Opened about two hours before serving. Colour light red (the lightest of the three, served side-by-side). Aromas of vanilla oak (American oak?). A plush, modern, red berry fruit-driven bouquet, showing a little cedar. On palate a big wine, showing a lot of oak. Very polished, with a silky texture. Very international, could almost be a Californian Cabernet Sauvignon or a South Australian Shiraz. Good mid palate depth and good length. Opened up a bit in the glass over the evening. I'd drink now, I don't think it will improve, but no hurry. Great QPR if you like this style.
Opened four hours before service (the minimum you need). Slow-oed. Colour impenetrable black red, the deepest of the three. At first a bouquet of bitumen, tar, rusty metal and wet soil. Then the aromas change to creme de cassis, smoke, liquorice, sour black cherry and roasted meats. Next it moves to crushed rock, minerals and dark plums, showing some spicy oak. An intriguing nose, not quite so interesting on palate. Initially the flavour profile is black berry fruit, tar, earthiness, black tea and sour cherry cola (not Pepsi, but with some sweetness). Later, in the glass, the palate fills out to some dark plums and red berry fruit, with savoury notes. Rich and opulent with a silky texture, quite modern in style, with ripe tannins. Good, deep mid palate, with good length. In the drinking window now (with good decanting) but will go 10 years more, easily. 100% Tempranillo.
Poured an hour after opening (it really needs more air than that). Deep red black. A bouquet that speaks evocatively of traditional Rioja: tar, black currants, blackberries, underbrush, cigar and smoky grilled meats. A little vanilla oak also on the nose. A savoury, slightly tart entry to the palate. Flavours of sour cherries, dark plums, dried red fruits, leather and a little cigar and tar. With time in the glass, the fruit flavours advanced and the acids and other flavours receded a little. Fairly lean with prominent acids and tannins, towards the traditional end of the Rioja spectrum. About medium weight with good depth and power. Finishes on mushroomy, savoury flavours and some grippy tannins. Drinking well now, will cellar 10 years easily, during which the savoury, secondary flavours would become more prominent. Good QPR if you like this style. A blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano, 20+ years old vines, aged in American and French oak for 24 months.
A great way to finish a meal, as an alternative to Sauternes. Brown red colour. Aromas of sultanas, raisins and other dried fruits, figs, prunes, cinnamon and other spices. In the mouth, flavours of brown sugar, molasses. burnt toffee, figs and raisins, like a traditional Christmas cake with dried and glazed fruit on top. To my palate, not too sweet or cloying, with sufficient acidity present, when drunk in small quantities. Good depth and nice texture. Paired beautifully with ice cream and preserved fruit in liqueur. Very inexpensive.
2006 Bodegas Viña Extremeña Vino de la Tierra Extremadura Monasterio de Tentudia 89 Points
Spain, Extremadura, Vino de la Tierra Extremadura
Opened about two hours before serving. Colour light red (the lightest of the three, served side-by-side). Aromas of vanilla oak (American oak?). A plush, modern, red berry fruit-driven bouquet, showing a little cedar. On palate a big wine, showing a lot of oak. Very polished, with a silky texture. Very international, could almost be a Californian Cabernet Sauvignon or a South Australian Shiraz. Good mid palate depth and good length. Opened up a bit in the glass over the evening. I'd drink now, I don't think it will improve, but no hurry. Great QPR if you like this style.
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2005 Finca Allende Rioja Allende 91 Points
Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
Opened four hours before service (the minimum you need). Slow-oed. Colour impenetrable black red, the deepest of the three. At first a bouquet of bitumen, tar, rusty metal and wet soil. Then the aromas change to creme de cassis, smoke, liquorice, sour black cherry and roasted meats. Next it moves to crushed rock, minerals and dark plums, showing some spicy oak. An intriguing nose, not quite so interesting on palate. Initially the flavour profile is black berry fruit, tar, earthiness, black tea and sour cherry cola (not Pepsi, but with some sweetness). Later, in the glass, the palate fills out to some dark plums and red berry fruit, with savoury notes. Rich and opulent with a silky texture, quite modern in style, with ripe tannins. Good, deep mid palate, with good length. In the drinking window now (with good decanting) but will go 10 years more, easily. 100% Tempranillo.
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2005 Bodegas LAN Rioja Gran Reserva 92 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Poured an hour after opening (it really needs more air than that). Deep red black. A bouquet that speaks evocatively of traditional Rioja: tar, black currants, blackberries, underbrush, cigar and smoky grilled meats. A little vanilla oak also on the nose. A savoury, slightly tart entry to the palate. Flavours of sour cherries, dark plums, dried red fruits, leather and a little cigar and tar. With time in the glass, the fruit flavours advanced and the acids and other flavours receded a little. Fairly lean with prominent acids and tannins, towards the traditional end of the Rioja spectrum. About medium weight with good depth and power. Finishes on mushroomy, savoury flavours and some grippy tannins. Drinking well now, will cellar 10 years easily, during which the savoury, secondary flavours would become more prominent. Good QPR if you like this style. A blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano, 20+ years old vines, aged in American and French oak for 24 months.
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NV Valdespino Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Pedro Ximenez "El Candado" 90 Points
Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry
A great way to finish a meal, as an alternative to Sauternes. Brown red colour. Aromas of sultanas, raisins and other dried fruits, figs, prunes, cinnamon and other spices. In the mouth, flavours of brown sugar, molasses. burnt toffee, figs and raisins, like a traditional Christmas cake with dried and glazed fruit on top. To my palate, not too sweet or cloying, with sufficient acidity present, when drunk in small quantities. Good depth and nice texture. Paired beautifully with ice cream and preserved fruit in liqueur. Very inexpensive.
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