Medium minus garnet. Dark nose - dried blackberry, dried cherry, mushroom, slight brett. Oxidation - bruised, dried apple. Oak (100% French) presents as dried, roasted coffee and baking spices. On the palate, - dry - medium body - medium alcohol - feels 13% - medium plus acid - medium tannins - rounded and softened with age Oak presents on the midpalate and finish as freshly-sanded wood, cinnamon.
Medium minus garnet. Sweet dried and stewed fruit - black cherry, red cherry. Tamari-soy notes of age. A prickle of possible VA (balsamic).
The oak presents as a sort of higher-toned sweetness, with a prickle of dill pickle chips. On the palate - dry - medium body - medium alcohol - high acid (zippier than the '05 M. de Riscal GR) - medium tannins - rounded with age Oak presents as a higher-toned sweetness, vanilla, slightly green/woody (dill).
Medium minus ruby with garnet at the rim. Darkest of the three. Earthy nose with red cherry, slight brett, mushroom, and lots of oak influence - coffee, dried baking spices, more of the high-toned green wood notes that are like fresh dill stalks. - dry - medium body - medium alcohol - high acid - medium tannins - a little greener/harsher than the LdH or M. de Riscal GR. Oak on the palate presents as sawdust, green wood, fresh cinnamon.
Deep ruby-purple. This is fruit-driven with blackcurrant - fresh and in liqueur form, blackberry - fresh, both ripe and tart. Oak presents as fresh coffee grounds - like in a pour-over at Four Barrel, when they grind the coffee then offer the tin to you to smell. Really lovely mix of maillard aromas. On the palate there's a hint of freshly-sanded wood, as well as baking spices - cinnamon, nutmeg, etc. Beautiful oak integration.
2005 Marqués de Riscal Rioja Gran Reserva
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja
Medium minus garnet.
Dark nose - dried blackberry, dried cherry, mushroom, slight brett. Oxidation - bruised, dried apple.
Oak (100% French) presents as dried, roasted coffee and baking spices.
On the palate,
- dry
- medium body
- medium alcohol - feels 13%
- medium plus acid
- medium tannins - rounded and softened with age
Oak presents on the midpalate and finish as freshly-sanded wood, cinnamon.
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2004 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Medium minus garnet.
Sweet dried and stewed fruit - black cherry, red cherry. Tamari-soy notes of age. A prickle of possible VA (balsamic).
The oak presents as a sort of higher-toned sweetness, with a prickle of dill pickle chips.
On the palate
- dry
- medium body
- medium alcohol
- high acid (zippier than the '05 M. de Riscal GR)
- medium tannins - rounded with age
Oak presents as a higher-toned sweetness, vanilla, slightly green/woody (dill).
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2007 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Medium minus ruby with garnet at the rim. Darkest of the three.
Earthy nose with red cherry, slight brett, mushroom, and lots of oak influence - coffee, dried baking spices, more of the high-toned green wood notes that are like fresh dill stalks.
- dry
- medium body
- medium alcohol
- high acid
- medium tannins - a little greener/harsher than the LdH or M. de Riscal GR.
Oak on the palate presents as sawdust, green wood, fresh cinnamon.
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2013 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst
USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
Deep ruby-purple.
This is fruit-driven with blackcurrant - fresh and in liqueur form, blackberry - fresh, both ripe and tart.
Oak presents as fresh coffee grounds - like in a pour-over at Four Barrel, when they grind the coffee then offer the tin to you to smell. Really lovely mix of maillard aromas. On the palate there's a hint of freshly-sanded wood, as well as baking spices - cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.
Beautiful oak integration.
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