Community Tasting Note

Gargantua wrote:

Friday, May 9, 2008 - I must've purchased 40+ bottles of this wine (including the 2002--2003 is better). A dependable favorite. After coming back to from a two-month hiatus, I tasted a very different wine. Before, the only imperfection I’d felt was a slight diesel-y heat. But this particular bottle had a cork that smelled of “After Eight” minty chocolate, and a nose in the bottle which evolved into slightly rancid butter later on in the glass (even after an hour’s decanting). The butter tone became overwhelming. Once it began to leave a bit, it tasted at times like toffee, then the characteristic fruit tone of both Marqués de Riscal Riojas (Reserva and Gran Reserva)--that is difficult to grasp, that keeps me coming back--presented itself: something at once plum and dark purple berry. Something perverse about this wine, but it’s still great. At parties, this wine always seems to please—even if it has more imperfections than I remembered. Or perhaps just bottle n° 766174? Decanting 1hr helped. Cinnamon. Graciano and Mazuelo less than 10%, along with Tempranillo.

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