MuscaDay 2015: One of the most unique and memorable roses anywhere. Smells of mushrooms, a stoner's basement and strawberry greens. Full of funky, earthy, savory elements on the palate, but the acid is amazing, and there's some white cherry and wild strawberry fruit as well (but it takes the far back seat). Chalk, almonds, dried honeycomb, lots of interesting elements to dissect.
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Nutty, sherried nose. Fresh and lively in the mouth with great acidity. Saline and savory notes dominate but there's some tart red fruit underneath. Unique.
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Very dry and developed, tart pale red fruit, and a light oxidative streak balanced by refreshing acidity and a savory, mineral-inflected salinity. A zesty, long finish evokes dried fruit and flowers, delicate spice notes, and the slightly astringent tannins of old American oak. A very good match with Peking duck.
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I really enjoy this rose..it is always complex with great minerality, fruit, oxidative notes with very good acidity. Great food wine that we shared at Verra in Chicago..this rose is.always great
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Aromas of melon, papaya, barley malt, river rocks, salty green olives and a bit of cheese, hint of varnish, sweet, savory, and good. Tastes fresh and good, nice intensity but little overt oxidization, good fruit, plenty of acidity, some complexity, fairly long finish. Interesting and quite enjoyable.
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Watermelon and wild raspberry, developed and tinged with a nutty, coppery, oxidative streak. Fleshy and round in the mouth; fresh, refreshing, with a savory, mineral-driven salinity that becomes ever more expressive as the wine warms. A zesty, slightly drying, persistent finish evokes dried fruit and flowers, an unusual sensation of sweetness, and the delicate spice and soft tannin of old American oak. Paired with a seafood paella, and there may not be a better match under heaven.
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Very dry. Light sherried notes, but in a very good way. Almond, spice, only faintly fruity. This is wonderful with the right food, and holds up to foods with a bit of spice, heat and flavor. I like this wine a lot. Excellent.
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pennies in the ocean, melon wrapped in serrano ham, and nutmeg, rusty nails. Diggin' it, and a great food pair: matched equally well with hearty cheeses and bread and with a salad of arugula with pan seared tuna and a blood orange-soy-ginger-scallion vinagrette.
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I wanted to start the 4th of July off with a bang so I started drinking this at 11 a.m (Sidenote: Nerds debate producer vs. terroir when, really, we all know its producer.) Anyway, juicy copper rocks dominate the nose and the pure old vine fruit, sea spray, and acid carry on (my wayward son). Not much to else to say except drink this now, a lot of it, with simple home cooked fried or grilled fish, tapas, veggies, plus friends, family, and loved ones. Another to buy by the case...but I don't need to tell you that.
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Very distinctive - not your traditional Rose. Nose of oak, floral aromatics, and possibly some hidden strawberry. Thick mouthfeel with hazelnut flavors. Long finish that evolves with time and leaves a residual nutty flavor as it dissipates.
An interesting wine, but not for everyone. Certainly worth a try for the adventurous or the traditional Rioja lover that would like to venture into their Blancos or Rosados. I have had many an personal prefer the Blanco Crianzas over some of the others
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Colore rosa salmone, bellissimo. Naso per molto versi dimile al Vina Gravonia, con sbuffi di idrocarburi, su un fondo fruttato e floreale. In bocca è estremamente sapido e caratterizzato da una bella acidità. Probabilmente uno dei migliori rosè mai bevuti.
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in such a great place right now. The wine needs to breathe a bit, and then shows such lovely harmony and balance. orange water, stones, very light sherry notes, great energy and length.
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A Friday mishmash (Chicago, IL): This was showing great. Nose has oranges, some other fleshy citrus fruits, hints of acetone, lots of nuttiness--primarily almonds & hazelnuts to my nose. Undertones of crushed red cherries exist as well. The palate comes through great with orange peel and citrus fruits with a touch of candied ginger & some nutty spice. Good slightly oily texture and a long finish showing a nicely balanced acid backbone. Went great with a ceviche dish.
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This is a wine worth seeking out--so utterly different from every rosado I've ever had, this is nutty, buttery, acidic and stony all in the same sip. A true wine geek wine, I can't wait to have it with some very fresh caught crab and buttery corn.
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As anyone who has this wine knows, it is unique and quite wonderful; this vintage seems less crisp than others, but the combination of sherry, nuts, and something else is there; who else releases a wine ten years after production that is meant for immediate consumption? I'm in the camp that says that this wine is not meant to age -- it's ALREADY aged when released; as always, a wine geek's wine: you don't like this, you don't like wine
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Definitely one of the more unusual wines I've had. Reminded me of a well-aged light-bodied red on the nose - slightly oxidized, rich smell. On the palate, still retains a lot of bite. Slightly metallic. Very complex. Very briny/salty as well. Taste changed DRAMATICALLY based on what food I had just eaten - great with cheese, as others have said. Overall very interesting and worth the try.
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A totally different style of Rose that showed a depth of aromas and flavors. This oxidative wine was beautifully copper in color and extremely interesting. It is not a style that everyone will enjoy, but I certainly did. The savory and nutty nose also showed caramel, blood orange, and toast. The palate was mature, but showed nice freshness and acidity. In some ways it was reminiscent of a light-weight sherry. Extremely interesting bottle of wine.
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Refreshing Summer Wines (Our House, CA): This is really an interesting experience and nothing from your typical other rosé! Be ready for major gap between the aromas and the palate. Distinctive light orange color. Gorgeous nose of spices, peaches and wood that suggests a nice Muscat or Sauternes to come, but after some time in the glass, the nose became more sherry like, tangy and salty fresh. The palate reveals a surprising xidated/volatile sherry with mandarin orange and citrus in the mix (think sweet-sour berries & rhubarb mix like someone said). A long, savory finish follows. Definitely not what many people look for or expect in a rosé. Recommended to have along with spicy food or cheese. Do not serve too cold. An outstansing wine that all wine drinkers should try at least once!
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As expected, an interesting drinking experience, with its stunning color, oxidative (and Sauternes-esque?) nose, and nutty and oaky set of flavors. Went great with some roasted veggies and Spanish cheeses.
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4th of July "Decadance": On its own and starting at a cold temperature, this was interesting but not compelling; the oxidation/volatile sherry stood out. Over time, as it warmed up, a variety of food was around, and most combinations were delicious and intriguing. The toffee, blood orange and kumquat elements were somehow in harmony with cherries dried in a barn.
July 5th update: look what I found corked in the fridge! Yay. Poured into a big Burgundy bowl, this looks gorgeous (like Cognac) and smells like honey, almonds, and bacon fat. The palate shows white chocolate and melon with earthy/nutty undertones and a Roussanne-like texture.
If that makes no sense, read the other notes on this wine and try it for yourself. I agree that this is superb with cheese.
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Complex aroma suggesting light cherries, melon, kumquats, rosewater, and lord knows what else. The palate leads with sherry, with mandarin orange, seaweed, and citrus in the mix. Long, lingering and evolving finish. Simply amazing. There is quite a dichotomy between the aroma, which suggests a fruit filled, slightly sweet wine, and the palate, which surprises you with the bitter overtones and saltiness. Definitely a wine that keeps you thinking, and keeps you engaged.
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Roses (With some surprises - Good and Bad): A very interesting wine. Copper in color. The nose is "sherried" with slight camphor notes and some cherries. On the palate, this is more lively with minerals and cherries. The finish has some oranges turning to a cherry/oxidized finish. This begs for some salty food. Quite interesting but definitely not for everyone. Not as good as some prior vintages I can remember tasting though.
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WLTV Tribeca Grill Offline 5.24.10 (Tribeca Grill NYC): Copper-colored in the glass. Coconut, florals, and dried apricot on the nose. Smells like Heredia. Citrus fruit on the palate with tons of minerality. Medium-high to high acid. Finish seemed kind of short. As a side note, I've had three vintages of this wine so far and I've enjoy 1995 the most.
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Beautiful sunset orange color. Not what you expect from a rose. Nor is the nose. Not much to start, but opened into nuts, tea roses, some kirsch and apricots / dried fruit. Immediate impression was of dried fruit flavors and some brine. We had it with boiled lobster which was a great match (better than expected). Didn't have that mushroom, earthy top note that their whites often have. Opened into something similar to dry sherry and caramel. Intriguing wine.
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A distinct orange tint in the bottle, in the glass it's more of a light amber. On the nose it has oxidative aromas and some oak, also a hint of nuts, with a hint of red fruit. The palate is balanced, supple yet bracing, with a salty quality. Long finish. It's really hard to describe this wine in a way that does it justice. Truly fascinating, and something that all wine drinkers should try at least once.
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Gorgeous orangy color. Immediately upon opening, it smelled like a Sauternes, but perhaps like an older Sauternes where caramel is working to nudge the apricots out of the way. After some time in the glass, the nose became more sherry like, tangy and salty fresh. Strawberries and melon rind were also present but not in enough quantity to round out the nose. Admittedly, this wine was hard for me to evaluate since I don't drink much aged rose, but the flavors were somewhat jumbled in the mouth. Caramel, butterscotch and a bit of minerality all played a role. I would like to try more aged Rose but wasn't blown away by this particular effort. Lack of focus and unbalanced.
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A true beauty, 12 years after bottling. Some interesting oxidative notes makes this wine a definite match for food. Minerality, spice, and some nutty flavors. A bit restrained on the nose at first, but opens with time.
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Today this bottle of one of my favorite wines drank gorgeously. Spicy and woody, smoked ham and aged cheese, minerals, cinnamon and some wafting elusive floral notes. There was a lot of flavor and aroma from this bottle immdiately upon opening, quite cold. Over several hours this amazing wine transforms itself, softening, awlays with the long finish. Great apretif, makes you hungry.
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Nice, a shade simple but certainly a pleasure. Color is nearly orange; light but flavorful rosado; solid if a bit simple compared to the Lopez whites tasted before this. 90-91+
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Dry, mineral, just a bit weightier than a white of similar style might be. Lingering mineral and brine, manchego, mussels. Right, that does not sound as good as this tastes. Quite lovely and unique.
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As always, this wine is best close to room temperature and with at least 90 minutes of air. Upon opening gorgeous cedar and spice box notes emerge, with some sherry, but there is no taste. With time in the glass the palate brings fairly strong alcohol, good acidity, wood and subtle spice, strawberry and melon, with iron and a long sherry-like finish that leaves the tongue vibrating. Flavors may be more subtle than past vintages, but still extremely interesting and delicious.
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50% garnacha, 20% tempranillo, 10% viura. beautiful salmon color. strange earthiness at first nose moves to slightly nuttier notes---almonds. honey, white nectarine, still has vibrant acidity! lively, long finish.
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Nose has notes of old strawberry and socks, a bit of rancid butter. I often seem to find the nose of this wine musty. Palate feels a bit more dilute, lacking the texture found in better vintages. A bit of richness comes through on the back though. Pleasing, but my favorite bottle/vintage of this wine I'd had.
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Interesting oxidative notes.......fascinating to drink recently released 12 year old rose. This is not a "sipper" type of Rose and certainly needs food to shine. On its' own it was not terribly impressive but it blossomed with an assortment of cheeses.
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This summer, I was hot for Lopez de Heredia and yet, I missed my opportunity to purchase this wine when it was first released. So, tonight - I jumped when my local Sommelier pointed out something special on the list: The 1998 R. López de Heredia Rioja Rosado Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia. Excuse me? Yeah, it's a mouthful. Even before opening, the color seduces you ... In the glass, vibrant peach rust hues lure you into the bouquet of sweet marzipan, bright red fruit, warmed sawdust, dried apricot, peach cobbler and deep, wet sandy notes. The briny minerality is scary ... Think of laying on a warm, wet beach towel, fresh out of the ocean. If I were blind, I'd guess this as a red. So full, the mouthfeel is unreal. Tart cherry flavors yield to cinnamon spice and as the roller coaster undulates up and down, we're lead from cranberry to wet and woolly sour lactic funk - butter milk notes give me flashbacks of Joly's Coulée de Serrant but, this isn't the Loire my friends... No, no. Twelve years of careful and calculated age show what precision oxidation does to dress up this Rioja cuvée. 60% Grenache, 30% Tempranillo, and 10% Viura intermingle playfully on the tongue and leave you in an mild aldehydic, Jerez like trance as the ethereal marzipan reemerges - morphing into a mature, restrained nuttiness ... Up and down and indeed, well worth the ride!
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As a lover of sherry, this wine is a pleasure. More than a hint of sherry, drinkable, and complex. Kind of fruity, but balanced. It didn't find the nose very notable, but the taste - lovely.
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More closed than the 97 - should have been served warmer? Needs time, still too big. Still oxidative and steely. Needs food. Very capable and surprising. After a while opened up and shows a strong candy nose. Long life ahead of it...
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Nose smells like a Muscat dessert wine...apricots, figs, dried citrus fruits, some melon rind, and a bit of acetone. Very intriguing nose that's easy to smell over and over. Starts a bit light in the mouth, but fleshes out and continues to bring all of the interesting dried fruit components throughout with a touch of caramel & nuttiness in there too. Lengthy finish with a light acid structure. Interesting, different than most anything I've had before.
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This is a really delicious wine with orange, almonds, and some tropical fruits. Not as bright and sharp as the 97, but still has great acidity and is an excellent food wine. Very different from every other rosé I've ever had. Like a lot of the other tasters, I found a hint of sherry-like notes on the finish. It wasn't hugely pronounced, but it was definitely a bit oxidized.
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20% Tempranillo 60% Garnacha 20% Viura. Golden to light amber in color. Definitely not your typical rosé. The wine opened up as it got warmer (refrigerated) and as sat in the glass. Wine kept shifting but getting better throughout almost 1.5 hr. ?Maybe it needed air and decanting. Beautiful blended and intermixing layers of sherry-like nuts aromas, hints of cinnamon, ?clove, ripe strawberries and yellow cherries, slight earthiness, and minerals. Palate with very good acidity, tart strawberries and cherries, an earthy minerality with spices and a hint of pear. Finishes with grapefruit pith bitterness with a fading lingering of berries, earth, and minerals. Really good and interesting rosé. Actually goes pretty well with nuts. Definitely buy again. 12.5% abv
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n: peanuts, acetone, apricots, white cherries, peaches, pie crust, light strawberries, metal. watermelon rind..
t: clearly tasting oxidized but for good season. bit of the sherry, saltiness, good crispness, watermelon, with a little weight. tangy with some good tannins. medium spicy finish.
very interesting, and thought provoking. solid wine yet definitely not my top top Rose. 87 is still a very solid score.
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A very interesting wine, with a consensus from everyone in the group was thumbs up. Gorgeous nose of spices, peaches and wood. Peachy - rose color. If I tasted it blind I would have guess a 10 year old slightly oxidized chardonnay. As others have noted - yes it is a bit oxidized and it is a oaky, but those components integrated beautifully in an hour - beyond that great balance and elegance. Intense minerality complimented by sour white plums and a sprinkle of citrus. The finish is beautiful - medium plus long. This was the perfect wine for a hot summer lunch and we enjoyed the bottle over a period of 2+ hours... Got better with time, so let it breath a bit. This is an unique rose experience and I highly recommend it, especially given the reasonable price tag...
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Light orange in color. Sweet, smoky aroma of tangerine and hint of coconut. There is some metallic/oxidized taste in the mouth that kind of ruined notes of orange and cherry. Nice minerality and acidity. In the end, I had to dispose it as the metallic taste got to be too intrusive.
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Light, sherry like wrt oxidation. A conundrum of a wine. Forget everything you know about rose. Good acidity. Tangerine citrus Oak became dominant with air
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Unique, intruiging and utterly enjoyable. Unlike any other rose I've experienced. Aromatic and intense upon opening, showing nice red fruit... with a little time in the glass, the wine intensified and broadened, displaying complex touches of sherry and hazelnut. Awesome stuff!
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Notes of strawberries, watermelon, and pink grapefruit. Bright and delicate on the palate. A pink peppercorn finish that fades sooner than I would have liked. The was the group's #2 WOTD.
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I thought the 1997 vintage of this wine was superb, but this seemed much woodier and comparatively oxidized to me. The oak element got stronger and stronger, winding up a bit too intrusive for me. I liked this wine; I adored the 1997.
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Sharp and thin at first, it rounded and softened with air. Not as complex as I expected, but not overly oxidized either. Nice, but just that. Turned badly metallic when paired with a calamari mushroom dish in a soy/asian broth. Worked well with other courses, however.
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The 1998 is more tropical on the nose than the '97 or the '95, with prominent aromas of coconut and tangerine. It is an airy and fresh nose, although the wine is oxidized to the point that it shows distinct sherry-like notes also. A strange and lovely contradiction. With a bit of air, a level of minerals emerges, as if you've been sinking slowly in seawater and suddenly come to rest on a bed of old coral. On the palate this shows far greater structure than I expected, as the wine is so spread out on the nose. The acidity is vibrant and the wine is perfectly balanced. The flavors are bold and clean, and quite complex, with fresh oranges and even a hint of pineapple, infused throughout with minerals, and with a sherry-like buzz underneath.
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6/26/2022 - bcolbath Likes this wine: 90 Points
Some oxidation, nice body, nutty caramel. Best to drink up.
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7/18/2017 - eporres Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still alive and fresh
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5/31/2015 - isaacjamesbaker wrote:
MuscaDay 2015: One of the most unique and memorable roses anywhere. Smells of mushrooms, a stoner's basement and strawberry greens. Full of funky, earthy, savory elements on the palate, but the acid is amazing, and there's some white cherry and wild strawberry fruit as well (but it takes the far back seat). Chalk, almonds, dried honeycomb, lots of interesting elements to dissect.
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11/8/2013 - zscheiner Likes this wine:
Nutty, sherried nose. Fresh and lively in the mouth with great acidity. Saline and savory notes dominate but there's some tart red fruit underneath. Unique.
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10/4/2013 - Riccardo Malocchio wrote: 92 Points
Very dry and developed, tart pale red fruit, and a light oxidative streak balanced by refreshing acidity and a savory, mineral-inflected salinity. A zesty, long finish evokes dried fruit and flowers, delicate spice notes, and the slightly astringent tannins of old American oak. A very good match with Peking duck.
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9/7/2013 - Sheila62 wrote:
I really enjoy this rose..it is always complex with great minerality, fruit, oxidative notes with very good acidity. Great food wine that we shared at Verra in Chicago..this rose is.always great
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6/23/2013 - Topper wrote: flawed
oxidized. last one was good but this one not.
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8/13/2012 - Beerzebub wrote:
Aromas of melon, papaya, barley malt, river rocks, salty green olives and a bit of cheese, hint of varnish, sweet, savory, and good. Tastes fresh and good, nice intensity but little overt oxidization, good fruit, plenty of acidity, some complexity, fairly long finish. Interesting and quite enjoyable.
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7/7/2012 - Riccardo Malocchio wrote: 93 Points
Watermelon and wild raspberry, developed and tinged with a nutty, coppery, oxidative streak. Fleshy and round in the mouth; fresh, refreshing, with a savory, mineral-driven salinity that becomes ever more expressive as the wine warms. A zesty, slightly drying, persistent finish evokes dried fruit and flowers, an unusual sensation of sweetness, and the delicate spice and soft tannin of old American oak. Paired with a seafood paella, and there may not be a better match under heaven.
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7/1/2012 - acidqueen wrote: 89 Points
Very dry. Light sherried notes, but in a very good way. Almond, spice, only faintly fruity. This is wonderful with the right food, and holds up to foods with a bit of spice, heat and flavor. I like this wine a lot. Excellent.
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2/4/2012 - gordoyflaca wrote: 93 Points
pennies in the ocean, melon wrapped in serrano ham, and nutmeg, rusty nails. Diggin' it, and a great food pair: matched equally well with hearty cheeses and bread and with a salad of arugula with pan seared tuna and a blood orange-soy-ginger-scallion vinagrette.
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7/4/2011 - AndrewR wrote: 95 Points
I wanted to start the 4th of July off with a bang so I started drinking this at 11 a.m (Sidenote: Nerds debate producer vs. terroir when, really, we all know its producer.) Anyway, juicy copper rocks dominate the nose and the pure old vine fruit, sea spray, and acid carry on (my wayward son). Not much to else to say except drink this now, a lot of it, with simple home cooked fried or grilled fish, tapas, veggies, plus friends, family, and loved ones. Another to buy by the case...but I don't need to tell you that.
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6/14/2011 - Fateful Destiny Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very distinctive - not your traditional Rose. Nose of oak, floral aromatics, and possibly some hidden strawberry. Thick mouthfeel with hazelnut flavors. Long finish that evolves with time and leaves a residual nutty flavor as it dissipates.
An interesting wine, but not for everyone. Certainly worth a try for the adventurous or the traditional Rioja lover that would like to venture into their Blancos or Rosados. I have had many an personal prefer the Blanco Crianzas over some of the others
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6/4/2011 - drinkfunkyanddance wrote:
I was pretty underwhelmed with this. Little to no fruit, some lovely piney notes, and not much finish. The previous bottle I had was much more lively.
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5/23/2011 - David J Cooper wrote:
Cool amber/coral colour. Funky strawberry, earth and mineral nose. Very soft strawberry and cheese flavours and a soft finish. Interesting.
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5/22/2011 - torciaumana wrote: 88 Points
Colore rosa salmone, bellissimo. Naso per molto versi dimile al Vina Gravonia, con sbuffi di idrocarburi, su un fondo fruttato e floreale. In bocca è estremamente sapido e caratterizzato da una bella acidità. Probabilmente uno dei migliori rosè mai bevuti.
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4/15/2011 - Cike20 wrote: 60 Points
Very disappointing, turned to vinegar. But I will cook with it
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3/8/2011 - thalver wrote:
Interesting in an academic sort of way. Salmon colored, hints of sherry, did get 'better' with time.
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11/3/2010 - brooklynguy wrote:
in such a great place right now. The wine needs to breathe a bit, and then shows such lovely harmony and balance. orange water, stones, very light sherry notes, great energy and length.
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9/3/2010 - cobbpa Likes this wine: 91 Points
A Friday mishmash (Chicago, IL): This was showing great. Nose has oranges, some other fleshy citrus fruits, hints of acetone, lots of nuttiness--primarily almonds & hazelnuts to my nose. Undertones of crushed red cherries exist as well. The palate comes through great with orange peel and citrus fruits with a touch of candied ginger & some nutty spice. Good slightly oily texture and a long finish showing a nicely balanced acid backbone. Went great with a ceviche dish.
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8/14/2010 - IlonaN wrote: 92 Points
This is a wine worth seeking out--so utterly different from every rosado I've ever had, this is nutty, buttery, acidic and stony all in the same sip. A true wine geek wine, I can't wait to have it with some very fresh caught crab and buttery corn.
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8/12/2010 - ctbob wrote:
As anyone who has this wine knows, it is unique and quite wonderful; this vintage seems less crisp than others, but the combination of sherry, nuts, and something else is there; who else releases a wine ten years after production that is meant for immediate consumption? I'm in the camp that says that this wine is not meant to age -- it's ALREADY aged when released; as always, a wine geek's wine: you don't like this, you don't like wine
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8/11/2010 - bg2167 wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful in every way that has been previously described. I enjoyed it with a smoked paprika seafood pasta.
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8/10/2010 - Cunningham wrote:
4.5/5 Stars
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8/5/2010 - ksigerman wrote: 90 Points
Definitely one of the more unusual wines I've had. Reminded me of a well-aged light-bodied red on the nose - slightly oxidized, rich smell. On the palate, still retains a lot of bite. Slightly metallic. Very complex. Very briny/salty as well. Taste changed DRAMATICALLY based on what food I had just eaten - great with cheese, as others have said. Overall very interesting and worth the try.
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8/5/2010 - CADomer wrote: 91 Points
A totally different style of Rose that showed a depth of aromas and flavors. This oxidative wine was beautifully copper in color and extremely interesting. It is not a style that everyone will enjoy, but I certainly did. The savory and nutty nose also showed caramel, blood orange, and toast. The palate was mature, but showed nice freshness and acidity. In some ways it was reminiscent of a light-weight sherry. Extremely interesting bottle of wine.
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7/30/2010 - europat55 wrote: 90 Points
Refreshing Summer Wines (Our House, CA): This is really an interesting experience and nothing from your typical other rosé! Be ready for major gap between the aromas and the palate. Distinctive light orange color. Gorgeous nose of spices, peaches and wood that suggests a nice Muscat or Sauternes to come, but after some time in the glass, the nose became more sherry like, tangy and salty fresh. The palate reveals a surprising xidated/volatile sherry with mandarin orange and citrus in the mix (think sweet-sour berries & rhubarb mix like someone said). A long, savory finish follows. Definitely not what many people look for or expect in a rosé. Recommended to have along with spicy food or cheese. Do not serve too cold. An outstansing wine that all wine drinkers should try at least once!
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7/8/2010 - rhit wrote:
As expected, an interesting drinking experience, with its stunning color, oxidative (and Sauternes-esque?) nose, and nutty and oaky set of flavors. Went great with some roasted veggies and Spanish cheeses.
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7/4/2010 - silton wrote: 92 Points
4th of July "Decadance": On its own and starting at a cold temperature, this was interesting but not compelling; the oxidation/volatile sherry stood out. Over time, as it warmed up, a variety of food was around, and most combinations were delicious and intriguing. The toffee, blood orange and kumquat elements were somehow in harmony with cherries dried in a barn.
July 5th update: look what I found corked in the fridge! Yay. Poured into a big Burgundy bowl, this looks gorgeous (like Cognac) and smells like honey, almonds, and bacon fat. The palate shows white chocolate and melon with earthy/nutty undertones and a Roussanne-like texture.
If that makes no sense, read the other notes on this wine and try it for yourself. I agree that this is superb with cheese.
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6/30/2010 - wineshlub wrote: 96 Points
Complex aroma suggesting light cherries, melon, kumquats, rosewater, and lord knows what else. The palate leads with sherry, with mandarin orange, seaweed, and citrus in the mix. Long, lingering and evolving finish. Simply amazing. There is quite a dichotomy between the aroma, which suggests a fruit filled, slightly sweet wine, and the palate, which surprises you with the bitter overtones and saltiness. Definitely a wine that keeps you thinking, and keeps you engaged.
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5/26/2010 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 87 Points
Roses (With some surprises - Good and Bad): A very interesting wine. Copper in color. The nose is "sherried" with slight camphor notes and some cherries. On the palate, this is more lively with minerals and cherries. The finish has some oranges turning to a cherry/oxidized finish. This begs for some salty food. Quite interesting but definitely not for everyone. Not as good as some prior vintages I can remember tasting though.
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5/24/2010 - amgryger wrote:
WLTV Tribeca Grill Offline 5.24.10 (Tribeca Grill NYC): Copper-colored in the glass. Coconut, florals, and dried apricot on the nose. Smells like Heredia. Citrus fruit on the palate with tons of minerality. Medium-high to high acid. Finish seemed kind of short. As a side note, I've had three vintages of this wine so far and I've enjoy 1995 the most.
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5/23/2010 - PDavisMarble wrote: 87 Points
Beautiful sunset orange color. Not what you expect from a rose. Nor is the nose. Not much to start, but opened into nuts, tea roses, some kirsch and apricots / dried fruit. Immediate impression was of dried fruit flavors and some brine. We had it with boiled lobster which was a great match (better than expected). Didn't have that mushroom, earthy top note that their whites often have. Opened into something similar to dry sherry and caramel. Intriguing wine.
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5/16/2010 - xwine wrote:
A distinct orange tint in the bottle, in the glass it's more of a light amber. On the nose it has oxidative aromas and some oak, also a hint of nuts, with a hint of red fruit. The palate is balanced, supple yet bracing, with a salty quality. Long finish. It's really hard to describe this wine in a way that does it justice. Truly fascinating, and something that all wine drinkers should try at least once.
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5/12/2010 - Spruce Goose wrote: 87 Points
Gorgeous orangy color. Immediately upon opening, it smelled like a Sauternes, but perhaps like an older Sauternes where caramel is working to nudge the apricots out of the way. After some time in the glass, the nose became more sherry like, tangy and salty fresh. Strawberries and melon rind were also present but not in enough quantity to round out the nose. Admittedly, this wine was hard for me to evaluate since I don't drink much aged rose, but the flavors were somewhat jumbled in the mouth. Caramel, butterscotch and a bit of minerality all played a role. I would like to try more aged Rose but wasn't blown away by this particular effort. Lack of focus and unbalanced.
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5/4/2010 - Ericalev wrote: 92 Points
A true beauty, 12 years after bottling. Some interesting oxidative notes makes this wine a definite match for food. Minerality, spice, and some nutty flavors. A bit restrained on the nose at first, but opens with time.
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4/23/2010 - brooklynguy wrote:
had this twice in the past month and it is in a great place now - the last year in bottle has done this wine really well.
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4/13/2010 - kenito799 wrote: 92 Points
Today this bottle of one of my favorite wines drank gorgeously. Spicy and woody, smoked ham and aged cheese, minerals, cinnamon and some wafting elusive floral notes. There was a lot of flavor and aroma from this bottle immdiately upon opening, quite cold. Over several hours this amazing wine transforms itself, softening, awlays with the long finish. Great apretif, makes you hungry.
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3/16/2010 - amateurwino wrote: 91 Points
Nice, a shade simple but certainly a pleasure. Color is nearly orange; light but flavorful rosado; solid if a bit simple compared to the Lopez whites tasted before this. 90-91+
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2/14/2010 - BailliSacks wrote: 89 Points
Dry, mineral, just a bit weightier than a white of similar style might be. Lingering mineral and brine, manchego, mussels. Right, that does not sound as good as this tastes. Quite lovely and unique.
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2/14/2010 - kenito799 wrote: 90 Points
As always, this wine is best close to room temperature and with at least 90 minutes of air. Upon opening gorgeous cedar and spice box notes emerge, with some sherry, but there is no taste. With time in the glass the palate brings fairly strong alcohol, good acidity, wood and subtle spice, strawberry and melon, with iron and a long sherry-like finish that leaves the tongue vibrating. Flavors may be more subtle than past vintages, but still extremely interesting and delicious.
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2/5/2010 - blancdeblancs wrote:
50% garnacha, 20% tempranillo, 10% viura. beautiful salmon color. strange earthiness at first nose moves to slightly nuttier notes---almonds. honey, white nectarine, still has vibrant acidity! lively, long finish.
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1/27/2010 - 5laton wrote:
Nose has notes of old strawberry and socks, a bit of rancid butter. I often seem to find the nose of this wine musty. Palate feels a bit more dilute, lacking the texture found in better vintages. A bit of richness comes through on the back though. Pleasing, but my favorite bottle/vintage of this wine I'd had.
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1/26/2010 - M&D24 wrote:
Interesting oxidative notes.......fascinating to drink recently released 12 year old rose. This is not a "sipper" type of Rose and certainly needs food to shine. On its' own it was not terribly impressive but it blossomed with an assortment of cheeses.
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1/16/2010 - fermentedthoughts wrote:
This summer, I was hot for Lopez de Heredia and yet, I missed my opportunity to purchase this wine when it was first released. So, tonight - I jumped when my local Sommelier pointed out something special on the list: The 1998 R. López de Heredia Rioja Rosado Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia. Excuse me? Yeah, it's a mouthful. Even before opening, the color seduces you ... In the glass, vibrant peach rust hues lure you into the bouquet of sweet marzipan, bright red fruit, warmed sawdust, dried apricot, peach cobbler and deep, wet sandy notes. The briny minerality is scary ... Think of laying on a warm, wet beach towel, fresh out of the ocean. If I were blind, I'd guess this as a red. So full, the mouthfeel is unreal. Tart cherry flavors yield to cinnamon spice and as the roller coaster undulates up and down, we're lead from cranberry to wet and woolly sour lactic funk - butter milk notes give me flashbacks of Joly's Coulée de Serrant but, this isn't the Loire my friends... No, no. Twelve years of careful and calculated age show what precision oxidation does to dress up this Rioja cuvée. 60% Grenache, 30% Tempranillo, and 10% Viura intermingle playfully on the tongue and leave you in an mild aldehydic, Jerez like trance as the ethereal marzipan reemerges - morphing into a mature, restrained nuttiness ... Up and down and indeed, well worth the ride!
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1/6/2010 - hkoben wrote: 89 Points
As a lover of sherry, this wine is a pleasure. More than a hint of sherry, drinkable, and complex. Kind of fruity, but balanced. It didn't find the nose very notable, but the taste - lovely.
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11/19/2009 - don_quichotte wrote: 92 Points
More closed than the 97 - should have been served warmer? Needs time, still too big. Still oxidative and steely. Needs food. Very capable and surprising. After a while opened up and shows a strong candy nose. Long life ahead of it...
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11/18/2009 - Rupert wrote:
An evening of López de Heredia wines (Islington, London): After the '97, this was fatter, more buttery, smooth and luxurious, but still in an oxidative style and with searing acidity.
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10/29/2009 - cobbpa wrote: 90 Points
Nose smells like a Muscat dessert wine...apricots, figs, dried citrus fruits, some melon rind, and a bit of acetone. Very intriguing nose that's easy to smell over and over. Starts a bit light in the mouth, but fleshes out and continues to bring all of the interesting dried fruit components throughout with a touch of caramel & nuttiness in there too. Lengthy finish with a light acid structure.
Interesting, different than most anything I've had before.
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9/5/2009 - oolah wrote: 90 Points
This is a really delicious wine with orange, almonds, and some tropical fruits. Not as bright and sharp as the 97, but still has great acidity and is an excellent food wine. Very different from every other rosé I've ever had. Like a lot of the other tasters, I found a hint of sherry-like notes on the finish. It wasn't hugely pronounced, but it was definitely a bit oxidized.
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8/30/2009 - James Kim wrote: 91 Points
20% Tempranillo 60% Garnacha 20% Viura. Golden to light amber in color. Definitely not your typical rosé. The wine opened up as it got warmer (refrigerated) and as sat in the glass. Wine kept shifting but getting better throughout almost 1.5 hr. ?Maybe it needed air and decanting. Beautiful blended and intermixing layers of sherry-like nuts aromas, hints of cinnamon, ?clove, ripe strawberries and yellow cherries, slight earthiness, and minerals. Palate with very good acidity, tart strawberries and cherries, an earthy minerality with spices and a hint of pear. Finishes with grapefruit pith bitterness with a fading lingering of berries, earth, and minerals. Really good and interesting rosé. Actually goes pretty well with nuts. Definitely buy again. 12.5% abv
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8/8/2009 - dank wrote: 87 Points
c: light peach and beige-ish
n: peanuts, acetone, apricots, white cherries, peaches, pie crust, light strawberries, metal. watermelon rind..
t: clearly tasting oxidized but for good season. bit of the sherry, saltiness, good crispness, watermelon, with a little weight. tangy with some good tannins. medium spicy finish.
very interesting, and thought provoking. solid wine yet definitely not my top top Rose. 87 is still a very solid score.
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7/30/2009 - davergny wrote: 88 Points
Delicate nose with some mango and peach pit aromas. Crisp, easy, subtle, some dried apricots, peach, minerals, nice length. Delightful wine.
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7/26/2009 - pifcho wrote: 92 Points
A very interesting wine, with a consensus from everyone in the group was thumbs up. Gorgeous nose of spices, peaches and wood. Peachy - rose color. If I tasted it blind I would have guess a 10 year old slightly oxidized chardonnay. As others have noted - yes it is a bit oxidized and it is a oaky, but those components integrated beautifully in an hour - beyond that great balance and elegance. Intense minerality complimented by sour white plums and a sprinkle of citrus. The finish is beautiful - medium plus long. This was the perfect wine for a hot summer lunch and we enjoyed the bottle over a period of 2+ hours... Got better with time, so let it breath a bit. This is an unique rose experience and I highly recommend it, especially given the reasonable price tag...
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7/25/2009 - cenberra21 wrote:
Light orange in color. Sweet, smoky aroma of tangerine and hint of coconut. There is some metallic/oxidized taste in the mouth that kind of ruined notes of orange and cherry. Nice minerality and acidity. In the end, I had to dispose it as the metallic taste got to be too intrusive.
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7/21/2009 - rrdoucet wrote: 90 Points
Light, sherry like wrt oxidation. A conundrum of a wine. Forget everything you know about rose. Good acidity. Tangerine citrus Oak became dominant with air
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7/19/2009 - JKWebster wrote: 94 Points
Unique, intruiging and utterly enjoyable. Unlike any other rose I've experienced. Aromatic and intense upon opening, showing nice red fruit... with a little time in the glass, the wine intensified and broadened, displaying complex touches of sherry and hazelnut. Awesome stuff!
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7/17/2009 - Paul Lin wrote: 88 Points
Notes of strawberries, watermelon, and pink grapefruit. Bright and delicate on the palate. A pink peppercorn finish that fades sooner than I would have liked. The was the group's #2 WOTD.
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7/11/2009 - slanum wrote:
I thought the 1997 vintage of this wine was superb, but this seemed much woodier and comparatively oxidized to me. The oak element got stronger and stronger, winding up a bit too intrusive for me. I liked this wine; I adored the 1997.
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6/18/2009 - JamesSanders wrote: 88 Points
Sharp and thin at first, it rounded and softened with air. Not as complex as I expected, but not overly oxidized either. Nice, but just that. Turned badly metallic when paired with a calamari mushroom dish in a soy/asian broth. Worked well with other courses, however.
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5/21/2009 - Schönibert wrote: 79 Points
Don´t know if the wine maybe was defective but the were lots of acid and it tasted like sherry. Not my cup of tea.
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4/9/2009 - brooklynguy wrote:
The 1998 is more tropical on the nose than the '97 or the '95, with prominent aromas of coconut and tangerine. It is an airy and fresh nose, although the wine is oxidized to the point that it shows distinct sherry-like notes also. A strange and lovely contradiction. With a bit of air, a level of minerals emerges, as if you've been sinking slowly in seawater and suddenly come to rest on a bed of old coral. On the palate this shows far greater structure than I expected, as the wine is so spread out on the nose. The acidity is vibrant and the wine is perfectly balanced. The flavors are bold and clean, and quite complex, with fresh oranges and even a hint of pineapple, infused throughout with minerals, and with a sherry-like buzz underneath.
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