July 3, 2023 - It had seen better days but still an enjoyable drink if your like old leathery and acidic wines.
June 11, 2022 - Jim's Retirement Party (Libertyville, IL): Still slightly funky in the way old Rioja can get, but not in a TCA-inflected sort of way. Very mature, with some distinct American oak notes on the nose, as well as some leathery notes. On the palate, this is obviously mature, with a pleasant silky texture and a surprising amount of fruit still. The best bottle of this I've had so far.
May 15, 2020 - Tasted blind. Glorious nose, like a top Leroy Burg with red fruit, earthy notes, cured meat, sour cherry, musk and spices. The palate is awesome too, light, great freshness and mid mouth presence. A grand bottle and another Wow experience from La Rioja Alta.
February 29, 2020 - Matts 50th; 2/28/2020-3/2/2020 (Costa Brava): Old leather and grandads potting shed on the nose, the palate is mouth filling and rich, it’s quintessential aged Rioja, sweet fruited, and perfectly developed, fresh and with great length, makes the Ardanza seem a little ordinary. Superb
October 4, 2019 - DOA.
October 4, 2019 - Indianapolis V; 10/4/2019-10/5/2019 (Indianapolis, IN): Oxidized.
February 3, 2019 - Lunch at Pizzeria Bebu (Chicago, IL): When I opened this, I couldn't tell if it was sound, funky, bad, or corked, though I suppose that's really just old Rioja for you. There were definitely some nice elements on the nose -- leather and dirt for the most part, but a hint of spice and fruit as well. The palate, however, wasn't really quite there -- mostly a pile of acid. More air later, I think TCA did start to pop up, though not everyone agreed and some thought it was just old Rioja funk. Sometimes these wines can be maddeningly frustrating.
December 2, 2018 - Drank it at Nostos with Jay and Carla. Only 12.3 degrees of alcohol..
At first muted it developed in the glass over the next hour and stood up well to the lamb shank and chops.
A surprisingly robust wine (though less so than the bottle consumed earlier in the year) with lots of fine nuances (rose petals, leather and some tobacco). At the end It outshone the '68 Conde de los Andes Gran Reserva we had alongside.
June 10, 2018 - Sturdy red color with mahogany rim; On the nose leather, cedar and tobacco with a whiff of wood polish and - perhaps a trace of brett.
The latter actually adds to the wine's slightly funky aspect and is not a detriment.
On the palate the wine still quite alive and "kicking"; this wine is certainly more vigorous than the previously drunk 62' Bodegas Bilbainas(which were more restrained)
In great shape and plenty of life left! But also ready to be consumed now.
I have been very lucky so far with the old Rioja wines I ordered from Helios!
Great experience and value
October 26, 2016 - Appealing nose with light sweet spice, red fruit, old leather, light funk and soil notes. Somewhat dry on the palate but with ample dried red fruits and earth notes to hold my interest. No decant