At a great place right now, refined and mellowed but alive tannins, which support a highly balanced structure along w pleasantly soft acidity. The aromas are exemplary aged Rioja, a harmony of primary and tertiary, leather vanilla and dried raisins / prunes. Unfortunately the taste itself does not feel as complex as the aromas, and the finish is medium length. It was delicious with some side snacks and it could go well w any meats but given how the smell shines, I preferred it on its own to fully enjoy. Great qpr and simply delicious. The only problem is that it is a tad bit simple
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Hot damn - 2001 Rioja are so good. Could easily be confused for a growth Bordeaux. Definitely more tertiary but a surprising amount of smooth, soft cherry pop from the glass. Drinking well right now.
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The Return to San Sebastian; 5/17/2019-5/18/2019 (San Sebastian, Spain): From magnum and frankly at peak now. Soft and well matured , earthy and leathery and feels a bit older than it is. Well assimilated oak , well evolved fruit, elegant wine albeit lacks depth and complexity. Solid 90-91
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Pop and poured with no need to decant. Quite aromatic but the body seemed to have lost some power, and some complexity disappointingly. Completely resolved tannins and a very smooth drink, but am thinking I should’ve opened it a little sooner
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nose:dirty earth,meat,intense plum,hint of cherry,leather,complex nose
palate:nice texture.high acidity which show lots of vibrancy despite some density.gd intensity,concentration with complexity.showing excellent integration.long finishing.nice depth.
notes:plum,slight touch of pruney,black cherry,black berry.smoky finishing.long life ahead
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Still drinking beautifully, and perfect for my taste and a great time to drink this. Silky smooth and velvety texture, very elegant and seamless. Old world dusty red fruit, lightly spiced, tobacco, all in harmony with resolved tannins.
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Dark cherries and farmyard on nose. Huge big fruit with strong elegant tannins. Mouth filling. Long long finish with emerging leather tobacco notes. A lovely bottle which is still developing and another 10 years left.
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Decanted for 3 hours. Showing some bottle age. Initially a lot of sweet vanilla/oal on the nose but this settled. On the first taste I though was starting to loos its fruit but it opened up with dense fruit and still firm but elegant tannins. Starting to get some leathery notes but will improve over the next 5-10 years.
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Drinking beautifully right now. Medium bodied, silky smooth and velvety texture, just lovely. Old world dusty red fruit, lightly spiced, tobacco, all in harmony with resolved tannins.
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Surprised with the youth on the colour of this wine. Deep ruby. An intense bouquet with red fruits, anis, spice, wood (sweet). Medium + tannin + Acidity in great balance with spices and black peppper. Still a long way to go!
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We poured the wine into a decanter and had the first glassed immediately. It was medium to dark ruby in colour, turning orange/brown at the edges, and offered dark flowers, red fruit, some dark fruit, leather, coffee, chocolate, mint and boatloads of cinnamon on the nose. On the palate the wine showed red and dark fruit, red cherry, blackberry, black currant, leather, tobacco, coffee, chocolate, mint, spices, vanilla, cinnamon and coconut, with medium-plus acidity and fine, medium-plus tannin. The medium- to full-bodied wine had good grip, was creamy and very balanced and had superb length. We liked it; would buy again. 91+
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Quite a rich red colour with no significantly noticeable bricking. Nose is worn in leather and spice and the palate carries that through along with a touch of dried red fruit. Fine but prominent tannins and well balanced acidity. Medium bodied and medium length finish. An enjoyable wine with mostly secondary flavours and an enjoyable mouth feel. Matched very nicely with slow braised beef cheeks.
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Medium ruby, still bright. Quite pronounced and complex nose with preserved meats, leather, savoury spice, and red fruits. Fine grained tannin framing a palate showing a nice blend of earthy meaty flavours. Good length. A delicious old-style Rioja just coming into its drinking window.
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Plenty of old world charm, earth, smoke, leather and spice. Lovers of fruity wines would not like it, but right up my alley. Very elegant and smooth, improved throughout the first evening and going strong on day 2, with very mellow tannins. However, there is a faint oddly synthetic taste on the finish that I can't place very well and marrs it slightly from an otherwise outstanding wine.
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Decanted for 2 hours. Dark ruby color with a slight brownish rim. On nose whows subtle red ripe fruit, underbrush, forrest floor and some leather. On palate it's a kind of a different animal: high wonderful acidity, rich, lush, medium bodied, very enyojabe to drink. It has such a balance, smoothness and elegance... young but already wonderful. Acidity it's plain awesome and paired so well with a bbq. I was suprised and pleased with this wine palate, a truly joy. I think this has the acidity and structure to last at least 10 more years. Drink or hold. (92-93)
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A wine for a grand occasion. Decanted for two hours. And it kept changing in the glass afterwards. Leather,spices and a hint of cedar on the nose. Beautiful acidity and real soft tannins. A wine like this must shine on its own so don't worry about the food to match it. A good manchego and a chorizo serrano will do the job. 5 stars.
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This is one of the best wines money can buy. Big black currants on both the nose and palate. You could describe it as 'sweet' without being sugary. Powerful and stays on the palate for quite some time. Not much wood or pepper - smooth, fruity, silky. I would not leave this until 2020. The drinking window is within the next couple of years.
Deep ruby with a narrow garnet rim. Quite youthful in appearance. Expressive with plums, strawberries, cherries backed up by tobacco, vanilla and coka cola notes. Oak is evident but well integrated. Shows purity. Fleshy and grippy with medium + body and medium + ripe clay textured tannins. High alcohol/14% is well balanced by zesty acidity and dense tannins. Medium + flavour intensity with liquorice, cloves, dark fruit,coffee and tobacco. This wine has an excellent value for money, just entering drinking window.
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dark color, rich dense aroma of eucalyptus, tobacco, spices, leather & black fruits. in taste tannic, medium to full-bodied, round, structured, balanced, leather, dark fruit, anise,
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3/8/2024 - funderwood10 Likes this wine: 92 Points
At a great place right now, refined and mellowed but alive tannins, which support a highly balanced structure along w pleasantly soft acidity. The aromas are exemplary aged Rioja, a harmony of primary and tertiary, leather vanilla and dried raisins / prunes. Unfortunately the taste itself does not feel as complex as the aromas, and the finish is medium length. It was delicious with some side snacks and it could go well w any meats but given how the smell shines, I preferred it on its own to fully enjoy. Great qpr and simply delicious. The only problem is that it is a tad bit simple
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8/29/2022 - BobMcK wrote:
Still fabulous. Not showing muich bottle age, truity and vibrant. Lovely
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6/28/2021 - BobMcK wrote:
Remarkably vivacious: years of life left
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1/1/2021 - joel_likes_wine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Hot damn - 2001 Rioja are so good. Could easily be confused for a growth Bordeaux. Definitely more tertiary but a surprising amount of smooth, soft cherry pop from the glass. Drinking well right now.
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9/27/2020 - rosuoter Likes this wine:
Earth, leather, smoke, ripe black cherry. Very smooth and mellowed on the palate, a lot of tertiary notes, long finish. Complex and elegant Rioja.
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5/17/2019 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
The Return to San Sebastian; 5/17/2019-5/18/2019 (San Sebastian, Spain): From magnum and frankly at peak now. Soft and well matured , earthy and leathery and feels a bit older than it is. Well assimilated oak , well evolved fruit, elegant wine albeit lacks depth and complexity. Solid 90-91
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7/15/2018 - BobMcK wrote:
Lovely: still 10 years left
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3/17/2018 - Hazeo wrote: 90 Points
Pop and poured with no need to decant. Quite aromatic but the body seemed to have lost some power, and some complexity disappointingly. Completely resolved tannins and a very smooth drink, but am thinking I should’ve opened it a little sooner
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9/17/2017 - clairenclarence wrote: 94 Points
pop n pour
nose:dirty earth,meat,intense plum,hint of cherry,leather,complex nose
palate:nice texture.high acidity which show lots of vibrancy despite some density.gd intensity,concentration with complexity.showing excellent integration.long finishing.nice depth.
notes:plum,slight touch of pruney,black cherry,black berry.smoky finishing.long life ahead
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8/5/2017 - Hazeo wrote: 93 Points
Still drinking beautifully, and perfect for my taste and a great time to drink this. Silky smooth and velvety texture, very elegant and seamless. Old world dusty red fruit, lightly spiced, tobacco, all in harmony with resolved tannins.
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6/4/2016 - BobMcK wrote:
Dark cherries and farmyard on nose. Huge big fruit with strong elegant tannins. Mouth filling. Long long finish with emerging leather tobacco notes. A lovely bottle which is still developing and another 10 years left.
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11/28/2015 - BobMcK Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Showing some bottle age. Initially a lot of sweet vanilla/oal on the nose but this settled. On the first taste I though was starting to loos its fruit but it opened up with dense fruit and still firm but elegant tannins. Starting to get some leathery notes but will improve over the next 5-10 years.
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11/18/2015 - ProfByron Likes this wine: 91 Points
What's not to like? Still has some development ahead of it.
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8/17/2015 - Hazeo wrote: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully right now. Medium bodied, silky smooth and velvety texture, just lovely. Old world dusty red fruit, lightly spiced, tobacco, all in harmony with resolved tannins.
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4/5/2015 - RaphaelMalago Likes this wine: 91 Points
Surprised with the youth on the colour of this wine. Deep ruby. An intense bouquet with red fruits, anis, spice, wood (sweet). Medium + tannin + Acidity in great balance with spices and black peppper. Still a long way to go!
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11/29/2014 - PSPatrick wrote: 91 Points
We poured the wine into a decanter and had the first glassed immediately. It was medium to dark ruby in colour, turning orange/brown at the edges, and offered dark flowers, red fruit, some dark fruit, leather, coffee, chocolate, mint and boatloads of cinnamon on the nose. On the palate the wine showed red and dark fruit, red cherry, blackberry, black currant, leather, tobacco, coffee, chocolate, mint, spices, vanilla, cinnamon and coconut, with medium-plus acidity and fine, medium-plus tannin. The medium- to full-bodied wine had good grip, was creamy and very balanced and had superb length. We liked it; would buy again. 91+
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7/20/2014 - ozoenophile Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quite a rich red colour with no significantly noticeable bricking. Nose is worn in leather and spice and the palate carries that through along with a touch of dried red fruit. Fine but prominent tannins and well balanced acidity. Medium bodied and medium length finish. An enjoyable wine with mostly secondary flavours and an enjoyable mouth feel. Matched very nicely with slow braised beef cheeks.
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4/23/2014 - Donjcorleone wrote: flawed
Sadly this bottle was corked.
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8/25/2012 - G.M. wrote: 94 Points
Medium ruby, still bright. Quite pronounced and complex nose with preserved meats, leather, savoury spice, and red fruits. Fine grained tannin framing a palate showing a nice blend of earthy meaty flavours. Good length. A delicious old-style Rioja just coming into its drinking window.
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8/20/2012 - Hazeo wrote: 91 Points
Plenty of old world charm, earth, smoke, leather and spice. Lovers of fruity wines would not like it, but right up my alley. Very elegant and smooth, improved throughout the first evening and going strong on day 2, with very mellow tannins. However, there is a faint oddly synthetic taste on the finish that I can't place very well and marrs it slightly from an otherwise outstanding wine.
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7/1/2012 - Periko wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Dark ruby color with a slight brownish rim. On nose whows subtle red ripe fruit, underbrush, forrest floor and some leather. On palate it's a kind of a different animal: high wonderful acidity, rich, lush, medium bodied, very enyojabe to drink. It has such a balance, smoothness and elegance... young but already wonderful. Acidity it's plain awesome and paired so well with a bbq. I was suprised and pleased with this wine palate, a truly joy. I think this has the acidity and structure to last at least 10 more years. Drink or hold. (92-93)
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3/17/2012 - fredmarc wrote:
A wine for a grand occasion.
Decanted for two hours. And it kept changing in the glass afterwards.
Leather,spices and a hint of cedar on the nose.
Beautiful acidity and real soft tannins.
A wine like this must shine on its own so don't worry about the food to match it. A good manchego and a chorizo serrano will do the job. 5 stars.
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1/10/2012 - shallIshantI wrote: 95 Points
This is one of the best wines money can buy. Big black currants on both the nose and palate. You could describe it as 'sweet' without being sugary. Powerful and stays on the palate for quite some time. Not much wood or pepper - smooth, fruity, silky. I would not leave this until 2020. The drinking window is within the next couple of years.
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9/29/2011 - Dokken wrote: 91 Points
Deep ruby with a narrow garnet rim. Quite youthful in appearance. Expressive with plums, strawberries, cherries backed up by tobacco, vanilla and coka cola notes. Oak is evident but well integrated. Shows purity. Fleshy and grippy with medium + body and medium + ripe clay textured tannins. High alcohol/14% is well balanced by zesty acidity and dense tannins. Medium + flavour intensity with liquorice, cloves, dark fruit,coffee and tobacco. This wine has an excellent value for money, just entering drinking window.
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1/28/2011 - Yagil Likes this wine: 91 Points
dark color, rich dense aroma of eucalyptus, tobacco, spices, leather & black fruits.
in taste tannic, medium to full-bodied, round, structured, balanced, leather, dark fruit, anise,
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10/6/2010 - Weston3220 wrote: 89 Points
Opened 6hrs before hand, poured in decanter about 90mins before drinking
Deep Ruby, starting to turn garnet
A: med+ intensity
Dark Cherry, Earth, Licourice, Leather, developing nose, a well intergrated nose
T: dry, med/med+ acid, meD+ intensity, full body, med+ tannin.
Dark Chocolate, Dark Fruit, Star Anise, Blue Fruit, Leather
Conc: on its own was not that great hollow mid palate 82pts. But with food [pizza + caesar] was great. there now was a mid palate and a nice one
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