| | Fabulous evening with some amazing food and wines selected by our host. Great company and much mirth. Fino to start Whites with hors d'oeuvres - 2003 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Viña Gravonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Rich, beguiling and (just as one would expect) oxidative nose. Hints of lanolin and tangerine. Palate rich, freshing with bitter orange notes. With air a little orange leaf appears on the nose. My second favourite wine of the night.
- 2006 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Viña Gravonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
A hint of marzipan on the nose here, some satsuma and cordite. Later a suggested of buttered leeks. Palate a little in the shadow of the 2003 this is served alongside but still a very classy drop.
With Hen of the Woods - 1970 Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Monte Real Gran Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
Served blind. Some gun-flint initially and a lovely slightly mulled plum fruit. Some blackcurrant leaf and the faintest suggestion of beetroot. Palate is compact but correct fully mature but will drink well over the next few years; these older Riojas can hang on longer than expected sometimes. With an hour in the glass the nose reveals some red fruit pastilles and a suggestion of lime curd. A real treat - corrected called as a 1970 and from a mid-tier house by one of our number - chapeau.
- 1991 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
A little hint of coconut oak on the nose but in a measured way (compared to one the wines we were to taste later!), dark fruits, some grated dark milk chocolate and just a hint of clementine pith. Palate is rich, long and spicy. Lovely drop.
With roast pork with all the trimmings - 2001 Faustino Rioja I Gran Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
Served blind. A little animale sweatiness to the dark fruits and tobacco leaf here. Palate bright fruited, taut and long. Revealed as a much maligned Faustino 1 - really punching above its weight (as it so often does). Not outclassed by the LRA 904 and Tondo Reserva 2001s it is served with. Good stuff.
- 2001 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904 - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Oak really to the fore here with pronounced coconut character than doesn't shift even after an hour in the glass. Some classy vanilla pod and marzipan too on the nose with some black currant leaf. Palate has lovely balance with some tart fruits and hints of cracked pepper.
- 2001 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Some orange peel, bacon and mulberries on the nose. With air some suggestions of bloody steak. Of all the wines tonight this really benefits from some air. Palate has hints of Christmas spice. Long and more-ish.
With roast pork with all the trimmings - 2005 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Gorgeous nose here. Some hints of charred vine clippings (am reminded of lunch in Sauternes some years ago where steaks were cooked over these) with deep red and dark fruits and some grated dark milk chocolate. Also some plum butter with some air. Palate is very together and combines more peppery dark fruits and some creme brulee creaminess. My wine of the night a (very) short nose ahead of the 2003 Gravonia and the Tondonia 2001
- 2007 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Bosconia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Some rhubarb fool on the nose here, some hints of tobacco leaf and something citrussy. Something a little menthol like too. Almost a faint honey and lemon Locket character. Palate has a little more acidity than the Ardanza, this is long and lovely.
With cheese These wines showed really well in Zalto Bordeaux glasses |
