May 30, 2020 - Mediocre/ordinary. The wine seemed fatigued, but it was not over the hill. Although some aromas, fruit & tannins were evident, the tasting and finish were just plain ordinary.
January 5, 2020 - Not much to be excited about here. This my second (and, thankfully last) bottle. This is from a properly cellared bottle, and in perfect condition in every way, and hence my expectations for something better. Rather tart at first taste with pronounced alcohol heat. Overall, mainly fruit driven, with some spices on the nose, leather, black currant, maybe thyme and oregano (never used that to describe a wine before - oregano?? - but it seems apt here). The midpalate and finish is much better. The fruit seems to integrate into a nice finish. If it was not for the pronounced tartness and the somewhat alcohol-dominant showing upfront, this would be so much better. I doubt this will improve with further aging, but I will not be the one putting this idea to the test.
November 3, 2018 - Very good QPR. Echo comments by Javamonkey.
December 22, 2017 - Note later - bringing to dinner party.
September 3, 2016 - Fun bottle, especially out of the 3L format. Didn't show much age(likely due to format) but don't think it has much to gain from additional aging.
March 16, 2015 - Russk. Just too tart to finish
March 7, 2015 - Good, nice fruit, raspberry, a little smoke. Medium-full bodied.
August 20, 2014 - Low aroma and not much fruit, wine seemed older than 09 but in a good way. There was leather, spice and violets. A very nice bottle and at $12 a steal.
January 9, 2014 - This wine is gross. Tastes like a wet saddle.
May 3, 2013 - C: purple-black
N: red fruits, smoke, floral, marzipan
P: red raspberry, strawberry, dark chocolate
F: long
Give this some time to breathe. Enjoyed this, but won't pop another of this vintage for at least a year. Rough on the PnP, but opens nicely with enough time.
Ripping acidity, chewy mouth-drying tannins, and delicious! Enough acidity to balance (perhaps "and then some") the fruit. Enough oak to say to me "Toro", but not so much to make it the "oak monster". Excellent QPR.
Tasted in Riedel Tempranillo glass.