This was quite advanced in taste. Has complexish aromas of earthy, hay +leathery bluecurrants, raspberries, vanilla hints and leather. Its layered medium bodied spherical silky but also a bit chewy lightly oaked blue and red fruits palate has zingy acidity and ends longish, tangy and tapering. 13.5%. Don't keep this too long! This is lovely! This is Burgundian in feel to me but the acidity could only be Rioja. Drink on day one.
New Years Day traditional meal of pork crown roast, collard greens and black eyed peas with a blind wine party featuring Spanish Gran Reserva. Here is what was served with final rankings in parenthesis. 2000 Bodegas Navalon Valdepeñas Anciano Gran Reserva - Aged 10 Years (6) 2001 Faustino Rioja I Gran Reserva (1) 2002 Bodegas Navalon Valdepeñas Anciano Gran Reserva - Aged 10 Years (5) 2003 Hijos de Antonio Barceló Ribera del Duero Viña Mayor Gran Reserva (4) 2004 Bodegas Franco-Españolas Rioja Bordón Gran Reserva (2) 2005 Bodegas Franco-Españolas Rioja Bordón Gran Reserva (3)
When the Bordóns were revealed I was quite presently surprised. They were both so good but did have some differences between the vintages. Both are medium to full bodied, had fantastic deep garnet color, a nose of wet wood, decent tannins and good acid with a long enjoyable finish. Mostly a front palate wine with flavors of dark fruit, leather, earth, and the 2005 had coffee notes. The 2004 was fruitier and slightly more enjoyable. Not sure if additional aging will benefit these wines.
Excellent. Tasted among 10 Spanish wines more than 10 years old. Colour is showing its age but still clear. Aromas of strawberry, cedar, cinnamon and cloves. Soft and well-integrated tannins, cedar on palate and a nice long finish. Tasted over 1 hour after opening but longer would help.
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(Bodegas Franco-Españolas Rioja Bordón Gran Reserva) Dark ruby color; complex, evocative, licorice, chocolate, caramel, dried berry nose; maturing, tart cherry, tart berry, dried berry palate with medium acidity and fully integrated oak; will go 10-12 years; medium-plus finish (80% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, 5% Mazuelo, 5% Graciano; destemming and soft crushing of the grapes before fermentation for 10 days in stainless steel tanks at 26 degrees centigrade, followed by maceration in contact with skins for 7 days; aged 3 yrs in American oak barriques of medium and intense toast plus 2 yrs in bottle before release; only $22 in U.S.)
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7/17/2021 - macaujames wrote: 92 Points
This was quite advanced in taste. Has complexish aromas of earthy, hay +leathery bluecurrants, raspberries, vanilla hints and leather. Its layered medium bodied spherical silky but also a bit chewy lightly oaked blue and red fruits palate has zingy acidity and ends longish, tangy and tapering. 13.5%. Don't keep this too long! This is lovely! This is Burgundian in feel to me but the acidity could only be Rioja. Drink on day one.
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1/1/2021 - DenverGreek Likes this wine: 92 Points
New Years Day traditional meal of pork crown roast, collard greens and black eyed peas with a blind wine party featuring Spanish Gran Reserva. Here is what was served with final rankings in parenthesis.
2000 Bodegas Navalon Valdepeñas Anciano Gran Reserva - Aged 10 Years (6)
2001 Faustino Rioja I Gran Reserva (1)
2002 Bodegas Navalon Valdepeñas Anciano Gran Reserva - Aged 10 Years (5)
2003 Hijos de Antonio Barceló Ribera del Duero Viña Mayor Gran Reserva (4)
2004 Bodegas Franco-Españolas Rioja Bordón Gran Reserva (2)
2005 Bodegas Franco-Españolas Rioja Bordón Gran Reserva (3)
When the Bordóns were revealed I was quite presently surprised. They were both so good but did have some differences between the vintages. Both are medium to full bodied, had fantastic deep garnet color, a nose of wet wood, decent tannins and good acid with a long enjoyable finish. Mostly a front palate wine with flavors of dark fruit, leather, earth, and the 2005 had coffee notes. The 2004 was fruitier and slightly more enjoyable. Not sure if additional aging will benefit these wines.
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9/12/2017 - WineProf Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent. Tasted among 10 Spanish wines more than 10 years old. Colour is showing its age but still clear. Aromas of strawberry, cedar, cinnamon and cloves. Soft and well-integrated tannins, cedar on palate and a nice long finish. Tasted over 1 hour after opening but longer would help.
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2/18/2017 - Piotr K Likes this wine: 90 Points
I enjoyed it very much. Intense noise of red fruit, taste balanced, with typical Rioja vanilla tones. Wine felt fresh, still has some time left in it.
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3/11/2016 - OttawaB Likes this wine: 89 Points
Took a while to open up and for the funk to blow off. Very nice traditional Rioja, not too much oak, smooth. Hits above price point.
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