There nose has red fruit and tar. The palate is full of leather, certainly some earth is present. There's still gobs of fruit, but the fruit is not in the spotlight. Overall, there is a hedonistic or slightly unrefined aspect to this wine. While it's balanced, no high alcohol, nothing really out of place, it definitely seems rustic. Which, if you enjoy leather and earth like me, no problem there. But it doesn't have the style to elevate it to the top of the wine heap. Still, for a simple Spanish wine, this has aged beautifully and it's rather incredible that it has become something special in 11 years.
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Better than last bottle but is now missing the character from several years ago. Was hoping that it gets better with aging but has back tracked in the past year. Full body with dark fruits, mostly blackberry. Has good level of acidity on the back-end. Better with food than on its own. A decent Ribera at this point but not exceptional.
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This bottle was not as good as the last. Finding variation of bottles in spanish wines more than expected or is this in a dumb stage? I am getting variation issues from several brands. Improves and opens up with air but was quite muted and not impressive on opening. But ends up being an ok but not spectacular wine. Dark, full bodied with restrained flavors.
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Full body with black fruits primarily. Initially a bit muted but opens up with aeration. Still fresh with mid palate acidity and some intensity. Long finish. Seems to have mixed reviews from drinkers. I have noticed some tempranillos goes into a dumb stage for a while and that could be the reason. Better and fuller than a few years ago. Still has a long life left and has not yet peaked. A bit smoother and better drinker on day two.
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I used about 1/2 of this bottle for cooking a beef stew (which turned out to be delicious), and drank the remainder. It was better than previous bottles, with some plum and black cherry flavors, and some delicate floral notes, but it still lacked the stuffing to make it past an 85.
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Medium body, with a long pleasant finish. Drinking well right now, but I think that it can take more aging. However, I am not sure how much it will improve. Not particularly complex, and does not evolve much on the finish. The finish is long and steady. Rather typical, 'run of the mill' Ribera. I would not go out of my way to get this, beyond the few bottles that I already have.
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Disappointing; it was bland, without much flavor or body, and did not improve on day 2 or day 3. I will probably use the remaining bottles for cooking.
It feels young, tannins are not yet integrated, on the more extracted side of RdD, I feel that all elements are there is just a matter of time in the bottle or long decanting. It cries for food!
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Un espagnol qui en a encore sous la pédale. Bu sur 2 jours, ce vin possède une teinte presque mauve. En bouche, le boisé est présent et nous goutons le tempranillo à pleine bouche. A besoin de quelques années pour s'assagir. 88 sur 100 en l'état.
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Pop and poured. Plum & mountain blueberry fruit, and some ash on the nose and palate. Some ground stone. A jagged medium tannic finish, but lingers. A decant or more aging will help.
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Lots of mixed fruit, mostly dark and blue. Full bodied, lush with fresh acidity on the finish. Good drinking wine with or without food. Nicely balanced at this stage compared to the 2005 which is heavier and deeper in character.
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12/10/2020 - galewskj wrote: 91 Points
There nose has red fruit and tar. The palate is full of leather, certainly some earth is present. There's still gobs of fruit, but the fruit is not in the spotlight. Overall, there is a hedonistic or slightly unrefined aspect to this wine. While it's balanced, no high alcohol, nothing really out of place, it definitely seems rustic. Which, if you enjoy leather and earth like me, no problem there. But it doesn't have the style to elevate it to the top of the wine heap. Still, for a simple Spanish wine, this has aged beautifully and it's rather incredible that it has become something special in 11 years.
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11/5/2020 - Kentw wrote: 89 Points
My last bottle. It is now quite smooth with a soft finish. Nicely balanced and easy drinking. Food friendly. Quite enjoyable now but no fireworks.
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10/17/2020 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
Soft, mello and in a good place.
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7/23/2019 - Kentw wrote: 88 Points
Better than last bottle but is now missing the character from several years ago. Was hoping that it gets better with aging but has back tracked in the past year. Full body with dark fruits, mostly blackberry. Has good level of acidity on the back-end. Better with food than on its own. A decent Ribera at this point but not exceptional.
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1/1/2019 - Kentw wrote: 86 Points
This bottle was not as good as the last. Finding variation of bottles in spanish wines more than expected or is this in a dumb stage? I am getting variation issues from several brands. Improves and opens up with air but was quite muted and not impressive on opening. But ends up being an ok but not spectacular wine. Dark, full bodied with restrained flavors.
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11/20/2018 - Kentw Likes this wine: 90 Points
Full body with black fruits primarily. Initially a bit muted but opens up with aeration. Still fresh with mid palate acidity and some intensity. Long finish. Seems to have mixed reviews from drinkers. I have noticed some tempranillos goes into a dumb stage for a while and that could be the reason. Better and fuller than a few years ago. Still has a long life left and has not yet peaked. A bit smoother and better drinker on day two.
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10/12/2017 - Swaggering Beaunie wrote: 85 Points
I used about 1/2 of this bottle for cooking a beef stew (which turned out to be delicious), and drank the remainder. It was better than previous bottles, with some plum and black cherry flavors, and some delicate floral notes, but it still lacked the stuffing to make it past an 85.
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7/28/2017 - Swaggering Beaunie Does not like this wine: 80 Points
A lot of American oak, a little sour cherry, and not much else. Disappointing.
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4/17/2017 - Aris1a Likes this wine: 89 Points
Medium body, with a long pleasant finish. Drinking well right now, but I think that it can take more aging. However, I am not sure how much it will improve. Not particularly complex, and does not evolve much on the finish. The finish is long and steady. Rather typical, 'run of the mill' Ribera. I would not go out of my way to get this, beyond the few bottles that I already have.
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4/13/2017 - Swaggering Beaunie wrote: 82 Points
Disappointing; it was bland, without much flavor or body, and did not improve on day 2 or day 3. I will probably use the remaining bottles for cooking.
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3/31/2017 - Oldworlddrinker wrote: 91 Points
Last bottle, as usual, the best one!
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2/2/2017 - galewskj wrote: 89 Points
Juicy, plummy, good complexity. Maybe slightly rustic.
Solid from this producer. The wife and I ended up drinking the whole bottle in one evening, with me drinking the lion's share.
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5/8/2016 - mat600 wrote: 89 Points
Vin rouge ouvert avec des notes goudronnées et de mûres. Le bois apporte une touche chaleureuse à ce vin plein. 89 sur 100.
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12/27/2015 - Oldworlddrinker Likes this wine: 88 Points
It feels young, tannins are not yet integrated, on the more extracted side of RdD, I feel that all elements are there is just a matter of time in the bottle or long decanting. It cries for food!
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12/23/2015 - mat600 wrote: 88 Points
Un espagnol qui en a encore sous la pédale. Bu sur 2 jours, ce vin possède une teinte presque mauve. En bouche, le boisé est présent et nous goutons le tempranillo à pleine bouche. A besoin de quelques années pour s'assagir. 88 sur 100 en l'état.
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11/6/2014 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 87 Points
Nice combination of black raspberry fruit and leather with some black pepper and cedar. Developing tannins on the finish.
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8/30/2014 - Bob in NC wrote: 87 Points
Pop and poured. Plum & mountain blueberry fruit, and some ash on the nose and palate. Some ground stone. A jagged medium tannic finish, but lingers. A decant or more aging will help.
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8/25/2014 - Kentw Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lots of mixed fruit, mostly dark and blue. Full bodied, lush with fresh acidity on the finish. Good drinking wine with or without food. Nicely balanced at this stage compared to the 2005 which is heavier and deeper in character.
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