This is a dark, burley, tannic Rioja. It opened up nicely over half the bottle. Will try the other half the following day and make an update if needed. Most likely, this wine will benefit from another year or two in the cellar.
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2+ hour decant - nose of red fruit, leather & spice. Similar palate with acidity standing out above the tannin. Well balanced, but still seems a bit wound up. I would hold this for a few more years if you have a few bottles.
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This was our idea of a perfect Rioja to pair with our Paella. It had good fruit, but also balanced with acid and medium-firm structure, all ready to drink. This also is good value for the quality.
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What a great QPR wine. Normally sold for $30 at a local store but I got it on sale for $23.
On day one, this wine was wound tight. I got notes of cherry, spice, oak, and a muted red fruit quality. The palate was fairly closed with high acidity and firm tannins. Somewhat disappointed on day one.
On day two it blossomed. Delicious red fruit on the nose with vanilla, coconut, cedar, and other spices backing it up. It was earthy and fruity and wonderful. The acidity has mellowed a bit and the tannins had rounded out. The finish was pretty long and the wine as a whole was cohesive on day two. I’d recommend another five years or so in bottle or a nice long decant if you’re going to drink it soon.
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Generally consistent with previous note, but wanted to add: this wine is terrifically food friendly, simultaneously bringing out the best in dinner (in this case, pasta with pink vodka sauce), while getting better itself. Assets similar to a good, traditionally styled Chianti Classico riserva, for 25% less money.
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Charming old world craft, solid if not extraordinary. Inky violet. Better after an hour of air. Good typicity on the nose, plum, spice, ozone, fresh cut grass. Palate of raw black fruit, some spice, young oak. Surprisingly long, lingering finish, a few rustic tannins, a little hot but I wouldn't have guessed 14.5%. I got this for $21 and that seems about right to me, very respectable, but doesn't have the complexity to really turn heads. Drink or hold.
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Great nose. Cocoa, olive. Rather low acidity, rich mouthfeel, a bit tight and plenty of tannins. Definitely very young. Not sure what its potential is, but I'd opt for cellaring it for a couple of years to see how it develops.
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Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
N: Closed; Vanilla atop RIPE cherries with undertones of earth
P: Med, poss LM, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it fairly seamlessly works its way into & through the very LONG, balanced finish with ULT a pleasant tangy/bitter/swt trialectic to the few, FIRMING, yet relatively unoffensive, dusty tannins. SHOULD work now with food, yet will likely improve for 12-18 mos, then at least approach its 10th. LOTS of substance in a potentially elegant style! 14.5% ABV; My EXC/EXC+ (92-95/100 using that metric), the higher down the line (particularly if QPR is taken into consideration). [This vendor's $23.99 is $4 < the lowest of wine-searcher's limited postings.]
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8/24/2022 - robmatic wrote: 90 Points
Lovely perfume, dark cherry, rose petal. Solid acidity, dry, sharp. Great value, and still many years ahead.
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1/29/2022 - chanote44 Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is a dark, burley, tannic Rioja. It opened up nicely over half the bottle. Will try the other half the following day and make an update if needed. Most likely, this wine will benefit from another year or two in the cellar.
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1/2/2022 - DeuceMcgee Likes this wine:
2+ hour decant - nose of red fruit, leather & spice. Similar palate with acidity standing out above the tannin. Well balanced, but still seems a bit wound up. I would hold this for a few more years if you have a few bottles.
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6/3/2021 - Alvarovazquez Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still young but enjoyable on day 2 or after 2 hour decanting
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3/17/2021 - Val D'Orcia Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was our idea of a perfect Rioja to pair with our Paella. It had good fruit, but also balanced with acid and medium-firm structure, all ready to drink. This also is good value for the quality.
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1/1/2021 - jpfranc1 Likes this wine: 89 Points
What a great QPR wine. Normally sold for $30 at a local store but I got it on sale for $23.
On day one, this wine was wound tight. I got notes of cherry, spice, oak, and a muted red fruit quality. The palate was fairly closed with high acidity and firm tannins. Somewhat disappointed on day one.
On day two it blossomed. Delicious red fruit on the nose with vanilla, coconut, cedar, and other spices backing it up. It was earthy and fruity and wonderful. The acidity has mellowed a bit and the tannins had rounded out. The finish was pretty long and the wine as a whole was cohesive on day two. I’d recommend another five years or so in bottle or a nice long decant if you’re going to drink it soon.
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12/27/2020 - finlero Likes this wine: 88 Points
Generally consistent with previous note, but wanted to add: this wine is terrifically food friendly, simultaneously bringing out the best in dinner (in this case, pasta with pink vodka sauce), while getting better itself. Assets similar to a good, traditionally styled Chianti Classico riserva, for 25% less money.
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12/22/2020 - finlero wrote: 88 Points
Charming old world craft, solid if not extraordinary. Inky violet. Better after an hour of air. Good typicity on the nose, plum, spice, ozone, fresh cut grass. Palate of raw black fruit, some spice, young oak. Surprisingly long, lingering finish, a few rustic tannins, a little hot but I wouldn't have guessed 14.5%. I got this for $21 and that seems about right to me, very respectable, but doesn't have the complexity to really turn heads. Drink or hold.
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12/21/2020 - robmatic wrote: 90 Points
Great nose. Cocoa, olive. Rather low acidity, rich mouthfeel, a bit tight and plenty of tannins. Definitely very young. Not sure what its potential is, but I'd opt for cellaring it for a couple of years to see how it develops.
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10/10/2020 - Val D'Orcia Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark garnet color, big nose, lots of black fruit and brambles, some leather. Smooth finish
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12/7/2019 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 91 Points
Several Tastings today! (Minneapolis, MN): This was very nice with wood, leather, spice, raspberries and floral notes. Complex wine and medium plus finish. Solid
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11/30/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Taste New Arrivals (San Diego Wine Co.): Bottle #10317
Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
N: Closed; Vanilla atop RIPE cherries with undertones of earth
P: Med, poss LM, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it fairly seamlessly works its way into & through the very LONG, balanced finish with ULT a pleasant tangy/bitter/swt trialectic to the few, FIRMING, yet relatively unoffensive, dusty tannins. SHOULD work now with food, yet will likely improve for 12-18 mos, then at least approach its 10th. LOTS of substance in a potentially elegant style! 14.5% ABV; My EXC/EXC+ (92-95/100 using that metric), the higher down the line (particularly if QPR is taken into consideration). [This vendor's $23.99 is $4 < the lowest of wine-searcher's limited postings.]
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