We first encountered Sierra Cantabria 20+ years ago, when it became our go-to red. Later, the wine seemed to drop out of sight. Now, we have rediscovered a bottle that is delightful. What we remember from years ago was a more classic tempranillo profile. But this wine was excellent, and I look forward to tasting its evolution over the coming years.
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Splash decant, back in bottle, followed during Thursday Night Football! A gift from a good friend.
Dusty nose of dark cherry, cigar box, and dill. Palate shows smooth tannic structure, gentle acidity, cherries and cigar box. Finish has something zippy and metallic but essentially reflects the palate. Nice wine and a good representation of Rioja!
Feels pretty fleshed out and drinking great now, no reason to wait.
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Shockingly full of spice for a Rioja. Vibrant, in-your-face style of spice. My wife would have loved this. Very good QPR if you're into this non-Rioja style.
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Incredibly thick, rich and unctuous for a Rioja; never had one like it. Very dark red. Nose filled with very rich blackberry fruit. You can just tell this one is going to be special. Huge wine on the palate--for any wine--not just a Rioja. Hard to believe what I am experiencing, but I like it. Tastes like no other Rioja I have ever had. This is a winner, with excellent fruit delineation and good power on the attack. Worth buying in quantity. 4-13-17-9: 93/100.
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Pound for pound a nice entry level wine with a light body, dark opaque color (consistent for the grape), and a light finish. Almost has the heft of a chianti masked in the body of a tempranillo. No one will mistake this for a high quality craftsman wine but it certainly outshines others in its price range.
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Glass 1: Aromas of blackberries, black cherry, chocolate, potpourri, and hints of dill on the nose. Medium to full bodied with soft, chalky tannins. Tastes of cherry and chocolate on the palate.
Glass 2: With a little oxygen exposure the potpourri and dill aromas went away and toasted spice notes (oak aging) were added to the black fruit and chocolate already on the nose. Tastes of cherries and tobacco on the palate with a few floral hints that would have been more expressive I feel if I had let it open up for 3-4 hours.
Polished and balanced with a great QPR
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This bottling has always boasted a somewhat atypical dark fruit profile; but not since the 2010 vintage have things come together in such a total package of richness, elegance, depth, and subtle exotic spiciness. The low tone distinguishes it from its exalted peers that also bridge the modern and traditional Rioja styles, such as Mugs Seleccion Especial, or Roda (and more recent vintages of Marquez de Murrieta Reserva). This is a knockout that drinks well now and has the stuffing to go quite a distance in the cellar.
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12/17/2023 - Madera16 Likes this wine:
Excellent. Just starting to resolve. Great tannin, very balanced structure. Will buy more, I’m curious to track this for a few years.
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8/12/2023 - FeliceGordon Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely, rich and just a great table wine
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5/4/2023 - LightDancer wrote:
We first encountered Sierra Cantabria 20+ years ago, when it became our go-to red. Later, the wine seemed to drop out of sight. Now, we have rediscovered a bottle that is delightful. What we remember from years ago was a more classic tempranillo profile. But this wine was excellent, and I look forward to tasting its evolution over the coming years.
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11/3/2022 - Rbhan12 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Splash decant, back in bottle, followed during Thursday Night Football! A gift from a good friend.
Dusty nose of dark cherry, cigar box, and dill. Palate shows smooth tannic structure, gentle acidity, cherries and cigar box. Finish has something zippy and metallic but essentially reflects the palate. Nice wine and a good representation of Rioja!
Feels pretty fleshed out and drinking great now, no reason to wait.
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10/22/2022 - vino vidi vici Likes this wine:
Big fan of this wine - yum.
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9/6/2022 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 92 Points
Shockingly full of spice for a Rioja. Vibrant, in-your-face style of spice. My wife would have loved this. Very good QPR if you're into this non-Rioja style.
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4/21/2022 - tvidano wrote: 92 Points
Strong cherry. Long finish. Aerate for 30.
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3/28/2022 - Hojun-na-Wine wrote:
Corked
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2/27/2022 - ftsai71@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was really nice. An easy drinking wine, very smooth, light tannins, cherry fruit, with some minerality.
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1/8/2022 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 93 Points
Incredibly thick, rich and unctuous for a Rioja; never had one like it. Very dark red. Nose filled with very rich blackberry fruit. You can just tell this one is going to be special. Huge wine on the palate--for any wine--not just a Rioja. Hard to believe what I am experiencing, but I like it. Tastes like no other Rioja I have ever had. This is a winner, with excellent fruit delineation and good power on the attack. Worth buying in quantity. 4-13-17-9: 93/100.
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10/18/2021 - nrjessup Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pound for pound a nice entry level wine with a light body, dark opaque color (consistent for the grape), and a light finish. Almost has the heft of a chianti masked in the body of a tempranillo. No one will mistake this for a high quality craftsman wine but it certainly outshines others in its price range.
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7/9/2021 - imissjerry wrote: 94 Points
amazing wine!
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4/28/2021 - Stephen Rash Likes this wine:
Purple in color and opaque in the glass.
Glass 1:
Aromas of blackberries, black cherry, chocolate, potpourri, and hints of dill on the nose. Medium to full bodied with soft, chalky tannins. Tastes of cherry and chocolate on the palate.
Glass 2:
With a little oxygen exposure the potpourri and dill aromas went away and toasted spice notes (oak aging) were added to the black fruit and chocolate already on the nose. Tastes of cherries and tobacco on the palate with a few floral hints that would have been more expressive I feel if I had let it open up for 3-4 hours.
Polished and balanced with a great QPR
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3/24/2021 - Jfkervan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great qpr
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1/22/2021 - Henry Miller Likes this wine: 96 Points
This bottling has always boasted a somewhat atypical dark fruit profile; but not since the 2010 vintage have things come together in such a total package of richness, elegance, depth, and subtle exotic spiciness. The low tone distinguishes it from its exalted peers that also bridge the modern and traditional Rioja styles, such as Mugs Seleccion Especial, or Roda (and more recent vintages of Marquez de Murrieta Reserva). This is a knockout that drinks well now and has the stuffing to go quite a distance in the cellar.
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12/11/2020 - vino vidi vici Likes this wine:
Rich & creamy, with a long mineral finish... what's not to like? Delicious.
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