2008 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Arana Reserva

Community Tasting Notes (19) Avg Score: 90.2 points

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  10/14/2023 - lozatron Likes this wine:

  Opened after two faulty bottles - one TCA and one seemingly cooked. This is really good - lovely zingy acidity, the oak is there but with the fruit in harmony. Drinking well now but no rush I don't think. Will be interesting to see how the second half of the bottle fares tomorrow.

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  1/25/2023 - Paul D wrote: 90 Points

  1/2, very good cork. # 756,967.
  Medium garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose is aromatic showing sweet red fruit, vanilla, spice. Touch of mint. Medium bodied, elegant with very fine tannins, strawberry fruit, vanilla, spice, a touch of savoury meat, vibrant/crisp acids, good length harmonious finish. Excellent, drinking well, no hurry.

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  12/14/2019 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points

  Speakeasy Wine Tasting (Dellwood Speakeasy, Dellwood/White Bear Lake, MN): Very dark red color. Slow-O for an hour, drank a glass over an hour. Horse barn, funk, black fruits, rose petals, vanilla. The palate is very earthy, medium plus body, cassis, wood, rose hips, ground pencil. Showing well. 90+ to 91pts.

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  4/7/2019 - eboracum Likes this wine: 91 Points

  La Rioja Alta is supposed to be a traditional producer, so I was disconcerted by a previous contributor's highlighting delight in its vanilla flavours which IMO should be only a background note in this style. First sniff tended to confirm that with overt vanilla and even a touch of caramel but first sip was much better with those notes well integrated into some vigorous and quite rich sour cherry tinged fruit with a sprinkling of orange and cinnamon. After a mouthful of succulent lamb shanks in a honey dipped sauce, the balance was even better aided by medium/full body, lively non-astringent acidity, suave texture and a seeming dash of port in the firm and quite long finish. The 11th year is quite young for a Reserva so there is probably room for further improvement. Very good.

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  2/1/2019 - Lemmy-W wrote: 92 Points

  wow! what a bottle of classic Rioja. Very nice vanilla on the nose. Definitely a crowd pleaser.

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