March 10, 2019 - I am astonished with the unexpected quality here. I paid ten bucks for this a long time ago and forgot about it in my cellar. Consensus was to drink by 2012. Popped and just poured. Thick honey nose and outstanding color. Loam and berry notes hit the mid-palate instantly. Long finish. A hint of petit verdot also. Had I tasted this blind, I would have run through quite a number of high quality above $40 bottles. The demerit is the acidity which seems awkwardly out of place in its development. Looking forward to seeing how this evolves in the glass over an hour or two and in the bottle overnight. I would have given it a few more points had the acidity been more appropriate.
November 17, 2018 - Winebar [4 Whites, 8 Reds, & 4 *shared* bottles] from 11/16/18] (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): THANK you for sharing this, Esther! :)
N: MATURE, "natural" oxygenation*; LOTS there, but tough to parse
P: LM body; NICE, ALMOST swtish "frt" NICELY counterbalanced by an acidity which slowly, fairly seamlessly, transitions into a LONG finish with a tangy/swtness to the few, very, VERY fine, firming tannins. Drinking BEAUIIFULLY, & should hold for another 3 or 4 yrs, I'd guess. [*Some, however, felt showing signs of oxidation.] 13.5% ABV; My EXC. 84 pts WS (Tasted: 15-Oct-2009) & Bronze @ '09 Decanter World Wine Awards.
September 29, 2010 - Cherry and cedar on the nose and up front on the pallet, with smooth tannins and an okay finish. The wine, however, looses major points for having a pretty much absent mid-pallet. Light body overall.
July 12, 2010 - A nice everyday Rioja. Good nose and balance. Great value.
May 9, 2010 - Lighter red, medium body and finish, cherries, framboise, and charcoal for a well structures mfinish
May 8, 2010 - Médium body Nice aroma, light cherry with charcoal.
February 2, 2010 - Quality wines of Spain Imports (MK, Chicago IL): nose: nice and pretty nose of strawberries, cherries, vanilla, as well as some bits of mixed berries and hints of tobacco. Nice depth and elegant
taste: excellent medium/full feel with pretty tones of strawberries, cherries, vanilla and some bits of tobacco. Very good medium+ acidity shows itself as well
overall: A real nice rioja. Well balanced with an almost perfumed style to it that is rather elegant.
July 17, 2009 - Sour cherries dominate with a slight tartness, but not too bad. Would like some more earth/depth but it was a very nice drink. Probably excellent with food.
July 17, 2009 - I remember when I would have regarded opening a three year-old Rioja as both a waste and a sacrilege, but times change and we must change with them. I purchased this wine on the recommendation of an employee of a local wine store, and to my surprise it turned out to be excellent. It doesn't taste much like the Riojas I remember; there's none of that oaky, vanilla character. This wine is all fruit, nicely balanced and with good depth. Medium-bodied, smooth, and with a long saisfying finish, this wine is ready to drink now and is a true bargain. Plan to try again.
June 30, 2009 - deep dark garnet color. nice red fruit with hints of earthy barnyard and farm notes, cocoa, and subtle spice. medium to full bodied, ripe tart fruit with dry yet fine tannins.