March 4, 2024 - Nose: medium(+) intensity with aromas of cedar, herbs, earth, wet leaves, red- and blackcurrant.
Palate: dry wine, high acidity and medium tannins. Medium body and medium(+) flavour intensity with aromas of resin, cedar, tobacco, chili heat and herbs.
Trevligt, säkert jättebra matvin.
September 28, 2023 - this is a nice bottle. light to medium body, but great fresh mouth feel, tannins still fiesta, decent fruit, chocolate, cherries, really nice. 5 years? needs a good hour or 2 decant
April 30, 2023 - 90 minute decant. Medium bodied with medium- acidity and tannins. Cedar and leather predominate on the nose and palate, underpinned by dark fruit. Tart, medium finish. Third bottle of three that were gifted. All three were marred by cork that immediately crumbled to bits and pieces and required near-surgery to remove and filtration afterwards. While the wine was pleasant enough, food friendly and a lists at a good PQR, the cork issue alone would deter me from buying any on my own.
March 11, 2023 - Rubinrød helt klar farge. Relativ mørk.
Duften av eik kommer ut av glasset og er det første som møter deg når du tar nesa ned mot glasset. Bak eiken er det søte, godt modne mørke bær.
Mørke bør dominerer også på smak. Kraftig. Mye eik også på smak. Fortsatt litt tanniner. Sitter relativt lenge igjen i munnen.
God, men litt mye eik.
February 9, 2023 - Burnished light magenta. Spice, cedar, and burnt cherry nose. Light to medium bodied, tart cranberries, aged cherries, white pepper, woody tannins, good acid, and a tart, medium length finish. Got better the longer it was open.
August 27, 2021 - Day 1: A bit better than the last time I opened a 13. Celery, raspberries, minerals and dust. Picks up some dill and mild oak on the finish. Good overall value. 87 points
Day 2: Getting a little bettter. Very smooth overall with raspberries, mild dill, wood, spice and dust. Pleasant wine but does not offer the complexity and enjoyment of the 2021. 88 points
Day 3: More Rioja like on day 3 with wood, dill, mild funk, dust, spice and earth. Not a bad effort on this bottle and much better than the last one I had. Still not 2021 level. 88+
Recommendation: Buy 2012 if you can over 13 but for under $15.00 a good value.
April 30, 2021 - On the second day, out of recorked half-bottle, decanted an hour, this was really fine. Stylistically, it is semi-traditional, with old American oak, notes of the penicillin mold in the deep, cold Rioja cellars, and plenty of dark, warm, spicy fruit. Perhaps the 14% alcohol is a bit too noticeable in the finish. I am sure it would be great in 20 years if kept in a cold cellar. At the price point it can compete with a favourite like Cubillo and that's saying a lot.
December 27, 2020 - I picked this up in Madrid and finally opened this for a virtual wine tasting on northern Spain wines. It was very delightful with fresh fruit, good, smooth structure, and a well-rounded mouthfeel. The finish was medium in length. I found the 2014 vintage at Total Wine and bought more.
July 17, 2020 - This bottle tasted a little over ripe. Normally we love this wine. Possibly bottle variation?
June 9, 2020 - We're a little partial to Marques de Riscal, due to our visit there in 2019, but I really enjoyed this. It was very well balanced and integrated, unlike some other comments here. If I can find more, I will buy it.