Ingmars
Member #6,353 signed up 5/14/2005
Fans(4)
1 to 3 of 4
-
Jonnytheneedle
168 Tasting Notes
-
Barolo Drunkard
287 Tasting Notes
-
AV2012
2,614 Tasting Notes
Profile
Member since May 2005
This member's profile is not public.
2017 Bodegas Ruiz Torres Vino de la Tierra Extremadura Trampal Tempranillo
4/24/2024 - Ingmars wrote:
Purchased as a cooking wine on promotion at Maxima in Rīga at €3.69, which after excise and VAT are deducted, leaves a gross income of less than €2.14 for the retailer. Medium particle conglomerate cork. The deepish, dark cherry skin colour still has some crimson to it. A simple and anonymous nose of dark, slightly stewed berry doesn't spell Spain or tempranillo, except for the use of American wood. The palate is slightly jammy and the 6 months in American oak shows in no uncertain terms. While the finish is harsh, there is very good concentration and an honest rusticity that gives it some appeal. Quite good and a bargain at the price paid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2019 Gabriel Meffre Côtes du Rhône La Châsse Réserve
4/23/2024 - Ingmars wrote:
Purchased as a cooking ingredient at Maxima in Rīga on promotion at €5.49. Synthetic stopper. Lightish ruby colour. The nose exudes alcohol, though this is labelled as a rather humble 13%. Some modest grenache comes through, but it's oxidative as well. Definitely not good. The mouth is light-bodied with simple, yet brutally fermented fruit which is lacking in both concentration and grip, being harsh and alcoholic. I suppose the mouth beats the nose if the two were to battle for which was the least vicious, but it doesn't save the wine from being a worse than dire representative of the Côtes du Rhône genre.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2020 Rectoral de Amandi Ribeira Sacra Matilda Nieves
4/23/2024 - Ingmars wrote:
Purchased as a cellar-defender candidate from Rimi in Rīga, on promotion at €8.39, down from €13.99. It is adorned with a shiny silver ''Selection by Rimi'' sticker, so it might become a regular line for the trader.
Medium ruby. As well spotted and remarked by another taster this year, the nose initially bears a similarity to gamay. The nose suggests decent ripeness of straight-forward blueberry-like fruit, but after an hour it gains complexity. Dark cherry and damson plum take centre stage, with green herbs, leather, animal fur and malt extract each making brief appearances on the wings. Over the 2nd hour, some intermittent charred notes emerge, which - if I hadn't looked at the producer's fact sheet for the wine - would have made me think that this had come in contact with toasty American oak. (Maybe the indigenous yeasts bring out this nuance? Maybe some of the grapes got sunburnt?)
The palate doesn't show any wood, however, and seems to be denser than a gamay would be. Properly concentrated crunchy berry, but while it's faultlessly balanced, up to the first hour it's not showing the features that brought on the gushing reviews from Decanter and Tamlyn Currin from Jancis Robinson's site. It would be unfair to omit the admission that both of these reviews were in 2021, so I strongly suspected over that first hour - especially given the wine is closed by a Diam 1 grade cork - that the Matilda Nieves mencia is best enjoyed as young as possible and that I'd simply missed the boat. Yet afterwards, it gains weight, a silky texture, concentration and a delicious sweetness just before the crunchy finish. Harvested by hand and clearly made with care, this is very good plus and a great cellar defender. I expect fans of nebbiolo and pinot noir would enjoy this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)