Still intriguing, despite color of a blood stained bandaid, parchment. Well sealed, and stored. Decanted and drunk over 3 hours. At first tight, lean, thin and acidic , but Air gives life here, and it opened nicely after 30 minutes and improved for another 30, but dropped off a bit in last hour. Drink up. Black licorice pastilles , tiny wild strawberries, oaky fireplace, sweet roast red pepper, elegant and enticing. Held up nicely to a light and not spicy bolognese. Finish is lean and dry, but it serves to propel you to the next sweet sip. 7-8 years of lovely drinking, just don’t pair it w anything too heavy, fried, or spicy, to preserve its lightness of being.
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In good shape, drank it blindly in the same flight as vintage 1991. First I Thought about burgundy, but the second one showed some mints and eucalyptus. But for Californian wines I missed the power and fruit. And in the nose some Vanilla from American oak that did not fit for Burgundy, so I guessed Rioja. Very nice sweetness, round and silky Tannins. Some minimal Sherry notes in the nose but not in the palate. First I preferred 1981 but 1991 has more fruit and reached his Peak. Very nice smoothy red wine. Elegant with a nice acidity whin refreshes the palate. 93
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bottle, fill and cork all excellent. This wine was fresh and appealing soon after decanting, but held up well over several hours. Fairly typical Rioja profile with leather, cigar and autumn leaves. High acidity and definitely needs a big steak. Good wine and should keep.
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Birthday Dinner (2) 2014 (Jade Palace, Forum Galleria, Singapore): A lovely wine, drinking quite at peak. This had a classic Rioja nose, with cigarette smoke and tobacco aromas (somewhat reminiscent of Marlboro menthol lights) around a core of sweet cherry notes, then little drifts of dried herb and dried flowers and fragrant spice all playing against a backdrop of loamy earth – an absolutely beautiful bouquet. The palate had a stunningly youthful brilliance to it, with wonderfully bright, juicy acidity and the silkiest tannins hugging lovely flavours of bright cherries and wild berries. The wine may lack some of the depth that you will find in the Reserva or Gran Reserva, but there was such beautiful purity here. Bright, fresh, lively and absolutely joyous, I really enjoyed drinking this. A streak of metallic mineral and a little waft of cigarette ash and dried herb then stretched into a wonderfully fresh, lengthy finish. A beautifully elegant and graceful Rioja, this was drinking wonderfully on the night.
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7/7/2022 - OenoEd Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still intriguing, despite color of a blood stained bandaid, parchment. Well sealed, and stored. Decanted and drunk over 3 hours. At first tight, lean, thin and acidic , but Air gives life here, and it opened nicely after 30 minutes and improved for another 30, but dropped off a bit in last hour. Drink up. Black licorice pastilles , tiny wild strawberries, oaky fireplace, sweet roast red pepper, elegant and enticing. Held up nicely to a light and not spicy bolognese. Finish is lean and dry, but it serves to propel you to the next sweet sip. 7-8 years of lovely drinking, just don’t pair it w anything too heavy, fried, or spicy, to preserve its lightness of being.
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5/29/2016 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 93 Points
In good shape, drank it blindly in the same flight as vintage 1991. First I Thought about burgundy, but the second one showed some mints and eucalyptus. But for Californian wines I missed the power and fruit. And in the nose some Vanilla from American oak that did not fit for Burgundy, so I guessed Rioja. Very nice sweetness, round and silky Tannins. Some minimal Sherry notes in the nose but not in the palate. First I preferred 1981 but 1991 has more fruit and reached his Peak. Very nice smoothy red wine. Elegant with a nice acidity whin refreshes the palate. 93
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11/27/2015 - vindictive wrote:
bottle, fill and cork all excellent. This wine was fresh and appealing soon after decanting, but held up well over several hours. Fairly typical Rioja profile with leather, cigar and autumn leaves. High acidity and definitely needs a big steak. Good wine and should keep.
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4/11/2014 - Paul S wrote: 93 Points
Birthday Dinner (2) 2014 (Jade Palace, Forum Galleria, Singapore): A lovely wine, drinking quite at peak. This had a classic Rioja nose, with cigarette smoke and tobacco aromas (somewhat reminiscent of Marlboro menthol lights) around a core of sweet cherry notes, then little drifts of dried herb and dried flowers and fragrant spice all playing against a backdrop of loamy earth – an absolutely beautiful bouquet. The palate had a stunningly youthful brilliance to it, with wonderfully bright, juicy acidity and the silkiest tannins hugging lovely flavours of bright cherries and wild berries. The wine may lack some of the depth that you will find in the Reserva or Gran Reserva, but there was such beautiful purity here. Bright, fresh, lively and absolutely joyous, I really enjoyed drinking this. A streak of metallic mineral and a little waft of cigarette ash and dried herb then stretched into a wonderfully fresh, lengthy finish. A beautifully elegant and graceful Rioja, this was drinking wonderfully on the night.
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