Rioja and Ribera

Cambio del Tercio
Tasted Friday, October 25, 2013 by SimonG with 625 views

Flight 1 (1 Note)

Flight 2 (3 Notes)

  • 2011 Conde Fabrice de Suyrot El Mussol 88 Points

    Spain, Balearic Islands

    Oily, fruity, very fragrant. An extrovert. Presumably a flashy Albariño, though out of context it could be Gewurtztraminer etc. turns out to be Mallorcan Malvasia. Slightly metallic edge to the dry finish. Full, interesting and good, but not my cup of tea. ***

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  • 1996 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia 91 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    Slightly oily, waxy lanolin. Nicely dry after quite a ripe and padded mid-palate. Mid weight. Ripe and rich through the middle. Very decent in a slightly showy manner. ****

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  • 1991 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia 94 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    A heavier, waxy lanolin character on the nose cf the 96 Res. More mineral and linear on the palate, showing a little more age and tradition. Dense. A brooding power. Very mellow and smooth and poised. Lovely. Lots of depth here. Lovely texture too. ****1/2

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Flight 3 (3 Notes)

Flight 4 (3 Notes)

  • 1970 Bodegas Franco-Españolas Rioja Cosecha Especial Bordón 91 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

    Sweet, brightest red fruit, nicely mellow. A touch of vanilla and spice. Quite harmonious. Showing as well as previously. ****

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  • 1995 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 890 92 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    Quite high toned. A bit volatile. Good acidity. A little prickle. Some coconut/vanilla after a while on the nose, but this is quite tight and less forthcoming than a 94 last month. Feels very young. Tight velvet. Needs time. ***(*)

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  • 1976 Bodegas Muga Rioja Prado Enea Reserva 91 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    Full garnet. Silky smooth nose of red fruit, the faintest touch of soy and honey. Mellow and smooth, elegant. Lots of interest but all in a minor key. Starts to thin with air. Losing some padding on the finish and the nose drops off too. This bottle probably better a decade ago. (*)***

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Flight 5 (2 Notes)

Flight 6 (3 Notes)

  • 1999 Pago de Carraovejas Ribera del Duero Reserva 82 Points

    Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

    Volatile, slightly rubbery nose. A bit rubbery, high toned, disjointed, dry. Really not too pleasant. Dry tannins have overtaken the slightly confused fruit on the finish. Not for me. Bare ** with the right food.

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  • 2001 Bodegas y Viñedos Alión Ribera del Duero 88 Points

    Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

    Some similarities with the rubbery 03, though whereas one was down wind of that, we're slightly upwind here. Reasonable balance, a pinch of raspberry fruit, but I think this is going through a phase - a couple of bottles in 2006 were so much nicer. ***

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  • 2003 Bodegas y Viñedos Alión Ribera del Duero 87 Points

    Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

    Curious dark, stinky nose. South African rubber from the bad old days. Blue black fruit. Smooth, a touch jammy. Thick. This should be labelled Malbec. Ribena is cheaper. Again, this could show reasonably with the right food, but coming at the end of an evening of mature Rioja is doing this no favours. ***

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Flight 7 (1 Note)

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