Community Tasting Note

• fc1910 Likes this wine: 94 points

  March 20, 2020 - Bought this bottle yesterday, curious to know if there is something new to spot on the LRA horizon, as you might have read I am among the critics of the for me "new" or lets say "everybodys darling" style from Rioja.
  Since the 2001 vintage I found most of the filled bottles from LRA too less Rioja origin style, which means not really made for the long haul, low ABV, very elegant without much weight, and for a long life ahead if young with a demanding acidity, we or better I cannot escape the fact that most of the LRA Gran Reservas y Reservas come along with a juicy fullbodied fruit to impress young since 2001,
  after this introduction of my thoughts lets pnp!
  Initially this shows a strong note of licorice and tar, but in a very good way, on the palate licorice again, the american oak with nutty, earthy and smoky aromas, fresh, no....., lets say lively fruit on the midpalate, more red fruit driven at the moment, the again 13,5% alcohol is very well covered and balanced by the enormous pronounced acid, mouthfilling after swallowing, ripe tannin, this wine is a baby so far but that delicious tonight, cause in this case the bodega has found the right proportions between drinkability young and if you like, to cellar this one easily two decades(+), since the 2001 vintage the first really great showing in my honest opinion, highly recommended! **(* *-*****), 93-96(+) potential in a decade+!
  
  And I forgot to post something about the incredible QPR, this is one of the blue chips from the whole wine world, you can buy this for around 35-40€, dollars, pounds etc, you get an extraordinary quality and for me the best argument, you are free to enjoy this bottling during the next decades, so there are many reasons to purchase at least one whole case.
  
  Update 24 hours later: nothing has changed essentially, refined showing with great elegance, fresh fruit and this vibrant mouthwatering acidity!

  13 people found this helpful 11,899 views

22 Comments

• Vinomazing commented:

  3/20/20, 3:54 PM - Good stuff, keep safe VM

• srh commented:

  3/20/20, 4:08 PM - WOW! :) THANK you for your effort in posting SUCH a *comprehensive* TN! :)

• hermesbach32 commented:

  3/20/20, 5:03 PM - Thanks for the very helpful tasting note!

• fc1910 commented:

  3/21/20, 1:49 AM - Hi CT- crowd,
  I do thank you all for reading my TN!
  This is very motivating!
  Cheers from hamburg

• tward commented:

  4/5/20, 9:42 AM - Thank you for your excellent note. The use American oak makes me nervous, because I often find that producers who use American oak are applying a lot of toast to the barrel which results in very strong vanilla flavors and also something I detest in wine, coconut. In particular, European producers who favor American oak are usually aiming a an "international" style generally and more specifically the sweet, heavy, ripe style that has been favored by American wine critics and thus has formed too many people's expectations and preferences.
  
  But if I read your note correctly, you indicate that this vintage returns to a more "classic" style.

• srh commented:

  4/5/20, 10:01 AM - tward, THANK you for your COGENT info! :)

• fc1910 commented:

  4/6/20, 9:31 AM - Hi again CT- crowd,
  so far as I do know is using american oak the one and only classic style for Rioja Crianza, Reserva, GR!
  The use of french or oak from elsewhere is a newbie at la Rioja.
  
  But as I am not sure definately, I have asked one who will know about this fact!
  A collector from origin!
  What I do know, cause I have been there is, that especially LRA and LdeH have their own barrel carpentry.
  And they normally do not use new barrels cause this gives too much "wrong" taste to their wines.
  Would not put the use of american oak to the "international" style.
  Concentration aka "international" style for me has more to do when picking the grapes, type of fermentation and use of new barrels.
  But lets wait and see, if an Initiate from the peninsula add a comment!
  Cheers from Hamburg

• Los 12 Glotones commented:

  4/6/20, 11:34 AM - Moin moin!!
  
  You prove the rule: "Good Riesling drinker, bad wine drinker" ;-)
  
  More seriously, I read your tasting note and the feedbacks. I think it's not all about the oak, or new barrels, or coconut. Cask is just a container. My idea-ideal of traditional Rioja is a wine to pair with food; mainly legumes, chorizo lentils or chickpea stew, but definitely not at all sophisticated. It's that simple! A wine easily recognisable and ready to drink- usually aged for a long time-, medium-bodied, low alcohol content, balanced, very far from the standards at the present time. A wine closer to mid-19th century than current times. And it has such an incredible ageing potential. No doubt, it's not in tune with the times
  
  Think about La Rioja Alta winery: how to respond to market demands? How to increase production and profits without betraying who and what you are? How to maintain quality (in other words, ratings)? And what about greed?
  
  To be frank, no idea. But I can see too much ratings, too much US Parker vision, too much points and too much wine produced to be rated and successfully marketed.
  
  2010 was a terrific year in Rioja, and it has even a greater ageing potential than 2001. 904 Grva 2010 is clearly better than recent releases but I'm not entirely convinced about the ageing potential in long term. I think this wine will reach its peak in a short period of time: 5-8 years max? Not too generous for a classic Rioja. And then? Maybe a plateau of 10 more years? And then? a courageous and sustained declined curve of consumption? This is Rioja, not Bordeaux!!
  
  As I told you, too much Riesling Herr Ott! I know you're a sensitive guy so try to drink more good Rioja.
  
  Warmest regards!!

• Harley1199 commented:

  4/6/20, 3:20 PM - Dear fc1910, after 12 Glotones ideas what else can be added?
  Basically I agree about what a classic Rioja represents. These essential elements are in a frank betroyal. Even among everlasting wineries. Pitiful and real.
  About 2010 vintage it is the last one I bought profusely with the intention of let it lay down but sincerely I've just low expectations b'cause as 12 G said it is generally admitted that it will be peaking next 2025 and that's all. So glad to read you really enjoyed it and at the same time opened a new vision on Rioja wines ;-) Balance, refreshing acidity and ageing. As simple as that.
  Finally about coconut, one of my favourite items when I have to discuss with northamericans mates, I'm still convinced people abducted by that smell and flavour is living close to a popular fair in a small village or just their consume of that tropical fruit is higher than the standard or need to re-educate their nose and palate urgently. As 12 G indicated the use of white American oak, medium toasted, it is the traditional way to made Rioja for more than a century on the other hand French oak is widely used in RdD elaborating same grape wirh a completely diferent results. Question of taste.
  Saludos desde la p#ta cuarentena española y en cuanto al champán opino como Churchill en la derrota lo necesito y en la victoria lo merezco. Un abrazo a ambos

• srh commented:

  4/6/20, 4:02 PM - Harley1199, THANK you for adding, & DO stay safe, ok?

• Harley1199 commented:

  4/6/20, 4:10 PM - Thanks ... U2

• fc1910 commented:

  4/7/20, 10:09 AM - Hi @ all CT-crowd,
  hmmm, now we know the peninsula view.
  And the reason why a lot of bodegas change their style.
  
  But without any doubt Rioja wine is identified by all wine drinkers easily by it´s use of american oak.
  And no matter, if it is just a container, for most of this wine nerds it is a strong proof of identity, no matter if you like for instance flavours of coconut or not.
  Thanks for all your comments!
  Cheers again from the today sunny northern Old world

• Los 12 Glotones commented:

  4/9/20, 2:11 AM - I've never found this "coconut" in a traditional old fine Rioja wine. This is not because the origin of the oak: american, french, slovenian, russian, or whatever else. This is because of the age of the oak.
  
  Classic 1900-to-1960 Riojas used to be fermented in big wooden vats, very old (from the last decades of the 19th century, purchased by the founders of the winery). Wines fermented and matured for 2 years, racked vat to vat every 6 or 12 months. At least 1 time. Risky? Of course!!! Extremely risky but result made it worthwhile... Just pay attention to La Rioja Alta winery: 890 and 904 Grva are both fermented in stainless steel tanks. Why? To preserve the whole must and increase production. Temperature monitoring is ok, technology helps, bla bla bla, but magic fades away. Current 890s and 904s are not vinified to be tasted in 50 years. Both are made to be rated 95-100 points.

• Harley1199 commented:

  4/9/20, 3:00 AM - Amen

• fc1910 commented:

  4/9/20, 5:18 AM - Hola de nueve a los catolicos and the rest of the crowd!
  
  Since I enjoyed and purchased Rioja, for more than 30 years now there is this more or less american oak taste.
  
  Coconut, o.k., about flavors can be discussed for hours.........,
  
  and ONLY because I am taken care of by you, aka presented much older bottles I did come in touch with the very classic style!
  
  Thanks again for all your views and stay healthy!

• Harley1199 commented:

  4/9/20, 8:12 AM - Catholics? Well then ...
  https://youtu.be/PDBjsFAyiwA
  
  Sorry if the subtittle automatic translation changes protestant for prostitute :')
  Coconut oil sales are going up brother.
  Cheers!

• Vinomazing commented:

  4/10/20, 11:11 AM - Does this wine taste like a pina colada to anyone else? lol

• fc1910 commented:

  4/10/20, 11:52 AM - Hi Los12G and Harley,
  got your point with the age of the oak,
  saludos cordiales y un abrazo a Bilbao y Madrid

• Harley1199 commented:

  4/10/20, 12:08 PM - Dear Vinomazing,
  In my illiterated point of view, some aristocratic, upper-lip noses can't separate what it is moist leather and something like coconut. That's all. But meanwhile here we're entertain us ...
  Happy and safe quarantine

• Vinomazing commented:

  4/10/20, 12:29 PM - Hehe...some fun added to the very intellectual conversation...the back and forth is actually very revealing of much information many of us do not know or know yet, already helped by putting some things in place was pondering. Thanks all and stay safe...

• fc1910 commented:

  4/10/20, 9:54 PM - Will open an 2001 and 2010 GR 904 to compare with the sharpened view soon again.
  I do like this forum very much, all this subjective opinions striking the objektive facts!
  And never mind having some fun after all.............., and to be honest: talking about a pina colada I saw myself sitting in the sunset at the beach of Samana at la Republica Dominicana, not the worst memorys after all................, :)

• srh commented:

  4/11/20, 10:21 AM - fc1910, "...I saw myself sitting in the sunset at the beach of Samana at la Republica Dominicana, not the worst memorys after all..." PARTICULARLY so in this time of COVID-19! Sigh...

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