Community Tasting Note

seekingbalance wrote:

Saturday, June 24, 2023 - After the raves from pros and the merchant, and being a project from a well respected Rioja winery, I had high hopes for this wine. The reality is more nuanced - like many things it depends on what you like. I know I'm a Rioja fan. A traditional-style Rioja fan - the ones with nuances, lighter bodies, unmistakable complex aromas, and the complexity that comes from large, old, wood barrels. Ribera del Duero (this) is typically more fruit forward. And it was. Make no mistake, this is a very well made, high quality wine. It has great concentration, flowers/violets, red fruit, some gentle tannins, and solid acid balance. Its relatively fresh. You must decant this wine for 20-30 minutes and let it breathe. Initially its pretty big,forward and closed. Not my cup--o-wine. After opening (in the glass, in a decanter..) the nose opens and it becomes more balanced. Most of my notes reflect after decanting. I also believe that this wine may improve for 5+ years but found no indication by anyone of its potential - except the telltale tannin and acid (which preserve wine). But here's the rub: for those that like old world complexity, and don't want big-ish fruit forward wines (maybe there aren't many of us...) you (we)_ can do a lot better, and for less money. I had the opportunity top pop a cheaper, traditional Rioja - Sierra Cantabria Crianza (~$15/16 at the same store) and immediately got the nose back, more earth in the palate, and, to me, a more food friendly wine. On the other hand, if you idea of perfection is a big, bold California Cab - this is likely a wine for you, with more floral aromas and maybe a better balance. So in that light its a winner and a bargain.

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