Setting the foundation

A fun and interesting precursor for someone's curious taste buds.

• 2015 La Rioja Alta Rioja 904 Gran Reserva 'Selección Especial' 94 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Nose: Fresh green earth, aromatic tobacco, gentle smoke and fresh red fruits. Damp earth on this really helps round things out for a softer landing. With some time, the nose becomes so much more refined in terms of balance, with the addition of baked pastries and a gentle syrup.
  
  Palate: Spiced red fruits with dried herbs and earth, dried and spiced oak, and dried twigs. The spice here is quite pronounced initially. Light body yet good intensity. Sweetness on the nose eventually shows up here too, bringing a sense of heft while staying swift on the palate.
  
  Interesting and rustic to begin with, then later developed into something that was more giving in the syrup department, and not in a bad way neither. It started giving comfortable and familiar homey feel to it.
  
  Rank: 2 / 5

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• 2021 Alvaro Palacios Priorat Vi de Vila Gratallops 95 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  Nose: Light and aromatic pink florals and fresh red fruits, and a scent of light fresh earth as if you're approaching an open dirt field from a trail. Light berries and a bit wet, shiny minerals that seems to provide a sense of fresh tartness.
  
  Palate: Gentle red berries, similar flowers from the nose, a touch of steel wool, and a fresh light and bright body. So gentle and caressing on the palate, giving the wine a sexy, airy and supple texture.
  
  So graceful and captivating on the palate. The intensity and power of the flavors matched the ethereal texture this provided. Like most of the wines in the line up though, this shouldn't be given prolonged air time. This unfortunately starting showing more sour notes. Enjoy sooner than later after opening.
  
  Rank: 1 / 5

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• 2018 Dominio del Aguila Ribera del Duero Reserva 93 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  Nose: Dark, funky earth with rotting damp tree bark, mulch, wet undergrowth. Darker profile. Some heavy must, could be in a good way if that’s your jam. Brett is strong here with some time.
  
  Palate: Dark plums, would be more fruit-forward but the drying tannins really help keep that in check. Drying steeped tea and drying tree oak on the finish. Not as much funk on the palate.
  
  Welp, I lied. The funk appears on the finish with some time, a bit subtle. On the front the and mid, the funk doesn’t appear as much. This funk is like if fruit can sweat and/or be musty, reminds me a bit of the funk you get from some French wine as well. Better earlier on than later.
  
  Rank: 4 / 5

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• 2019 Vietti Barolo Castiglione 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Nose: Scents of tiny, rustic red and blue berries with thick, hard skins that’s freshly plucked from the earth. With some time, aromas becomes more intense and floral, with a striking dry, stony essence.
  
  Palate: Light but fresh and intense red fruits, tannins for days and in the best ways, providing a steeped tea finish and frayed oak, dragging out the delicate, fresh fruits. The oak is tasty here. Dark minerals are revealed with time, laced throughout. The tannins loosen a bit as well.
  
  Drink sooner than later - with too much air time, this starts to get a bit disjointed. This was more enjoyable in the earlier stages.
  
  Rank: 3 / 5

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• 2016 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Nose: Warm, deep leather that seems like it might give way to something (it doesn't).. gentle funkiness slowly grows, almost like boiled shiitake mushrooms, and funky mulch. Wet tree bark as this is given more time.
  
  Palate: Dark, yet lifted fruits, nice earth, good freshness while maintaining a dark profile. The leather from the nose is a less pronounced on the palate. Spiced earth. With time, it finishes with heavily steeped tea, boiled shiitake mushrooms and steel wool.
  
  Funk. City. With time, this just seemed to somehow reduced down to more concentrated aromas and flavors of mushrooms, leather and funk. Definitely don't give this more time once opened, unless a small excursion to funk city is up your alley.
  
  Rank: 5 / 5

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Some wine is meant to consumed sooner than later after opening. That seemed to be the case for almost all of the wines in this line up.