Riojathon

Wonderful company, wine and my gosh, exquisite food. A Wandsworth Common Hen of the Woods was a singular treat.

• NV Pedro's Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Fino Almacenista Selection

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  Lovely - light, salty, nutty but has a bit of breadth to it. Goes well with salty snacks…

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• 2003 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Viña Gravonia

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Colour - deep gold. Fresh, a kind of vanilla cream character and real backbone. White of the night and probably 2 or 3 of the night overall. Yum.

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• 2006 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Viña Gravonia

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Paler in colour than the 03 but also with a slightly earthier nose - someone said saltpeter. Rereading previous notes - I think this was a slightly off bottle - still a lovely drink (and I went back to it twice over the evening) but a slight funk to it.

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• 1970 Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Monte Real Gran Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Served blind. On the downslope I think (although some discussion about what that means- I mean not improving rather than rapidly declining) - some tertiary aspect there - beetroot, damp herbs, but still a purity of fruit and a real acid character. A privilege to taste and so much life.

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• 1991 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  More purple colour - still so fresh. Revealed as a 91 - this stuff just keeps going. A certain glossiness to it - stems? No rush to drink these if you have them but golly it’s a nice drop.

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• 2001 Faustino Rioja I Gran Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Served blind. Earthy nose - hint of funk - discussion about Brett - consensus was no but…something animale here. Liver and meat but lovely depth. Good stuff.-

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• 2001 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  A kind of vanilla nose - this felt like a 1980s music video. Compared to previous bottles more coconut - wonder if this wasn’t quite right.

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• 2001 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  On serving - something funky, va? Then that started to blow off - a kind of earth sweetness, orange peel, good but not as good as the best bottles I’ve had.

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• 2005 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Light on its feet. A delightful chocolate, savoury note to it. Really showed well in a pretty compelling field.

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• 2007 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Bosconia

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Served last of the reds - vibrant, good acid and a savoury character - the acid and tannin are in good balance. This is more than decent.

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• NV Williams & Humbert Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Don Zoilo Amontillado en rama 15 years

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  So by this stage the palate is tired but this is lovely - dry, vibrant, nutty, somewhat broad shouldered but dancing quite delicately...just the ticket.

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