Riojas at WineX

The Wine Exchange brought out some very nice bottles for this one. The top end wines were mostly very good. I was surprised by the 03 LdH. The Ygay and Prado Enea's were very good as expected though I think more forward than the 01's. I'm wondering if that is why their 04's have been released right on the heals of the 01''s. The Indianos were both pretty good. Apparently this is a new project using a single vineyard of very old vines. Considering the most expensive wine in the tasting was $50, Rioja still represents a lot of value for me.

• 2001 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Viña Gravonia

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  The nose shows the typical notes of oxidation along with a strong vanilla lemon cream expression. Lean, clean and mean with a hard mid-palate. Not very expressive but strongly structured. I'd prefer a bit more fruit expression at this level but it is a nice acid driven white.

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• 2009 Montebuena Rioja

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Big rich nose showing signs of oak. Forward fruited though the extraction isn't all that high. Gets somewhat clean at the finish. Wood flavors and medium tannin. Looks like there is some severe variation judging by the other notes. I couldn't argue with this for $9.

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• 2009 Bodegas El Indiano Rioja Finca El Brozal

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Sweet fruited nose. Lush dark cherry fruit. Peppery finish which is probably from the Grenache. Tannic and somewhat minerally. Clearly a fruit driven style but I didn't notice any softness of fruit or overt oak. A very nice wine but not in the mode of traditional Rioja by any stretch. Apparently a new project taking over a very old vineyard.

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• 2008 Bodegas El Indiano Rioja Finca El Brozal

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Sour, Gueuze like nose leading me to think there is some brett present. Rich, somewhat extracted fruit but tight in expression. Clean, stony tannins. Needs some time but again showing clean, pure fruit without the softness and oak you might find in similar fruit driven wines. An interesting project to watch.

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• 2007 Artadi Viñas de Gain

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  Big floral fruit showing black cherry and blackberries. Rich, soft, thickly fruited. Very modern.

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• 2007 La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  Aromas of oak and dark fruit. Fresh juicy fruit. Clean yet astringently tannic finish. Tough to get a read on. I suspect the oak is the cause of the harsh tannin.

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• 2007 Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Something funky on the nose. Maybe brett? Something seemed off on the palate also. Harsh tannin on the finish. The person pouring said he didn't get any TCA.

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• 2005 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Alberdi Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Spicy nose with the requisite American oak notes. Juicy and seemingly weakly fruited. Flavors of wood and light tannin on the finish.

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• 2005 Bodega R. de Ayala Lete e Hijos Rioja Vina Santurnia Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Aromas of raw wood. Clean with crunchy acids. Late acting tannin. Very nice value.

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• 2004 Baron de Ley Rioja Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Big sweet fruit on the nose. Ripe dense fruit but not strongly extracted or fleshy leaving it clean. Medium tannin. Leans modern but there isn't a lot of wood character. This might be best served with a few more years in bottle but I don't read it as very classic.

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• 2004 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Viña Real Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  The nose shows baked fruits and wood tones. Juicy and even somewhat candied fruit. Light tannin and medium acid. Will need some time. Good but not great.

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• 2003 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Bosconia

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  These guys know how to make a good wine in a challenging vintage. Complexity on the nose showing baked fruits and florals. I expected super ripe characters but it didn't get there. Clean palate with sweet berries. Very light tannin and juicy. For earlier drinking but much better than I expected given the vintage. Very nice.

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• 2004 Bodegas Altanza Rioja Lealtanza Seleccion Especial Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Some rustic notes over big baked fruits. Rich sweet fruits with slightly baked tones. Medium tannin and a bite of heat. Needs more acid. A big styled wine.

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• 2004 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Very expressive nose in a classic way with baked fruits. Tight right now with bright clean acids and plenty of tannin. Should be a very good wine in time. Not quite to the level of the '01.

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• 2004 Bodegas Muga Rioja Prado Enea Gran Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  A bit reserved on the nose with bits of pepper. Pretty fruit with bright acids. Tight and tannic. Needs plenty of time. Very nice potential.

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• 2001 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva Especial

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Still shows strong American oak characters with dill being prominent. Juicy with a bright structure. The acids really showed prominently today. One day I will kick myself for not buying more of this. Terrific if you like classic Rioja but needs time for that oak to integrate more.

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• 2001 Baron de Ley Rioja Gran Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Rich fruits but also with rustic brett and American oak notes. Vibrant dark berries in front of strong juicy acids. Light tannin. Very nice at the money for a gran reserva if not up to the standards of the better houses for the vintage.

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• 1998 Faustino Rioja Faustino I Gran Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Rustic nose with smokey American oak. Sweet baked fruits that are still young and nicely concentrated. Good length. A nice surprise.

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