March 17, 2024 - Decanted about 3 hours prior to consumption at Bear Stanley Ranch in Napa.
Get the short-ribs!!!!!!! Best ever.
Oh so this was really nice. Smooth, nice balance and finish. Was a tad on the new world in style which held it back IMO. Could have been more complex.
However, this suffered next to the 1997 Percarlo which was absolutely stunning. There was a richness to that which made the rioja seem a bit shy.
I'd say the 04 was in a good drinking window. May improve w more bottle age. Was hoping for a little more complexity. However, it did best the 2007 Insignia which came in last place out of the 3 I brought.
April 22, 2023 - Amazing expressive bouquet without any flaws, secondary and tertiary ripe fruit flavors. Has aged well and gracefully. Full body mouthfeel with impeccable balance. Long length and pleasant finish. A classic Rioja. Where can I find a 2010 or 2019 bottle?!
November 13, 2022 - Brilliant, charming, right on top and years to go. This is spectacular wine. I don't see why professional critics don't praise this wine but instead only give moderate reviews (except for Tim Atkin). This is full of dark, ripe fruit, cola, tree bark, inky blueberry, fine chocolate, coffee notes and all this is held together by an enticing structure and a perfect integrated acidity. It is dark, ripe yet fresh a with a long and very satisfying length. The 2004 has still a lot of grip and I imagine that it could be even more alluring with less youthful baby fat, that it still has. Thanks to señor de Grigorio.
January 11, 2021 - Somewhat spoofy, but in a good way. On cusp of benefiting from decant. Elected to leave open a couple of hours. Violet with hint of red. More complex as evening wore on and wine warmed. Blackberry, dark cherry, lead pencil and hint of roasted meat on nose. Full bodied fruit on palate with deep penetration, but quite nicely balanced with some (light) acidity and still prominent tannin. Beautiful length. Just great with food (migas and pork chops). Good now or hold for at least a decade.
August 16, 2020 - Lovely wine. Well balanced. Still has some youth in it. Lots of blackberry, cassis up front. Strong finish with some graphite lead pencil notes. Still surprisingly tannic. Went beautifully with a herb rubbed, grilled pork chop.
May 19, 2019 - Silky and delicious. Still full of flavour and drinking well. Lovely.
September 23, 2018 - This is still early in it's drinking window for me.
August 17, 2018 - Drinking beautifully now
July 9, 2018 - didn't take detailed notes but this was a tremendous hot with friends. Extremely well balances and nice complexity. Sad that it is my last one
March 28, 2017 - Pnp through Vinituri. Air helped. Dark fruit, black blum, blackberry. Bramble. Plenty of acidity, a bit too tannic. Drying. This was stored properly. Did I wait too long?