to disagree that this needs more time. The fruit density really isn't here for that and it's already drinking fairly maturely. I just don't think this the vintage to be aging. This is one to drink while the better vintages age.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
10/23/2019 - Michael T. Zoppo Likes this wine:
This showed really young, and looked really young: it was pretty dark for a LdH. Dark red cherry, florals, savory herbs, and earth all make a showing in this beauty. A great value with a long life ahead.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2019 - Omar Khayyam Likes this wine: 92 Points
Absolutely classic style and very fresh and food friendly; but there's also all sorts of berries and a lovely aromatic that does not feel like wet drift wood but more like saddle bags and a thistle perhaps. I really liked this. Best after 12 hours of air. Suggest to hold or drink now with food. great price for this wine!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2019 - aagrawal wrote: 90 Points
Coravin. Medium ruby, clear; nose is reticent right now with some red fruit, cherry, very slight oxidation; palate is medium bodied, medium-plus acidity, some primary red fruit, some savory soy and tamari; medium length finish. Seems a bit closed right now. I'll give my other two bottles 5 years before retrying. 88
2 hours decanted: Nose is a bit more opened up with savory cherry, slight oxidation which comes across as soy; palate is similar; finish is medium length. Well balanced, elegant, certainly not too oaky, and good balance of fruit and maturity. I think this will age a lot longer, and I'm curious what this will become, but this was nice tonight. Reminds me of Musar, but without that next level of complexity. 90
Remainder of bottle: similar to my last taste after some air. Lovely balance, notable acidity, red fruit, some tamari and soy, American oak isn’t really noticeable. Really good value, but still good and not great.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2019 - salil wrote: 92 Points
Still very youthful, but fantastic to drink right now with lots of bright red and dark fruit, higher toned herbal and floral notes on the nose, nicely integrated oak and earthiness on the back end, and great overall balance. I don't own enough of this.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2019 - redz wrote: 90 Points
NIce Rioja, didn't knock socks off
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2019 - Edeon Likes this wine: 91 Points
Love the oaky nose but a bit tart and acidic on the palette.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2019 - grafstrb wrote: 92 Points
-- decanted approximately one hour before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over four hours --
NOSE: cherry Twizzlers; a touch oxidized; oaky; hint of gasoline/automotive grease; strong baked cherry; seemed to improve over the first couple of hours, before settling into its spot.
BODY: light to medium-light bodied; ruby color of medium-shallow depth with bricking throughout.
TASTE: high acidity; baked cherry; a bit oaky (not as much as on Nose, and to be expected from Rioja); nice today, but I'd like to see ten more years on it; little tiny TCA-like taste, but neither Ashley or I believe it to be corked; improved with air over 2+ hours; not tannic; alcohol not noticeable.
50, 5, 12, 17, 8 = 92+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2019 - CHINACAT wrote: 90 Points
Ripe dark fruit, with some earthy flavors, but still a bit oaky and tannic. Needs some more time. The 2006 Tondonia is more approachable and enjoyable right now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/19/2019 - Litt12 Likes this wine: 92 Points
What’s not to love? Silky tannin delicious red cherries, that ever present iron, hints of molasses, delicious acidity and freshness. Drinks so good after 3 hrs of air. The beautiful of these wines are how well they can drink AND age.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2019 - ProfByron Likes this wine: 91 Points
Surprisingly deep colour for 13 year old wine. Indeed it does not taste that old, which is a pity but also impressive. It's very good Rioja, and a wonderful alternative to buying Reservas that are 5-7 years old.
Quite a different style than Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia's main reserva. More modern, cleaner, lower acidity. Different, perhaps overall better?
{13.5%, cork}
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2019 - pjbeans Likes this wine: 90 Points
Slight bricking color. Earth on the nose, tart cherry and orange peel on palate. Light style (reminds me of a pinot). Drinking well now
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2019 - Bellissimo wrote:
PnP, served with family. No detailed notes. Nice earthy cherry, balsamic, tea. Surprising acids front, medium acids on finish. Still a little oak poking through but very solid.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2019 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
Rustic wine with iron, underbrush, neutral oak, floral and spice. Picks up some fruit on the finish. This needs time. 90 points
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2019 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Pitched kernel aromas. Walnut skin, redder berry aromas. Dramatically more complex palate next to the 09 Cubillo. Medium tannin. More focused palate and I’d assume 06 was a cooler year next to the 09’er. Still has the red brick, hot cement note that dares a drink.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2019 - alamoave wrote: 88 Points
High acidity dominates at this stage, including on Day 2. Hold until 2021 at the earliest.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2019 - acyso wrote: flawed
Plum Market Spring Wine Extravaganza (Chicago, IL): Slightly corked.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2019 - vespasian wrote:
Nice nose, complex fruits and spice. A touch of classy vanilla and balsamic nuances; oak shows more markedly on the palate, in fact its the main characteristic. Good weight of fruit here, but the oak is troubling for my tastes. Tannic, a touch drying.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/5/2019 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cherries, red berries, pomegranate, and vanilla on the nose. Medium+ tannins, good acidity, and flavors of red cherries, herbs, and tart plum on the palate. Good finish. This needs more time, try again in 5 years...
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2019 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Rose petals and warm herbs drift atop a bed of dusty red fruit and worn leather. Sneaky tannins break through in the mid-palate, to remind me that thirteen is still so early for an LdH Rioja. Time and patience are allies.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2019 - misterstarre Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tight at first, but when it had enough air it came off like a reimagined bordeaux. There was earth and dark fruit, but there was a tart orange and cranberry lift and a waft of age. Not powerful or momentous, but distinct.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2019 - SimonG wrote: 91 Points
Lopez de Heredia (Lopez de Heredia, Haro, Rioja): 5 yrs in barrel. Plush, slightly plummy nose with a dusty, briary top-note. Good acidity. Finishes well. Young but promising. 80% Temp with Garnacha, Mazuela and Graciano. ****
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2019 - canan wrote: 91 Points
Lovely and fresh with sour cherries and some earthiness. Easy to drink but really a lovely wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2019 - ravikalaga Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bit of must at the start but then settles into the usual ripe fruit, big wine that this is. Can't really find fault but not spectacular. Maybe some bottle age will make it more balanced.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Wood and nuts on the nose, earthy and savory. Hard and tart on the palate. Stiff. On day three. Not showing the most pretty to my palate.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2019 - maxmanx wrote:
Very fresh. Would not have guessed that it was a 13 year old bottle of wine. Enjoyed it, but not enough for a re-buy.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2019 - StainedGlass Likes this wine: 92 Points
Clear, medium dark ruby color. Sour cherry, balsamic, balck tea leaf, spice box. Some earthiness. Mid weight with bright acidity and moderate tannins. Ticks all the right boxes for old school Rijoa. Tempranillio with 15% Garnacha and 5% Graciano and Mazuelo. Great value with years of life ahead of it.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2019 - rraaffaa wrote: 91 Points
Smooth, medium body, just the right amount of fruity, super well balanced. Very pleasant wine that's drinking well.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2019 - DK Amateur Likes this wine:
Drunk over two days out of Riedel vinum burgundy glasses, best on the second day. This seems to me to be less sweet and more structured than the 2005. It is quite deep-coloured and the nose has many dimensions, from wet dog to soot, with earthiness, black fruit, secondary aromas and something orange-like. The taste has some tannin and a lot of acidity balanced by extract. Young and very promising, probably better than the 2005.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2019 - drwine2001 wrote:
Ruby. Lots of VA and thyme, thin and devoid of texture. Hugely disappointing after tasting this wine and having a completely different experience (i.e., plummy fruit, seductive, sappy feel) at the domain in November. I am right on the cusp of ticking this off as flawed. Ah, the wonders of shipping.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2018 - jps3@columbia.edu Likes this wine: 88 Points
Needs 45 mins of air and food. Subtle fruit, balsamic undertones and tannins which are especially noticeable without food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2018 - WineKnurd Likes this wine: 92 Points
Third wine for 2018 XMAS dinner, served with red wine & coffee braised short ribs. Very earthy, lots of tobacco leaf, tomato leaf, and spicy cameroon leaf cigar wrapper plus additional hints of barnyard, worchestire, tomato paste, and rich red fruits. Very tight and concentrated, also more Tondonia like than I recall with previous vintages of Bosconia Riserva. Didn't have the time to do a formal evaluation which is an injustice to this wine, but I did return to the merchant and purchase his last remaining bottle in inventory. This starts out at an A- (92) overall for me, and will give my next bottle a bit of a decant before really diving in.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2018 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
This is a deceptively reticent wine, even at twelve years of age. It has been built in a thoroughly classical way, more so than the 2005, and to my mind it has the fruit, energy and balance for a career of three decades or more. The old-fashioned upbringing reveals itself in the leathery, slightly balsamic notes on the spicy nose, but the palate is bursting with mineral energy and there is a wonderful sense of freshness and youthfully ripe fruit, even if the tannic grip is quite imposing; the finish has line and length, with only a hint of American oak. If I am not mistaken, this is an amazing Bosconia, but it is not easy to read. It is relatively structural at present and the assessment must tend towards the analytical, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this will still keep me company when I am an octogenarian in 30 years’ time. The balance is immaculate. Needs food, great with Ainsley Harriot’s chicken chorizo tonight.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
12/2/2018 - acyso wrote: 88 Points
Some Sunday wines (Chicago, IL): Plenty of the green tones on the nose, with those expected dilly notes. The palate shows a little herbal, and some light but very pleasant red fruits. Grainy and young, this needs more time to settle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2018 - Mtpisgah Likes this wine:
PnP at a wine tasting. It could have benefited from a decant but was still a spectacular wine, and oh so young. Nice bricking around the edges, dusty fruit on the nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2018 - drwine2001 wrote:
A Couple of Days in Rioja; 11/12/2018-11/13/2018 (Haro and Logroño, Spain): Light ruby. Red fruits and light balsam wood. Light weight, but seductive, sappy, spicy and supple (a lot of descriptors that begin with "s", I realize) with a base of sand or clay underpinning its delicious fruit and fine acidity. Very Burgundian in style. Shockingly good now, but this is one of those sinuous, stealthy Bosconias that will go on for many years. I thought of a young 1981 Gran Reserva as I tasted it, and wouldn't it be great if this turned out as well that wine! For me, the best wine we tasted during our visit to Rioja followed closely by a young Castillo Ygay which was bigger but perhaps less refined.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2018 - Javachip Likes this wine: 92 Points
80% tempranillo, 15% garnacho, 3% graciano, 2% mazuelo. Allowed to breathe in glass 30 minutes. Clear deep dark garnet-ruby red color. Lovely bouquet of bright red cherries, pomegranate, grilled herbs, leather, tobacco, stony red soil. Similar on the palate, full body, beautiful balance, seamless. Improved with air, seems to have plenty of life ahead of it. Classic traditional style, ideal with filet of beef.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2018 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 90 Points
On the young side, sappy red fruits mingle with a smokey wet earth note that permerates throughout. Classic and elegant, there is a darker, dense quality compared to the Tondonia. Still a bit tight and ungenerous, however, and needs a long decant.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2018 - Paul D wrote: 91 Points
Trip to Rioja - Angie's 50th; 10/24/2018-10/26/2018 (Haro and surrounding area): Tasted at Bodega. Slightly reserved, dark, lightly smokey fruit, some tobacco nuances, flashes of red fruit on the palate tannins fine but grippy, fresh acidity, good length spicy finish. Excellent
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2018 - nzinkgraf wrote:
High pitched red cherry aromas.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2018 - SARED Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Tart cherry. High acidity. Nice tannin and finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/18/2018 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Cherry and walnut and wet earth - smells like a Tondonia. Acidic and grippy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2018 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Deep, earthy, a bit of barnyard. Dark cherry. Tannins are prominent, but not overly so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2018 - bjlcrucrazy Likes this wine: 89 Points
Lovely wine not quite as complex and flavourful as the 2004. Tasted at the winery, priced at 20 Euros
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment