WCC Rioja Blind

My local tasting group got together to taste Rioja blind. All the wines but 2 were provided by one member.

• 1993 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia 89 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  [Opened about 35 minutes before drinking.] Gorgeous tropical fruit nose. Very dry in the mouth. Tart tangerine. More balanced with shrimp cake.

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• 2003 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Viña Gravonia 91 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  [Opened around 5pm. Drunk around 7:30.] Complex fruit cocktail nose. Fascinating flavors of orange peel and spice. Long, complex finish. Needs food! Shines with the Shrimp Cake!

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• 1994 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia 89 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  [Double decanted at 5, drunk around 8.] Mature, dirty nose with just a hint of fruit. Quite mature in the mouth. Opening up and improve with more air. 89-?

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• 2001 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia 91 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  [Decanted for about 30 minutes; back in bottle about 90 minutes before drinking.] Beautiful bright red fruit in a Grenache-like nose. Smooth and silky in the mouth with some dry tannin on the finish. Awkward with the Shrimp Cake. May improve with more time.

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• 1996 Señorío de San Vicente Tempranillo Rioja San Vicente

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  [Opened about 45 minutes before drinking.] Muted nose of red fruit and mulch. Tannic red currant fruit with drying tannins on the finish. May improve significantly with more age. Judgement reserved.

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• 1994 Bodegas Campillo Rioja Gran Reserva 90 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  [Opened about 45 minutes before drinking.] Sour mulch nose. Cold, tannic. As it warms and breathes, it shows much better. Tasty.

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• 1996 Fernando Remírez de Ganuza Rioja Reserva 93 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  [Opened about 2 hours before drinking.] Muted slate and cherry nose. Complex, long, tarry. Best wine so far. Really stands out. My #3 wine by a close margin.

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• 1995 Bodegas LAN Rioja Reserva Viña Lanciano

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  [Opened about 40 minutes before consuming.] Dried cherry nose. Muted, tarry, sour. Not much. Bad bottle?

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• 1998 Artadi Viñas de Gain 92 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  [Opened about 40 minutes before consuming.] Tarry, tannic, but elegant. Needs time. Has potential. 92-94

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• 2001 Bodegas Sierra Cantabria Rioja Cuvée Especial 93 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  [Opened about 40 minutes before consuming.] Black cherry nose. Long, complex finish. Bright future. 93-94

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• 2001 Bodegas Muga Rioja Selección Especial 93 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  [Opened about 40 minutes before consuming.] Similar nose to the wine just before. Sweet, silky, with a touch of tannin. Drinking very nicely tonight. My #2 wine by a narrow margin. 93-94

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• 1998 Bodegas Muga Rioja Prado Enea Gran Reserva 94 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  [Double decanted around 4pm with 30 minutes of air. Served around 8:30.] Sweet red fruit nose. Delicious, long complex wine. Great balance. WOTN for me.

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• 1998 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904 91 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  [Double decanted around 4pm with 30 minutes of air. Served around 8:30.] Sweet, pleasant, mature. Ready now.

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• 2001 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva Especial 91 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  [Double decanted around 4pm with 30 minutes of air. Served around 8:30.] Elegant, sweet, slightly tannic. May need a little time.

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• 2001 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Viña Real Gran Reserva 92 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  [Double decanted around 4pm with 30 minutes of air. Served around 8:30.] Black fruit. Sweet and tasty. Not showing much complexity tonight, but appealing wine.

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A very interesting and educational tasting.

We did not vote in our usual way for wine of the night.
Instead we first voted for our favorite flight:
Flight 4 won hands down with 11 votes.
Flight 2 got 2 votes.
Flight 3 got one vote.

We then each just gave our top wine of the night:
3 said wine #8 and 3 said #10.
2 each said #12, #13, and #14.
1 each said #9 and #15.