Unfamiliar with this wine and producer, purchased for $20, almost 20 years in the bottle, we didn't know what to expect.We opened this for a Spanish wine tasting directly out of the cellar.The cork was in good condition and easily removed. The color was opaque purple and was without noticeable sediment. Black cherry with some cedar on the nose; smooth on the palate, with tart red plum, blackberry,and spice notes; cassis and spice on the finish. We were pleased and are happy to have 3 bottles left!
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Very dark red color with 7mm transitional margin. PNP, split bottle over 2 hours. This is so ready to go now, very silky and soft. Exotic tobacco is driving the nose, dense Asian spices, cassis and blackberry, and subtle anise. The palate is full bodied, great purity to the fruit, cassis, blackberries, fine tobacco, underbrush, awesome spices, and something intriguing that is reminescent of drying paint. This does improve over an hour modestly and shows a lovely damp proest floor note. So perfectly integrated and easy drinking.
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Drank pleasantly right away, but did open up a bit more after 30-45 minutes. Smokey notes on the finish initially, which dissipated as the wine breathed and softened. Nice for a long-aged wine. But also not any particular depth or distinct character. Paired well with mettwurst, and Spanish cheeses, as would be expected.
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Started out with what every wine drinker hopes for - a flawless cork that is clean and supple. Opaque black to the edge with an inch pour. Inviting aromas of black cherry and a bouquet of red roses, Enters the mouth very smooth, deliciously fruity, and ample rounded acidity and tannin. The swallow glides down the throat. Magnificently enjoyable now or years later. So glad we own 2 magnums from one of the greatest vintages that Spain has seen. Tasting this side by side with the 2006 and 2010, neither matched the peak perfection of the 2001, with the 2010 having the most intrusive and least seamless tannin and oak.
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Not sure if it was bottle variation or a recent move or being paired with things that didn't quite suit the wine, but this one felt a little flat in terms of being dry and without much depth. not lifeless, just maybe too closed at the moment. Flavors of coffee and dirt, with darker almost musty red fruit.
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What a magnificent time machine this 15 year old wine is, allowing us to experience why the 2001 vintage was one of the greatest in Spain. I still vividly remember seeing tasters of a $12 2001 Crianza ordering cases as soon as they tasted it, that blew away Reservas in subsequent vintages. This Reserva is in spectacular shape, black to the edge with bright acidity and tannins strong enough to be drying and to handle any fatty meat. Very smooth and exceptionally integrated, while still finishing firm and dry. Excellent concentration, rich black cherry fruit, and briary tannin, with zero sign of any eminent deterioration.
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Consistent with previous bottles. Opaque purple in color, this wine shows intense aromas of cedar, espresso, leather and tobacco leaf. The mouth feel is full-bodied with added elements of toffee and vanilla.
Purchased recently for $20US, this bottle was in a very good place. I was concerned with this wine based on the reviews of others as well as my own experience with 2 previous bottles. My bottles appear to be freshly labelled and the cork certainly wasn't 14 years old. It looked brand new. Hmmm.
Imported by Holiday Beverage Inc., Clarkston, MI.
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Dark shade of red somewhere between ruby and garnet. Ready to drink with only a moment or two to collect itself after popping it open. Starts off with mainly barrel notes, vanilla, cocoa, and espresso. Dark berries intermingle with tobacco smoke as the wine opens up in decanter. Tannins are fine-grained and well-integrated, in balance with moderate acidity and alcohol. It has aged beautifully thus far and very well could develop more savoury character with a little more bottle time.
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Very dark garnet red color. PNP, drank 2+ glasses over 2.5 hours. This was very good out of the gate and became even more complex and interesting over the first hour. Somewhat high toned on the nose, dark chocolate and tobacco hit you first, then the dark berries come in with dark succulent raspberry, cherry, some herbal elements and a very nice savory note. The palate is medium plus bodied, layered dark red fruit, high toned, framboise, tobacco, savory, some hints of blue fruit, dark chocolate, somewhat oily texture, sleek tannins, medium finish. Very good and and the best bottle to date. 91+pts.
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Deep garnet and nice initial nose. Dark cherries, tobacco, and leather. The fruit still stands up, despite its age. Tremendous value! (so I may have given it an extra point.)
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Still has plenty of life, even though the reviews say drink through 2015. Needed aeration, and then still developed and balanced for another two hours in the glass. Definitely give it lots of time to come around.
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Very dark red color, 2mm meniscus. PNP, drank 1+ glass over 45 minutes, then again on day 2. Initially this showed dark chocolate, very herbal, dark red fruit, the palate was medium full bodied, firm tannins, green pepper, herbal. Not bad initially, but not really a style I care for...then on day 2 this was a different wine. While there was still some herbal character on the nose and palate, it was blaanced well by raspberry fruit, dark cherries, wood spice, cigar and hints of leather. Much more enjoyable and suggests this still will benefit from additional aging. 90+pts.
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Intense ruby color, was hoping to see a little more garnet. Slightly reductive balsamic notes at first opened into a wine that was more expressive of cedar, tobacco, some leather and dried red berries. Well-rounded tannic structure, very approachable and well-integrated.
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Opaque purple in color, this wine shows intense aromas of cedar, espresso, leather and tobacco leaf. The mouth feel is full-bodied with added elements of toffee and vanilla.
Purchased recently for $20US, this bottle was in a very good place. I was concerned with this wine based on the reviews of others as well as my own experience with 2 previous bottles. My bottles appear to be freshly labelled and the cork certainly wasn't 14 years old. It looked brand new. Hmmm.
Imported by Holiday Beverage Inc., Clarkston, MI.
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My bottle was a fake purchased from WTSO. There is no way that the cork that I pulled out of this bottle was anywhere near 10 years old, and the wine was not more than 3-4 years old - maybe younger. That said, it was not an unpleasant young wine. Perhaps the counterfeiters have transitioned from the super high-priced old classics to highly-rated, fairly widely-produced mid-priced wines.
Dark ruby with very early stages of bricking on the rim. high viscosity with medium-minus staining in the legs. 2+ hours on the decant. Aromas of medium+ intensity show floral scents of dried losses, violets (and and almost orchid scent), followed by new suede, cassis, cigar box, cherry, strawberry rhubarb pie, cranberry sauce, orange zest, and nutmeg followed by soft herbs like sage and dill, mahogany, sandalwood, forrest floor and a touch of cocoa rounds out the nose and shows the complexity and pedigree of this wine that appears to be in its prime. Full and just as complex on the palate; feminine and graceful. A cornucopia of flavors, vanilla soaked cherries, homemade cranberry sauce, orange zest, rose petals, soft leather, dill, coconut, milk chocolate, cassis, rosemary, fennel pollen and mahogany with lighter touches of coffee and earth. Impeccably structured with medium+ acid, matching tannins and mid-palate density. The finish is long, graceful and not easily forgettable.
Overall, this feminine version is complex, and drinking extremely well
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This was a completely different wine than the one I tasted on 3/3/15. It was not the least bit expressive. It barely had any fruit. Talk about bottle variation!
Purchased recently for $20US, this bottle was a 180 degree difference from the first bottle I tasted. I was concerned with this wine based on the reviews of others. My bottles appear to be freshly labelled and the cork certainly wasn't 14 years old. It looked brand new. Hmmm.
aroma of berrys, some licorice. drank over 2 days. softened on the second day. good acitiy. cork was not as stained as one would expect for a 14 y/o bottle
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Opaque purple in color, this wine shows intense aromas of cedar, espresso, leather and tobacco leaf. The mouth feel is full-bodied with added elements of toffee and vanilla.
Purchased recently for $20US, this bottle was in a very good place. I was concerned with this wine based on the reviews of others. My bottles appear to be freshly labelled and the cork certainly wasn't 14 years old. It looked brand new. Hmmm.
Imported by Holiday Beverage Inc., Clarkston, MI.
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This is the first time I've done this, but this wine is bullshit. I ordered 4 from WTSO last year (or so), and they were good. This is my first of the next batch - the best way I can describe it is it tastes like fake wine, bullshit in a glass. Camus Conundrum Red thinks this is weak.
impatience won out.. grabbed another bottle.. same thin disappointing wine, nothing like my previous great experiences.
this is 2 of a 6 pack I got through wtso fairly recently, even though this was initially released years ago. ... Dare I say... shenanigans?? I seriously question whether this is the same wine.
i'm hoping this is just bottle variation... as my previous experiences with this wine have been simply tremendous.. but this bottle is just a complete whiff .. nothing at all to enjoy.. 5 bottles left.. and am tempted to go get 1 immediately to test the theory
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I have a very deep suspicion that there has been some manipulation of this wine. My notes from 2012 show this to be a decent Ribera del Duero. I bought more and am breaking into the new lot. First issue was the cork. How can a bottle held on it side for 11 years not have any staining of the cork? How can a wine that had promise be so thin and lacking of any characteristics. I do not want to be a conspiracy theorist, but I only have to assume that their was some nefarious actions involved with the release of this wine many years after release. I am being kind by giving it an 87.
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This is a boring wine and exemplifies much of what I don't like about Ribera del Duero. Almost no nose. The palate shows high alcolhol, hints of red fruit but little else. There are some subtle notes of mineral and and pepper but you really need to coax it out of the wine. It finishes with what I dislike most about Ribera del Duero -- a rustic, harsh acidity that makes the wine difficult to drink. This apparently was a "93 point wine" by someone. I just don't see it. There is much better Ribera del Duero out there.
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Blackberry, tobacco and a touch of cola; a really nice complexity at this price. I'm happy I have one more bottle . . . which I'll drink soon. This 2001 is in its lovely prime.
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Still plenty of fruit and acidity on display as well as balanced oak. The tannins are well integrated. This is fine to drink now, and may last a little while yet. Such is the nature of Spanish reds. Bright brick coloring to the edge. For the price, it's a great deal!
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My second tasting after first trying 8 months ago. Today I would have to say I find the oak is out of balance, overwhelms the fruit and acidity. Perhaps it still needs more time in the cellar, but then I'm afraid the fruit would suffer.
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Very lovely, and amazing PQR. Medium bodied, ruby, pink rim with a little bricking. Nice tart fruit, with leathery complexity. Drink now; pair with grilled meats.
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I opened my last bottle of this last night, and it was absolutely singing....firing on all cylinders. I wish I had waited until now to open all of them. Drank way above its price point. Extremely well-balanced, with flavors and aromas of blackberry, coffee, toffee, cocoa, butterscotch and vanilla. Acidity and tannins were at a perfect level. Wow.
Spanish reds, generally, are best when quite mature, and this bottle served as an illustration of that truism.
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Not as evolved as one might expect at 13 years of age but very nice nonetheless. I think there is further upside with some additional cellaring though.. Will be interesting to track over the course of my 3 remaining bottles.
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Yes, hard to believe this is a 2001, given its fruity vibrancy and deep purple colour, but there are certainly signs of serious aging in the leather, fig, plum, raspberry, earth, and slightly funky notes that come later; before that, the inviting aroma of creamy brown butter dominates, supported by rich dark fruit like cassis, as well as vanilla; there's a bit of bitterness on the finish, along with youthful tannins that demand further maturing, but once this opens up after at least an hour, there's ample complexity for contemplative enjoyment.
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Tasting young for a 2001; I would have guess 2007. The fruit still tastes ripe, with leather, macerated strawberry and moderate tannins. A bit modern in style, I think it is offers a good value and wide appeal. 14% abv. Best through 2017.
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Sampled using Coravin. Deep dark robin-red colour. Strawberry/strong fruity aroma. Strong berry flavour with some earthy undertones. Comfortable acidity. Very rich body and smooth finish. Balanced and incredibly easy to drink. Doubt it's going to get any better from here-on, so drink up!
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Yes the strawberry flavors are pure and precise, but there's not much going on here, and it's impossible to tell that 13 years have passed over this inert wine. There has been zero development. I am not a fan.
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First of 4 bottles. Very smooth and easy drinking. Tannins fully integrated, dark fruit with some earth and leather and good acidity to keep it in balance. Great pair for grilled flank steak tacos on a Sunday evening on the patio.
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Similar to my previous experience...just awesome tempranillo. Still tons of grip on this, deep & dark. Lovely pairing to a tri-tip with chimichurri & mushrooms. This was my last 2 bottles.... so sad.
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Earthy nose. Strawberry, raspberry fruit. Secondary flavors of tobacco, leather and spice, with a peppery finish. High acid, food-friendly wine with well integrated tannins.
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Hello, Tempranillo! This was quite the bottle of wine to enjoy with family in the hot tub. Remarkable odor and memorable taste; this was outstanding Spanish wine well worth its price and age. I'm going to look for more in my cellar.
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Pop and Pour - Very tannic and young on first sip. Put the bottle in the fridge to mellow. Will come back to this tomorrow. Quite surprised for a 13yr old bottle!
Dark to very dark red color. Sloow-O for 3 hours, drank 2 glasses over 3 hours. This was rather herbal on the nose up front, cherry, tobacco, black raspberry, with a little earth, and some briar. The palate as also herbal, firm tannins, pepper, minerals, dark cherry fruit, some heat. . After about an hour this rounded up some and the alcohol began to resolve. By 3 hours it was pretty well balanced and showing a nice sense of place. My wife said it was even better on day 2. I'd go 89 after 2-3 hours of glass/air time. This drinks very young and could be better with some additional cellar time. 89(+?)pts.
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Very modern in style (i.e., "California".) It exhibits aromas of blackberry and caramel. The palate is juicy, with lots of blackberry and some blueberry, well-integrated mild tannins, sweet oak, cinnamon,and sweet dark tobacco. I prefer more rustic, smoky, earthy Tempranillos (and don't know that I could have pegged the varietal had I tasted this one blind), but it would be a crowd-pleaser among casual wine-drinkers.
Remarkably young and primary for a 2001.
Edit: This continues to improve with additional aeration, but it is much more like a good Zinfandel than a Tempranillo. I'd give it a higher score except that it doesn't taste like its purported varietal. Good stuff, though, and extremely well-balanced. Finish is a bit short.
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Looks and tastes incredibly youthful for a 2001 vintage. Dark fruit, raspberry and a bit of smoke on the nose. The same on the palate, but with some spice, bracing acidity and gripping tannins, and a med to long finish. This is a food wine and quite enjoyable with a Greek pizza.
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Brick Red with tinges of brown along the edge - definitely showing some age. Chocolate, charred chilies, dried raspberries on the nose. Nice medium body with very well integrated tannins. Nice on the mid-pallet and a good, well-balanced finish. If you have this wine, now is the time for drinking.
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This is a dark glossy wine. Smells of licorice and soft raisin. Tastes of soft powder with a lilting powdery stair step of body. Slight black pepper ends the tour and lingers. Complex and evolving taste.
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The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Fast. It smells like Black Pepper, and Chocolate. It tastes like Blackberry, Cherry, and Black Pepper. The body is Medium. The wine has Round texture. The wine finishes Long. Believe it or not, this wine complimented my home made baked buffalo wings very well.
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A very youthful appearance, with a nose of red fruits, blackberry and oak. The palate follows the nose, with perhaps no evident blackberry. For a 12 year old wine, this is not at all mature, showing no secondary characteristics. There was some dark chocolate on the finish which was tart and had very chalky tannins.
I fail to see why spectator rated this a 93, but maybe that will be evident to me with more bottle age. I wouldn't drink another botttle for at least 5 years+
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Vanilla, coconut and red fruit with some nice acidity to support it. Somewhat primary though despite consuming it over 3 days. For a 2001 Spanish that is only slightly more money, this is completely outclassed by the Baron de Ley. Even so, at this price, it can only improve in another 5 years. Based on this showing though, I am in no rush to open the 96 gran reserva. . .
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Tough on the first day due to the strong tannins and acidity. Each day better and really great by the fourth. Big wine. Stewed plums, worn leather, dried papayas. Could use a few more years in the cellar or very long decant.
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AGM This is so much better the 2nd day as acidity has mellowed. That time allows the minerals & cedar to shine through. It's a very layered, complex wine that is great for the price. Wonderful!
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Took some time to mellow out... very sharp tannins initially, even with aeration. Benefitted from drinking in a clay cup as spanish reds often do. Would be nice decanted.
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RDD wines age so nicely, even the relatively modestly priced ones like this--hard to describe bouquet when my fingers still stink of rosemary from the garden for the pork scallopini, but this went beautifully with this light meat dish. Nice blend of fruit and mineral in a medium bodied, medium length tempranillo. Great food wine now.
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Clear dark ruby color that displays medium viscosity and day bright reflections. Moderate concentration. On the nose upfront aromas of tobacco, mocha and wood are met with notes of wild berries, dried orange zest, tea, violets and earth that are complex. The palate is smooth with an elegant touch. Moderate acidity and soft tannins make this very approachable. Flavors of ripe cherries, wild forest berries, tobacco, suede, mocha, black tea and cedar. The finish is long but in no way overbearing. Complex and elegant.
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Had this wine with grilled lamb chops. My bride and I found this wine to be fruit forward but had gripping long lasting tannins. The wine was decanted for an hour before consumption. We have 2 more bottles and will set them in the back of the cellar and let the tannins unwind a little bit longer.
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Color is medium, translucent, violet to purple. Nose is floral, rose petals, a little creamy. Very soft on the palate, medium body. Vanilla and raspberries. Not much in the way of tannins left. Acidity still good, offsets fruit nicely. This is in a really good place now. Very little drying tannins left on the finish, but enough to structure the meaty, long finish. Well-balanced, ready for food. Very nice.
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Deep ruby. Light plummey nose, small leather scents. Balanced plum and red fruit palate. Short to medium finish. Just not much to talk about, balanced but dull imho.
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Light to medium intensity ruby in color. Red fruit, creosote, touch of licorice on the nose. Sweet and sour cherry, noticeable acidity, still dry tannins. This could have been un-drinkable young. Would have been very good with more body, a touch thin. Good overall QPR at $20.
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Some hard tartness, but this was a mineral bomb that really cut through the meal with a bit of astringency to clean up the finish. Fruit is moderate with a tinge of a hard bitter black fruit at conclusion. Still not sold on this bottling north of 90 points, but if you can pick it up under $20, expect a solid value.
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The second bottle seemed overly tannic. Perhaps with food it would have been ok but I opened this after dinner to make up for a corked CdP opened earlier in the evening with dinner. Still very good but I think it needs food or air next time.
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ready to drink now, right at pop. solid, but not stellar or memorable. good balance of acidity and tannins, bit mineral, red raspberry shines at finish after tart red berry compote and leather start.
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Consistent with previous bottle, but slight improvement (see previous notes). Specifically, the nose seems a bit more developed here. Still, my hunch is that this needs to be consumed in the next year or two.
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Lovely wine. Lots of backbone in the way of tannins but nothing that interfered rather a balance. With barbecued food was perfect accompaniment. Should have bought more.
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Terrific blackfruit with spicy smoked meat and cedar underneath. It is the fresh acidity that brings you back for more. Great food wine. Drink over the next 3 years.
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Started out very fruit forward with high acidity and nicely balanced oak. But this was lost after a couple hours in the glass, after which the drying tannins dominated the fruit with not much to the secondary aromas. The strange conclusion this brings me to is that the primary characteristics of the wine are nice, and it still drinks like a young wine when first opened. But it may not age well and might decline quickly at some point. Is this a symptom of over extraction?
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Freaking delicious tempranillo blend. I wish I had a lot more. Dinner party for 10, and this was a big hit paired with a spicy appetizer and some couldn't give it up for the entree wine - turley petite syrah.
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Supple aroma of smoke and meat, with some fruit as well. Improved after an hour decant. I personally didn't care for the meatiness of the wine by itself, but it did pair well with a sausage pasta. Not a wine for everyone, but I could see how some might like it.
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Color is dark purple, but not staining - very light stain on the cork. Strong fruity nose - cherries, dark fruits, floral - a real pleasure! Attacks the palate, lots of fruit, some alcohol. If it weren't a Tempranillo, I'd be surprised at its age. Good medium mouth feel, nice firm tannins, long dry finish that makes you want more & makes you want food. A little latent smokiness appeared later on in the glass. Would be really nice with Spanish chorizo (the dry kind, from Spain). Juicy & enjoyable!
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Opened 2 hours in front. Dark purple. legs on the glass. Beautifull. Still strong tnnins for this 10yr old wine. No developement noticeable. Great wine.
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Somewhat disappointing. Maybe as another reviewer suggested it is still too young but right now it appears as a bad value and juvenile in taste for a Ribera.
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This is still far too young. It is drinking OK I guess. We drank it over two nights. If anything it felt more tannic the second night. There is lots of fruit and structure. There is definitely an oaked nose (vanilla) which is perhaps a little intrusive. Would like to see with time. I have said 89+. I think it could be 90 with more time.
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maybe a bad bottle? This one seems to have reached it peak and was well past it as both the palate and the nose were really subdued and barely discernable. I will defer a score untill I taste my last bottle.
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Decanted about 45 minutes prior to first pour. Patience folks, this wine still needs time. Although it was delicious, it was no where near where it is heading. I'd say 3-5 years and it will still need an hour in the decanter, but it will be easily 90+.
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7/19/2020 - McMalbec Likes this wine: 92 Points
Unfamiliar with this wine and producer, purchased for $20, almost 20 years in the bottle, we didn't know what to expect.We opened this for a Spanish wine tasting directly out of the cellar.The cork was in good condition and easily removed. The color was opaque purple and was without noticeable sediment. Black cherry with some cedar on the nose; smooth on the palate, with tart red plum, blackberry,and spice notes; cassis and spice on the finish. We were pleased and are happy to have 3 bottles left!
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10/20/2019 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Very dark red color with 7mm transitional margin. PNP, split bottle over 2 hours. This is so ready to go now, very silky and soft. Exotic tobacco is driving the nose, dense Asian spices, cassis and blackberry, and subtle anise. The palate is full bodied, great purity to the fruit, cassis, blackberries, fine tobacco, underbrush, awesome spices, and something intriguing that is reminescent of drying paint. This does improve over an hour modestly and shows a lovely damp proest floor note. So perfectly integrated and easy drinking.
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8/16/2019 - idonotlikeliver wrote: 88 Points
Drank pleasantly right away, but did open up a bit more after 30-45 minutes. Smokey notes on the finish initially, which dissipated as the wine breathed and softened. Nice for a long-aged wine. But also not any particular depth or distinct character. Paired well with mettwurst, and Spanish cheeses, as would be expected.
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2/25/2019 - Mossrose wrote: 94 Points
Started out with what every wine drinker hopes for - a flawless cork that is clean and supple. Opaque black to the edge with an inch pour. Inviting aromas of black cherry and a bouquet of red roses, Enters the mouth very smooth, deliciously fruity, and ample rounded acidity and tannin. The swallow glides down the throat. Magnificently enjoyable now or years later. So glad we own 2 magnums from one of the greatest vintages that Spain has seen. Tasting this side by side with the 2006 and 2010, neither matched the peak perfection of the 2001, with the 2010 having the most intrusive and least seamless tannin and oak.
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7/14/2018 - idonotlikeliver Likes this wine: 89 Points
Not sure if it was bottle variation or a recent move or being paired with things that didn't quite suit the wine, but this one felt a little flat in terms of being dry and without much depth. not lifeless, just maybe too closed at the moment. Flavors of coffee and dirt, with darker almost musty red fruit.
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2/26/2017 - nm10 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice wine. Black raspberry and herbs. Excellent QPR, but I think this one is past the apex. Still enough fruit to last a few more years, though.
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10/16/2016 - swivel112 wrote: 92 Points
Even better than my last bottle. At 15 yrs this is in beautiful shape, fully integrated with excellent fruit.
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10/16/2016 - Thefatbastard wrote:
Le bois est encore bien présent. Autrement, belle structure et longueur. A encore bien des annees devant lui.
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9/3/2016 - Moorsie wrote: 90 Points
Showing a bit of age, might be slightly pas prime but still a nice drink.
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8/10/2016 - Mossrose wrote: 94 Points
What a magnificent time machine this 15 year old wine is, allowing us to experience why the 2001 vintage was one of the greatest in Spain. I still vividly remember seeing tasters of a $12 2001 Crianza ordering cases as soon as they tasted it, that blew away Reservas in subsequent vintages. This Reserva is in spectacular shape, black to the edge with bright acidity and tannins strong enough to be drying and to handle any fatty meat. Very smooth and exceptionally integrated, while still finishing firm and dry. Excellent concentration, rich black cherry fruit, and briary tannin, with zero sign of any eminent deterioration.
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6/19/2016 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent with previous bottles. Opaque purple in color, this wine shows intense aromas of cedar, espresso, leather and tobacco leaf. The mouth feel is full-bodied with added elements of toffee and vanilla.
Purchased recently for $20US, this bottle was in a very good place. I was concerned with this wine based on the reviews of others as well as my own experience with 2 previous bottles. My bottles appear to be freshly labelled and the cork certainly wasn't 14 years old. It looked brand new. Hmmm.
Imported by Holiday Beverage Inc., Clarkston, MI.
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3/13/2016 - nm10 Likes this wine: 92 Points
QPR night continued. A solid wine for $20. Still has good fruit, so I think has time.
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2/25/2016 - DTOK90 Likes this wine:
Dark shade of red somewhere between ruby and garnet. Ready to drink with only a moment or two to collect itself after popping it open. Starts off with mainly barrel notes, vanilla, cocoa, and espresso. Dark berries intermingle with tobacco smoke as the wine opens up in decanter. Tannins are fine-grained and well-integrated, in balance with moderate acidity and alcohol. It has aged beautifully thus far and very well could develop more savoury character with a little more bottle time.
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1/1/2016 - Thefatbastard wrote:
Commence à montré des signes d'évolution. Le bois encore présent se fait discret. Belle palette aromatique d'une belle complexité. RQP exceptionnel.
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12/28/2015 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Very dark garnet red color. PNP, drank 2+ glasses over 2.5 hours. This was very good out of the gate and became even more complex and interesting over the first hour. Somewhat high toned on the nose, dark chocolate and tobacco hit you first, then the dark berries come in with dark succulent raspberry, cherry, some herbal elements and a very nice savory note. The palate is medium plus bodied, layered dark red fruit, high toned, framboise, tobacco, savory, some hints of blue fruit, dark chocolate, somewhat oily texture, sleek tannins, medium finish. Very good and and the best bottle to date. 91+pts.
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12/28/2015 - nm10 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep garnet and nice initial nose. Dark cherries, tobacco, and leather. The fruit still stands up, despite its age. Tremendous value! (so I may have given it an extra point.)
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12/6/2015 - idonotlikeliver Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still has plenty of life, even though the reviews say drink through 2015. Needed aeration, and then still developed and balanced for another two hours in the glass. Definitely give it lots of time to come around.
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11/20/2015 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
Very dark red color, 2mm meniscus. PNP, drank 1+ glass over 45 minutes, then again on day 2. Initially this showed dark chocolate, very herbal, dark red fruit, the palate was medium full bodied, firm tannins, green pepper, herbal. Not bad initially, but not really a style I care for...then on day 2 this was a different wine. While there was still some herbal character on the nose and palate, it was blaanced well by raspberry fruit, dark cherries, wood spice, cigar and hints of leather. Much more enjoyable and suggests this still will benefit from additional aging. 90+pts.
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9/16/2015 - Catman49 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rich feel, dry finish
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9/9/2015 - Duke88 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Intense ruby color, was hoping to see a little more garnet. Slightly reductive balsamic notes at first opened into a wine that was more expressive of cedar, tobacco, some leather and dried red berries. Well-rounded tannic structure, very approachable and well-integrated.
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7/26/2015 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opaque purple in color, this wine shows intense aromas of cedar, espresso, leather and tobacco leaf. The mouth feel is full-bodied with added elements of toffee and vanilla.
Purchased recently for $20US, this bottle was in a very good place. I was concerned with this wine based on the reviews of others as well as my own experience with 2 previous bottles. My bottles appear to be freshly labelled and the cork certainly wasn't 14 years old. It looked brand new. Hmmm.
Imported by Holiday Beverage Inc., Clarkston, MI.
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6/16/2015 - sdonahue wrote: 88 Points
not sure what to think about this one, agree the cork seemed relatively fresh
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5/18/2015 - hosscrow wrote: 90 Points
TBD
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5/9/2015 - hoovel wrote: 85 Points
My bottle was a fake purchased from WTSO. There is no way that the cork that I pulled out of this bottle was anywhere near 10 years old, and the wine was not more than 3-4 years old - maybe younger. That said, it was not an unpleasant young wine. Perhaps the counterfeiters have transitioned from the super high-priced old classics to highly-rated, fairly widely-produced mid-priced wines.
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4/24/2015 - 1961Vintage wrote: 91 Points
Still has plenty of life. Love where it's at right now. Sorry to see my last bottle go.
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4/15/2015 - Dave Dewar Likes this wine:
Better on Day 1.
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4/10/2015 - bjamesclark wrote: 93 Points
Dark ruby with very early stages of bricking on the rim. high viscosity with medium-minus staining in the legs. 2+ hours on the decant.
Aromas of medium+ intensity show floral scents of dried losses, violets (and and almost orchid scent), followed by new suede, cassis, cigar box, cherry, strawberry rhubarb pie, cranberry sauce, orange zest, and nutmeg followed by soft herbs like sage and dill, mahogany, sandalwood, forrest floor and a touch of cocoa rounds out the nose and shows the complexity and pedigree of this wine that appears to be in its prime.
Full and just as complex on the palate; feminine and graceful. A cornucopia of flavors, vanilla soaked cherries, homemade cranberry sauce, orange zest, rose petals, soft leather, dill, coconut, milk chocolate, cassis, rosemary, fennel pollen and mahogany with lighter touches of coffee and earth. Impeccably structured with medium+ acid, matching tannins and mid-palate density. The finish is long, graceful and not easily forgettable.
Overall, this feminine version is complex, and drinking extremely well
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4/6/2015 - Jack howland Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still as pleasing and vibrant as my other bottles. Got one more and I'll give it another year or so to see if it continues to develop.
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3/7/2015 - cuffthis wrote: 85 Points
This was a completely different wine than the one I tasted on 3/3/15. It was not the least bit expressive. It barely had any fruit. Talk about bottle variation!
Purchased recently for $20US, this bottle was a 180 degree difference from the first bottle I tasted. I was concerned with this wine based on the reviews of others. My bottles appear to be freshly labelled and the cork certainly wasn't 14 years old. It looked brand new. Hmmm.
Imported by Holiday Beverage Inc., Clarkston, MI.
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3/4/2015 - ancherrera wrote: 90 Points
aroma of berrys, some licorice. drank over 2 days. softened on the second day. good acitiy. cork was not as stained as one would expect for a 14 y/o bottle
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3/3/2015 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opaque purple in color, this wine shows intense aromas of cedar, espresso, leather and tobacco leaf. The mouth feel is full-bodied with added elements of toffee and vanilla.
Purchased recently for $20US, this bottle was in a very good place. I was concerned with this wine based on the reviews of others. My bottles appear to be freshly labelled and the cork certainly wasn't 14 years old. It looked brand new. Hmmm.
Imported by Holiday Beverage Inc., Clarkston, MI.
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2/11/2015 - Boatdrinker Does not like this wine: 50 Points
This is the first time I've done this, but this wine is bullshit. I ordered 4 from WTSO last year (or so), and they were good. This is my first of the next batch - the best way I can describe it is it tastes like fake wine, bullshit in a glass. Camus Conundrum Red thinks this is weak.
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1/27/2015 - Double-A Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big, open and buttery with solid, black fruit on the nose and palate. Full and structured with big flavours. Good replays and complexity.
4.5/5
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1/22/2015 - gf2182 wrote:
impatience won out.. grabbed another bottle.. same thin disappointing wine, nothing like my previous great experiences.
this is 2 of a 6 pack I got through wtso fairly recently, even though this was initially released years ago. ... Dare I say... shenanigans?? I seriously question whether this is the same wine.
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1/22/2015 - gf2182 wrote:
i'm hoping this is just bottle variation... as my previous experiences with this wine have been simply tremendous.. but this bottle is just a complete whiff .. nothing at all to enjoy.. 5 bottles left.. and am tempted to go get 1 immediately to test the theory
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1/17/2015 - jgkost Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice, drinking nicely but there is little fruit or structure. Drink NOW, not going to get better...
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1/15/2015 - cphd wrote: 94 Points
wow
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1/4/2015 - Tim and Bonnie wrote: 86 Points
Thinking perhaps either simply a modest wine, or maybe past its drinking window. Interesting on the pop but no real development with time in air.
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12/24/2014 - cvargas wrote: 90 Points
Lamb loin, risotto, fennel.
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12/9/2014 - bkh Likes this wine: 86 Points
Very little complexity, slight aroma of spice and cranberry
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12/5/2014 - smarquardt wrote: 86 Points
I have a very deep suspicion that there has been some manipulation of this wine. My notes from 2012 show this to be a decent Ribera del Duero. I bought more and am breaking into the new lot. First issue was the cork. How can a bottle held on it side for 11 years not have any staining of the cork? How can a wine that had promise be so thin and lacking of any characteristics. I do not want to be a conspiracy theorist, but I only have to assume that their was some nefarious actions involved with the release of this wine many years after release. I am being kind by giving it an 87.
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11/26/2014 - Old School Fan wrote: 84 Points
This is a boring wine and exemplifies much of what I don't like about Ribera del Duero. Almost no nose. The palate shows high alcolhol, hints of red fruit but little else. There are some subtle notes of mineral and and pepper but you really need to coax it out of the wine. It finishes with what I dislike most about Ribera del Duero -- a rustic, harsh acidity that makes the wine difficult to drink. This apparently was a "93 point wine" by someone. I just don't see it. There is much better Ribera del Duero out there.
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11/21/2014 - SSGibson Likes this wine: 90 Points
Blackberry, tobacco and a touch of cola; a really nice complexity at this price. I'm happy I have one more bottle . . . which I'll drink soon. This 2001 is in its lovely prime.
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11/20/2014 - Boatdrinker Likes this wine: 88 Points
Somewhat ripe/lush, but with old world character. For the right price ($20ish), a solid bottle to have loitering around the house.
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11/12/2014 - Forklifts11 wrote: 93 Points
Very good. Tints of Tobacco and Orange. Smooth. Opened up quickly.
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10/6/2014 - Jack howland wrote: 91 Points
Still plenty of fruit and acidity on display as well as balanced oak. The tannins are well integrated. This is fine to drink now, and may last a little while yet. Such is the nature of Spanish reds. Bright brick coloring to the edge. For the price, it's a great deal!
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10/1/2014 - bitjockey Likes this wine: 89 Points
My second tasting after first trying 8 months ago. Today I would have to say I find the oak is out of balance, overwhelms the fruit and acidity. Perhaps it still needs more time in the cellar, but then I'm afraid the fruit would suffer.
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9/28/2014 - la turque wrote: 91 Points
Very lovely, and amazing PQR. Medium bodied, ruby, pink rim with a little bricking. Nice tart fruit, with leathery complexity. Drink now; pair with grilled meats.
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9/28/2014 - Swaggering Beaunie Likes this wine: 92 Points
I opened my last bottle of this last night, and it was absolutely singing....firing on all cylinders. I wish I had waited until now to open all of them. Drank way above its price point. Extremely well-balanced, with flavors and aromas of blackberry, coffee, toffee, cocoa, butterscotch and vanilla. Acidity and tannins were at a perfect level. Wow.
Spanish reds, generally, are best when quite mature, and this bottle served as an illustration of that truism.
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9/21/2014 - epiphany wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with prior bottle. Nice stuff.
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9/21/2014 - epiphany wrote: 90 Points
Not as evolved as one might expect at 13 years of age but very nice nonetheless. I think there is further upside with some additional cellaring though.. Will be interesting to track over the course of my 3 remaining bottles.
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9/20/2014 - mjwstickings Likes this wine: 88 Points
Yes, hard to believe this is a 2001, given its fruity vibrancy and deep purple colour, but there are certainly signs of serious aging in the leather, fig, plum, raspberry, earth, and slightly funky notes that come later; before that, the inviting aroma of creamy brown butter dominates, supported by rich dark fruit like cassis, as well as vanilla; there's a bit of bitterness on the finish, along with youthful tannins that demand further maturing, but once this opens up after at least an hour, there's ample complexity for contemplative enjoyment.
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9/10/2014 - StainedGlass wrote: 90 Points
Tasting young for a 2001; I would have guess 2007. The fruit still tastes ripe, with leather, macerated strawberry and moderate tannins. A bit modern in style, I think it is offers a good value and wide appeal. 14% abv. Best through 2017.
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9/7/2014 - seeker7125 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Sampled using Coravin. Deep dark robin-red colour. Strawberry/strong fruity aroma. Strong berry flavour with some earthy undertones. Comfortable acidity. Very rich body and smooth finish. Balanced and incredibly easy to drink. Doubt it's going to get any better from here-on, so drink up!
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8/24/2014 - kronfeld wrote: 90 Points
Needs 1-2 hours of air to come into its own.
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8/20/2014 - samacalpine wrote:
- Brick color.
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8/12/2014 - wine&roses wrote: 87 Points
Yes the strawberry flavors are pure and precise, but there's not much going on here, and it's impossible to tell that 13 years have passed over this inert wine. There has been zero development. I am not a fan.
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8/10/2014 - swivel112 Likes this wine: 91 Points
First of 4 bottles. Very smooth and easy drinking. Tannins fully integrated, dark fruit with some earth and leather and good acidity to keep it in balance. Great pair for grilled flank steak tacos on a Sunday evening on the patio.
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7/17/2014 - 1961Vintage wrote: 91 Points
Rich and rich. Not as sophisticated as other reviews suggest, but still right nice wine!
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6/20/2014 - gf2182 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Similar to my previous experience...just awesome tempranillo. Still tons of grip on this, deep & dark. Lovely pairing to a tri-tip with chimichurri & mushrooms. This was my last 2 bottles.... so sad.
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6/3/2014 - jayw Likes this wine:
Earthy nose. Strawberry, raspberry fruit. Secondary flavors of tobacco, leather and spice, with a peppery finish. High acid, food-friendly wine with well integrated tannins.
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5/24/2014 - Drcarl Likes this wine: 93 Points
Hello, Tempranillo! This was quite the bottle of wine to enjoy with family in the hot tub. Remarkable odor and memorable taste; this was outstanding Spanish wine well worth its price and age. I'm going to look for more in my cellar.
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5/8/2014 - Jasonr1023 wrote:
Wait for 2015. See previous note.
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5/2/2014 - Jasonr1023 wrote:
Pop and Pour - Very tannic and young on first sip. Put the bottle in the fridge to mellow. Will come back to this tomorrow.
Quite surprised for a 13yr old bottle!
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4/30/2014 - rocknroller wrote: 89 Points
Dark to very dark red color. Sloow-O for 3 hours, drank 2 glasses over 3 hours. This was rather herbal on the nose up front, cherry, tobacco, black raspberry, with a little earth, and some briar. The palate as also herbal, firm tannins, pepper, minerals, dark cherry fruit, some heat. . After about an hour this rounded up some and the alcohol began to resolve. By 3 hours it was pretty well balanced and showing a nice sense of place. My wife said it was even better on day 2. I'd go 89 after 2-3 hours of glass/air time. This drinks very young and could be better with some additional cellar time. 89(+?)pts.
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4/24/2014 - jayw wrote:
Inviting nose. Palate of sweet red fruits, tobacco, and leather. Well-balanced. Very fresh and vibrant.
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3/11/2014 - Swaggering Beaunie Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tasted after a 3-hour double decant.
Very modern in style (i.e., "California".) It exhibits aromas of blackberry and caramel. The palate is juicy, with lots of blackberry and some blueberry, well-integrated mild tannins, sweet oak, cinnamon,and sweet dark tobacco. I prefer more rustic, smoky, earthy Tempranillos (and don't know that I could have pegged the varietal had I tasted this one blind), but it would be a crowd-pleaser among casual wine-drinkers.
Remarkably young and primary for a 2001.
Edit: This continues to improve with additional aeration, but it is much more like a good Zinfandel than a Tempranillo. I'd give it a higher score except that it doesn't taste like its purported varietal. Good stuff, though, and extremely well-balanced. Finish is a bit short.
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2/12/2014 - SSGibson wrote: 89 Points
Looks and tastes incredibly youthful for a 2001 vintage. Dark fruit, raspberry and a bit of smoke on the nose. The same on the palate, but with some spice, bracing acidity and gripping tannins, and a med to long finish. This is a food wine and quite enjoyable with a Greek pizza.
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1/5/2014 - wdlohr wrote: 89 Points
aromas of leather and powder with a dry arching structure and somewhat green tannin. Blends seamlessly the first night but coarsens overnight.
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1/3/2014 - les_the_sailor Likes this wine: 94 Points
Brick Red with tinges of brown along the edge - definitely showing some age. Chocolate, charred chilies, dried raspberries on the nose. Nice medium body with very well integrated tannins. Nice on the mid-pallet and a good, well-balanced finish. If you have this wine, now is the time for drinking.
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11/13/2013 - Snoski62 wrote: 88 Points
Poured immediately. Smooth and drank evenly over a two hour period.
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10/27/2013 - TampaMark wrote: 90 Points
Goes great with Tapas and authentic Spanish food.
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10/17/2013 - TampaMark wrote: 90 Points
good QPR, worth the $12 bucks!
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10/5/2013 - wdlohr wrote: 91 Points
This is a dark glossy wine. Smells of licorice and soft raisin. Tastes of soft powder with a lilting powdery stair step of body. Slight black pepper ends the tour and lingers. Complex and evolving taste.
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9/17/2013 - Price-O Likes this wine: 95 Points
The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Fast. It smells like Black Pepper, and Chocolate. It tastes like Blackberry, Cherry, and Black Pepper. The body is Medium. The wine has Round texture. The wine finishes Long.
Believe it or not, this wine complimented my home made baked buffalo wings very well.
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8/31/2013 - geodevlin Does not like this wine: 75 Points
too dry and flat
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8/16/2013 - mithomps Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice nose. Excellent wine. Glad we have more.
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7/30/2013 - AWBryce wrote: 89 Points
A very youthful appearance, with a nose of red fruits, blackberry and oak. The palate follows the nose, with perhaps no evident blackberry. For a 12 year old wine, this is not at all mature, showing no secondary characteristics. There was some dark chocolate on the finish which was tart and had very chalky tannins.
I fail to see why spectator rated this a 93, but maybe that will be evident to me with more bottle age. I wouldn't drink another botttle for at least 5 years+
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7/21/2013 - tzarf Likes this wine: 90 Points
still a fantastic spicy wine
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7/13/2013 - VinoTx wrote: 90 Points
Tastes much younger than 12 years old- still lots of acidity. Decanted an hour. Smooth tannins, some smoke and a little oak, but mostly tart cherry.
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7/2/2013 - Rob_Sutherland wrote: 90 Points
A bit tough and young. Cedar, fresh oak (not toasty or vanilla, fresh oak wood), dark fruit.
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6/5/2013 - Jzez1998 wrote: 91 Points
Tannic at opening. Transformed quite nicely with an hour of air. Quite enjoyable
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6/3/2013 - acheng wrote: 88 Points
Vanilla, coconut and red fruit with some nice acidity to support it. Somewhat primary though despite consuming it over 3 days. For a 2001 Spanish that is only slightly more money, this is completely outclassed by the Baron de Ley. Even so, at this price, it can only improve in another 5 years. Based on this showing though, I am in no rush to open the 96 gran reserva. . .
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5/23/2013 - overhill wrote:
Tough on the first day due to the strong tannins and acidity. Each day better and really great by the fourth. Big wine. Stewed plums, worn leather, dried papayas. Could use a few more years in the cellar or very long decant.
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5/10/2013 - Winoluver wrote: 91 Points
AGM
This is so much better the 2nd day as acidity has mellowed. That time allows the minerals & cedar to shine through. It's a very layered, complex wine that is great for the price. Wonderful!
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5/8/2013 - nester77 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Took some time to mellow out... very sharp tannins initially, even with aeration. Benefitted from drinking in a clay cup as spanish reds often do. Would be nice decanted.
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3/4/2013 - ddingley Likes this wine: 90 Points
RDD wines age so nicely, even the relatively modestly priced ones like this--hard to describe bouquet when my fingers still stink of rosemary from the garden for the pork scallopini, but this went beautifully with this light meat dish. Nice blend of fruit and mineral in a medium bodied, medium length tempranillo. Great food wine now.
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3/2/2013 - sheehanphoto wrote: 90 Points
Nice straight out of the bottle. This wine is ready to go.
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3/1/2013 - Samdrew92 wrote: 94 Points
Smoky cigar, and cedar flavors. Not much fruit. Very complex and rich mouthfeel.
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2/24/2013 - DAE Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent notes of wild cherry. Long finish.
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2/24/2013 - wdlohr wrote: 88 Points
dark, aromas of violet and oil, tastes strict with dry powder, cream, somewhat limited body
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2/5/2013 - GlassHalfFull wrote: 90 Points
Consistently good. Not a mind-blower, but super value for $20.
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1/1/2013 - DDicaprio Likes this wine: 92 Points
A well balanced pleaser, mellow tannins.
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12/21/2012 - bjamesclark wrote: 91 Points
Clear dark ruby color that displays medium viscosity and day bright reflections. Moderate concentration.
On the nose upfront aromas of tobacco, mocha and wood are met with notes of wild berries, dried orange zest, tea, violets and earth that are complex.
The palate is smooth with an elegant touch. Moderate acidity and soft tannins make this very approachable. Flavors of ripe cherries, wild forest berries, tobacco, suede, mocha, black tea and cedar. The finish is long but in no way overbearing.
Complex and elegant.
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12/7/2012 - BoozNooz wrote: 89 Points
Big, chocolate-y
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12/7/2012 - 1961Vintage wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful rich vanilla notes layered upon some of the ripest plums and pomegranates...can you say absolutely fantastic!
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11/28/2012 - granreservedan wrote: 90 Points
Had this wine with grilled lamb chops. My bride and I found this wine to be fruit forward but had gripping long lasting tannins. The wine was decanted for an hour before consumption. We have 2 more bottles and will set them in the back of the cellar and let the tannins unwind a little bit longer.
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11/15/2012 - MuseMaven Likes this wine: 90 Points
Color is medium, translucent, violet to purple. Nose is floral, rose petals, a little creamy. Very soft on the palate, medium body. Vanilla and raspberries. Not much in the way of tannins left. Acidity still good, offsets fruit nicely. This is in a really good place now. Very little drying tannins left on the finish, but enough to structure the meaty, long finish. Well-balanced, ready for food. Very nice.
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11/10/2012 - Xfactor wrote: 88 Points
Longevity, day 3 may have been the best for this offering. Very tempered and firm. 88
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11/8/2012 - IconeWino wrote: 90 Points
A nice Duero. Well balanced. Really opened up after about 2 hours in the glass, so I'd recommend about an hour decant.
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11/7/2012 - Chiantihound wrote: 88 Points
Deep ruby. Light plummey nose, small leather scents. Balanced plum and red fruit palate. Short to medium finish. Just not much to talk about, balanced but dull imho.
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11/6/2012 - John Nezlek wrote: 85 Points
The bottle I had was not all that good, particularly compared to the others. Not well balanced, not very much fruit -- sort of dry and monolithic.
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10/26/2012 - angelo619 wrote: 92 Points
Excellent balance of acidity/tannins, old/new world. Didn't really get the sense this was an 11 yr old wine! Wish I had more.
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9/10/2012 - wfdeacon wrote: 89 Points
Light to medium intensity ruby in color. Red fruit, creosote, touch of licorice on the nose. Sweet and sour cherry, noticeable acidity, still dry tannins. This could have been un-drinkable young. Would have been very good with more body, a touch thin. Good overall QPR at $20.
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9/2/2012 - Xfactor wrote: 88 Points
Some hard tartness, but this was a mineral bomb that really cut through the meal with a bit of astringency to clean up the finish. Fruit is moderate with a tinge of a hard bitter black fruit at conclusion. Still not sold on this bottling north of 90 points, but if you can pick it up under $20, expect a solid value.
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7/27/2012 - Zed57 wrote: 91 Points
bright fruit with a deep and pure mineral core. it may even have some evolution left but hard not to drink now
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7/4/2012 - slippytoad wrote: 88 Points
Not memorable, and rather thin on the palate. Rather tart but seemed better than previous bottles.
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6/19/2012 - DanTheRhoneFan wrote: 88 Points
The second bottle seemed overly tannic. Perhaps with food it would have been ok but I opened this after dinner to make up for a corked CdP opened earlier in the evening with dinner. Still very good but I think it needs food or air next time.
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6/18/2012 - GlassHalfFull wrote: 90 Points
Better after a couple hours.
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6/18/2012 - Xfactor wrote: 87 Points
ready to drink now, right at pop. solid, but not stellar or memorable. good balance of acidity and tannins, bit mineral, red raspberry shines at finish after tart red berry compote and leather start.
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6/11/2012 - Didman wrote: 91 Points
A delightful bottle.
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6/8/2012 - Xfactor wrote: flawed
Bottle shocked? Will try another...later...
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4/26/2012 - juffer Likes this wine: 89 Points
Consistent with previous bottle, but slight improvement (see previous notes). Specifically, the nose seems a bit more developed here. Still, my hunch is that this needs to be consumed in the next year or two.
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3/22/2012 - bdufton wrote: 89 Points
Lovely wine. Lots of backbone in the way of tannins but nothing that interfered rather a balance. With barbecued food was perfect accompaniment. Should have bought more.
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1/18/2012 - Zed57 wrote: 92 Points
Terrific blackfruit with spicy smoked meat and cedar underneath. It is the fresh acidity that brings you back for more. Great food wine. Drink over the next 3 years.
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12/7/2011 - juffer Likes this wine: 88 Points
Started out very fruit forward with high acidity and nicely balanced oak. But this was lost after a couple hours in the glass, after which the drying tannins dominated the fruit with not much to the secondary aromas. The strange conclusion this brings me to is that the primary characteristics of the wine are nice, and it still drinks like a young wine when first opened. But it may not age well and might decline quickly at some point. Is this a symptom of over extraction?
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12/2/2011 - MuseMaven wrote: 90 Points
As before. Juicy, fruity and good acidity to go with rich food. Long finish. A pleasure to drink.
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10/19/2011 - JohnOnWine wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful with my mushroom risotto.
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10/17/2011 - gf2182 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Freaking delicious tempranillo blend. I wish I had a lot more. Dinner party for 10, and this was a big hit paired with a spicy appetizer and some couldn't give it up for the entree wine - turley petite syrah.
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10/16/2011 - GoBlue2002 wrote: 88 Points
Supple aroma of smoke and meat, with some fruit as well. Improved after an hour decant. I personally didn't care for the meatiness of the wine by itself, but it did pair well with a sausage pasta. Not a wine for everyone, but I could see how some might like it.
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9/22/2011 - MuseMaven wrote: 90 Points
Color is dark purple, but not staining - very light stain on the cork. Strong fruity nose - cherries, dark fruits, floral - a real pleasure! Attacks the palate, lots of fruit, some alcohol. If it weren't a Tempranillo, I'd be surprised at its age. Good medium mouth feel, nice firm tannins, long dry finish that makes you want more & makes you want food. A little latent smokiness appeared later on in the glass. Would be really nice with Spanish chorizo (the dry kind, from Spain). Juicy & enjoyable!
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7/31/2011 - ppearson9 wrote: 90 Points
decanted for 2+ hours. Fruit-forward. Impressive.
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1/14/2011 - WilD wrote: 91 Points
Opened 2 hours in front. Dark purple. legs on the glass. Beautifull. Still strong tnnins for this 10yr old wine. No developement noticeable. Great wine.
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8/31/2010 - nightfire wrote: 88 Points
Somewhat disappointing. Maybe as another reviewer suggested it is still too young but right now it appears as a bad value and juvenile in taste for a Ribera.
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10/14/2009 - pcwoz wrote: 89 Points
This is still far too young. It is drinking OK I guess. We drank it over two nights. If anything it felt more tannic the second night. There is lots of fruit and structure. There is definitely an oaked nose (vanilla) which is perhaps a little intrusive. Would like to see with time. I have said 89+. I think it could be 90 with more time.
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3/2/2009 - cvvhrn wrote:
maybe a bad bottle? This one seems to have reached it peak and was well past it as both the palate and the nose were really subdued and barely discernable. I will defer a score untill I taste my last bottle.
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7/5/2008 - cseanb1 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted about 45 minutes prior to first pour. Patience folks, this wine still needs time. Although it was delicious, it was no where near where it is heading. I'd say 3-5 years and it will still need an hour in the decanter, but it will be easily 90+.
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