Spectacular Spanish Reds

This was a great tasting as I don't often open Spanish wines (not sure why not, but nevertheless). It was nice tasting a variety of Spanish wines, and I learned I lean toward Priorat wines. As always, good wine and good friends make for a great tasting!

• 2008 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia 94 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Spanish Spectacular Zoom Tasting
  
  Wines: This was a very nice tasting, conducted as a single blind (we knew the wines, but not which was which). The wines featured included the following:
  2008 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia (Starter wine)
  2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat
  2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto
  2005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904
  2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster
  2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Vlabuena 5°
  NV Pedro Ximenez Spinola Sherry (Desert wine)
  
  Prep: Wines were decanted for about 10 mins then poured/filtered into jars for transport, and consumed 2-4 hours later.
  
  Scores: The group's top 3 wines were: WOTN = 2005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904, two wines tied for second = 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat, and 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster. My order was as follows: WOTN = 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster, #2 = 005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904, #3 = 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat, #4 (tie) = 2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Vlabuena 5° and 2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto.
  
  Review:
  2008 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia - This wine was a pleasant surprise for me. I typically don't care for many white wines that aren't sweet or Chardonnay, but this was good juice! On the nose, there was lots of lemon creme, toasted coconut and toast, as well as some white flowers. The palate, in contrast, showed minerality, saline, herbs, lemon peel and bees wax. It was a pleasant combination that had me reaching for more. I may have to add this wine to my collection. I scored this the same as my highest score for a red wine, and certainly the highest score I can recall giving to a wine that was not sweet, sparkling or Chardonnay. At $60, it offers a nice QPR IMO. Scored 94 for its uniqueness and taste!

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• 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat Vall Llach 93 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  Spanish Spectacular Zoom Tasting
  
  Wines: This was a very nice tasting, conducted as a single blind (we knew the wines, but not which was which). The wines featured included the following:
  2008 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia (Starter wine)
  2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat
  2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto
  2005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904
  2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster
  2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Vlabuena 5°
  NV Pedro Ximenez Spinola Sherry (Desert wine)
  
  Prep: Wines were decanted for about 10 mins then poured/filtered into jars for transport, and consumed 2-4 hours later.
  
  Scores: The group's top 3 wines were: WOTN = 2005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904, two wines tied for second = 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat, and 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster. My order was as follows: WOTN = 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster, #2 = 005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904, #3 = 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat, #4 (tie) = 2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Vlabuena 5° and 2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto.
  
  Review:
  2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat Vall Llach - This wine was very good. It drank much younger than it's age, and I guessed this to be the 2005 Rioja. The nose was sweet (but not as sweet as the actual 2005 Rioja) and the wine showed plenty of blue fruit on the nose and palate. The nose also contained some sweet, toasted oak and some purple flowers. The palate was well balanced, but had layers of blue fruit, herbs, forest floor, some leather notes and some vanilla. This was a very nice wine, and I could see it getting better with a little more time (although it is drinking quite well now). No heat and fine tannins, with a medium finish. Delicious! Easy 93 for me. Group's # 2 (tied) and my #3. This tasting showed me I do seem to gravitate to the Priorats!

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• 2004 Bodegas AAlto Ribera del Duero AAlto 92 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  Spanish Spectacular Zoom Tasting
  
  Wines: This was a very nice tasting, conducted as a single blind (we knew the wines, but not which was which). The wines featured included the following:
  2008 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia (Starter wine)
  2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat
  2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto
  2005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904
  2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster
  2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Vlabuena 5°
  NV Pedro Ximenez Spinola Sherry (Desert wine)
  
  Prep: Wines were decanted for about 10 mins then poured/filtered into jars for transport, and consumed 2-4 hours later.
  
  Scores: The group's top 3 wines were: WOTN = 2005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904, two wines tied for second = 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat, and 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster. My order was as follows: WOTN = 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster, #2 = 005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904, #3 = 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat, #4 (tie) = 2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Vlabuena 5° and 2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto.
  
  Review:
  2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto - This wine was drinking much younger than its age. I respectfully disagree with other commentators who believe this wine is either peaking or past its peak. I would say there is plenty of unresolved fruit and tannin for this wine to improve quite a bit more. I actually guessed this to be one of the 2009's. The nose, while not as pronounced as the two Priorat wines or the Rioja, was still very nice, with plum preserves, cigar box and herbs, with hints of perfume in the background. The palate showed plenty of red fruit, including red current, along with toasted oak, some forest floor, and some chewy tannins. Finish was medium-short, but taste was still very good. I just had a feeling it was still too young. Even though this wine held its own with some excellent competition, I feel its best years are in front of it, rather than behind it. If I had multiple bottles I would pop one open now for reference. If I only had a couple bottles, I would wait a couple more years before popping open my first one. 92 points tonight, but a chance to gain a point or so in the future. My # 4 wine, but an easy 92.

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• 2005 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904 93 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Spanish Spectacular Zoom Tasting
  
  Wines: This was a very nice tasting, conducted as a single blind (we knew the wines, but not which was which). The wines featured included the following:
  2008 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia (Starter wine)
  2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat
  2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto
  2005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904
  2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster
  2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Vlabuena 5°
  NV Pedro Ximenez Spinola Sherry (Desert wine)
  
  Prep: Wines were decanted for about 10 mins then poured/filtered into jars for transport, and consumed 2-4 hours later.
  
  Scores: The group's top 3 wines were: WOTN = 2005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904, two wines tied for second = 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat, and 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster. My order was as follows: WOTN = 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster, #2 = 005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904, #3 = 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat, #4 (tie) = 2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Vlabuena 5° and 2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto.
  
  Review:
  2005 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904 - This was the group's WOTN and my number 2 pick. I actually thought this was the 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat because, for me, it tasted the oldest of all the wines. The nose was the best of the group, perfumed with lavender and black fruit, also showing earth, cigar box and spice. The palate was well integrated and balanced, showing a nice dose of fruit (blackberry and cherry) and tertiary flavors ( tobacco, leather and earth) with hints of vanilla (presumably from the oak). This is a delicious wine with an awesome nose, and is drinking quite well now. I don't see this wine improving, but it seems to have enough to hold for a while (but I wouldn't wait too long, i.e. a year, unless you don't care about the fruit and want more tertiary flavors, IMO). This was a close second for me, but only because I liked the longer finish on the 2009 Priorat. Easily 93+ points.

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• 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinén Coster 94 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  Spanish Spectacular Zoom Tasting
  
  Wines: This was a very nice tasting, conducted as a single blind (we knew the wines, but not which was which). The wines featured included the following:
  2008 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia (Starter wine)
  2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat
  2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto
  2005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904
  2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster
  2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Vlabuena 5°
  NV Pedro Ximenez Spinola Sherry (Desert wine)
  
  Prep: Wines were decanted for about 10 mins then poured/filtered into jars for transport, and consumed 2-4 hours later.
  
  Scores: The group's top 3 wines were: WOTN = 2005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904, two wines tied for second = 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat, and 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster. My order was as follows: WOTN = 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster, #2 = 005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904, #3 = 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat, #4 (tie) = 2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Vlabuena 5° and 2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto.
  
  Review:
  2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster - This was my WOTN and tied for the group's #2. I actually thought this was the 2009 Vega Sicilia Valbuena because of the super long finish, rich fruit and balance. This wine was drinking young, but was still balanced. Plenty of fruit, acidity, some tertiary flavors and refined tannins that were well-integrated into the fruit. I would say this is drinking quite well now, but still has some upside. I wish I had a few more bottles to follow its evolution. Nose was slightly perfumed with violets, cherry and sweet toasted oak. The palate was dominated by red and blue fruit, and some anise, herbs and integrated oak. The finish was long with notes of blueberries, licorice and vanilla. A glorious wine that I thoroughly enjoyed. No problem scoring this wine 94 points.

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• 2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Valbuena 5° 92 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  Spanish Spectacular Zoom Tasting
  
  Wines: This was a very nice tasting, conducted as a single blind (we knew the wines, but not which was which). The wines featured included the following:
  2008 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia (Starter wine)
  2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat
  2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto
  2005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904
  2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster
  2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Vlabuena 5°
  NV Pedro Ximenez Spinola Sherry (Desert wine)
  
  Prep: Wines were decanted for about 10 mins then poured/filtered into jars for transport, and consumed 2-4 hours later.
  
  Scores: The group's top 3 wines were: WOTN = 2005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904, two wines tied for second = 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat, and 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster. My order was as follows: WOTN = 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster, #2 = 005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904, #3 = 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat, #4 (tie) = 2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Vlabuena 5° and 2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto.
  
  Review:
  2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Valbuena 5° - Even though I scored this a 92 (which normally is a very good score), I felt, based on the notes in CT, that this wine would have performed better (I really expected it to be WOTN). I correctly guessed this was a 2009 wine, but thought it was the Priorat, rather than the VS Valbuena. Based on this bottle, I must say I disagree with some of the notes in CT, i.e., I don't think this wine is anywhere near its peak. This wine was much more fruit-forward than any of the other wines. Nice nose with dark fruit and oak dominating, but some herbs and leather also in the background. The palate was mostly red fruit with tart cherry and currant dominating, but also plenty of oak, spice and earth also present. Finish was medium. 92 points for now, but I will disappointed if it is not a point or two higher in a few more years. Very drinkable now, but should improve.

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• NV Bodegas Ximénez-Spínola Pedro Ximénez 91 Points

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  Spanish Spectacular Zoom Tasting
  
  Wines: This was a very nice tasting, conducted as a single blind (we knew the wines, but not which was which). The wines featured included the following:
  2008 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia (Starter wine)
  2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat
  2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto
  2005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904
  2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster
  2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Vlabuena 5°
  NV Pedro Ximenez Spinola Sherry (Desert wine)
  
  Prep: Wines were decanted for about 10 mins then poured/filtered into jars for transport, and consumed 2-4 hours later.
  
  Scores: The group's top 3 wines were: WOTN = 2005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904, two wines tied for second = 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat, and 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster. My order was as follows: WOTN = 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinen Coster, #2 = 005 La Rioja Gran Reservea 904, #3 = 2001 Celler Vall Llach Priorat, #4 (tie) = 2009 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Vlabuena 5° and 2004 Bodegas Aalto Ribera del Duero Aalto.
  
  Review:
  NV Bodegas Ximenez-Spinola Pedro Ximénez - This wine was offered for desert, and it was a very good finish to an excellent tasting! Dried plums stood out as the dominant flavor here. However, there was some acidity that prevented the wine from being cloying, although quite sweet. This would be a nice wine to sip in front of a roaring fire. 90-91 points.

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This is not as good as in person get-togethers, but it sure beats drinking alone!