Aromas of black cherries and raspberries. Medium to full-bodied, again cherries and raspberries, some marzipan, tobacco and salty (soy-like) notes. Tannins still noticeable, a lively acidity will make it age well. Needed a two hour decant to open up completely.
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Multi hour decant, a heavy nose of dark fruit and oak. When it comes to the palate it is classic Rioja, on the more uncomplicated side, but nonetheless a solid bottle of well aged tempranillo that has several years in it still if you can leave it alone in your cellar.
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Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. Black and red cherry coming across as very pleasant but simple. Seemed more modern styled, but that might have been the downside of the Alta 2004 in the next glass. I found this much simpler vs another bottle from a few months ago, that was probably from the same case. Of course this was the final wine this afternoon.
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Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. Black cherry, slightly tart. Very good concentration and length, perhaps with a few rough edges right now. But very enjoyable, with lots more potential a decade forward and probably even more 2 decades forward.
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A good bet for further cellar time but had quite a bit of sediment. This bottle was very integrated without the overbearing oak that others describe. Good.
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Bright mulberry. Dark red berries, earth and wood on the nose.
The oak takes center stage on the palate with raspberry, dark cherry and earth playing supporting roles. Full bodied with ample acidity and refined tannins. However, at this stage the oak is far too prominent for my tastes. Could be lovely if it integrates. Recommend hold 3-4 years and a 2 hour decant if you're drinking today.
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Very nicely aged. Full bodied, with a very pleasant nose and flavour. Not very tannic. The tannins have mellowed from age and the colour has browned from age. Decanted and swirled for aeration. This wine tastes like it could use time to breathe, probably a couple hours or more. Still it is delicious with the cheese I'm having, Pierre Robert triple cream brie, a very, very soft but not runny cheese that is delicious and quite flavourful, especially when warmed up to room temperature. Pierre Robert is named after the cheese maker, Robert Rouzaire and his son, Pierre. Rouzaire is a famous affineur, and he created this decadent cheese by allowing wheels of Brillat Savarin to age in his caves for extended periods of time. It has a luxuriously rich buttery texture with a tangy aftertaste and a more developed flavor than the typical triple cream. It is from the Champagne region. This Rioja goes fairly well with this cheese. $28 at Costco. Having tried it, I probably would not buy it again unless I really needed a fairly aged Rioja, although even then I would probably buy a 2001 Faustino that is on the market now. Overall value: 3.5 stars of 5. Overall impression: high very good.
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At this stage it's quite disappointing. Time may improve this but right now it seems very marked by oak (and new oak at that??) The return to the retro label made me think this might be a traditional Rioja straight off but sadly it's not. Perhaps with time it will achieve more elegance and typicity than it displays right now.
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(Tasted at Berry's Spain 2014): Pronounced notes of damp forest floor, mud, black cherries, dried flower petals, coffee. Big acidity; tanins a touch drying. This is strong, imposing and seductive.
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Decanted and drank over a 5 hour period. Not immediately accessible but improved steadily and if there were any left I expect it would have been even better the next day. Drinkable now but probably a few years too early.
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2/23/2024 - Chemari Likes this wine: 93 Points
Coravin 23.02.24 muy bueno pero unos puntos abajo del imperial gr 01
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10/18/2021 - winesnout wrote: 91 Points
Aromas of black cherries and raspberries. Medium to full-bodied, again cherries and raspberries, some marzipan, tobacco and salty (soy-like) notes. Tannins still noticeable, a lively acidity will make it age well. Needed a two hour decant to open up completely.
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8/13/2021 - Alemany Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ohh very high tannins c6/c10. What Faustino I used to be before they softened it for the US market. Very strong complex and woody. Outstanding wine
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8/1/2020 - F_&_M Likes this wine: 90 Points
Really tasty and still fresh feeling. Quite good if not particularly complicated.
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4/23/2020 - quaffnov Likes this wine: 90 Points
Multi hour decant, a heavy nose of dark fruit and oak. When it comes to the palate it is classic Rioja, on the more uncomplicated side, but nonetheless a solid bottle of well aged tempranillo that has several years in it still if you can leave it alone in your cellar.
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1/5/2018 - rwthomps7 wrote:
2
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8/5/2017 - MJLeonard Likes this wine:
Needed more time
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4/29/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 88 Points
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. Black and red cherry coming across as very pleasant but simple. Seemed more modern styled, but that might have been the downside of the Alta 2004 in the next glass. I found this much simpler vs another bottle from a few months ago, that was probably from the same case. Of course this was the final wine this afternoon.
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3/24/2017 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice easy drink wine.
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12/10/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. Black cherry, slightly tart. Very good concentration and length, perhaps with a few rough edges right now. But very enjoyable, with lots more potential a decade forward and probably even more 2 decades forward.
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11/11/2016 - FLXHoneymoon Likes this wine:
Smooth, balanced and complex. This will go for awhile but it's drinking great right now.
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9/17/2016 - Heggeli wrote:
Farge : Dyp rød, aroma : røde bær, noe mineralsk, Smak: fruktig, kraftig, røde bær, god del tanniner og syre.
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7/9/2015 - Winetex Likes this wine: 91 Points
A good bet for further cellar time but had quite a bit of sediment. This bottle was very integrated without the overbearing oak that others describe. Good.
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5/25/2015 - spacewrangler wrote:
Definitely oaky but lipsmacking red ripe fruit underneath. I'd give it 10 years unless you have a high oak tolerance.
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3/26/2015 - grayfont Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rioja Old-School and Modern Classics from CVNE (Chain Bridge Cellars, McLean, VA): decanted 90 minutes before tasting. This is right up my alley. petrol and a faint/subtle oak nose that is there and then it's not, leaving you concentrating intently and exploring all that is there. Really terrific.
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2/16/2015 - henryv Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fruity nose, blackberry, black cherry, leather, earth. Full bodied. Tannins notable as is the oak, overall complex, mellow round.
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2/8/2015 - DSR wrote: 90 Points
Juicy, refreshing, with nice acidity and balance. Lacking the typical Rioja "funk" on the nose, but very enjoyable nonetheless.
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2/7/2015 - Robwild wrote: 86 Points
Nose of fruit. Light. Soft tannins.
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1/9/2015 - CMN wrote: 87 Points
Bright mulberry. Dark red berries, earth and wood on the nose.
The oak takes center stage on the palate with raspberry, dark cherry and earth playing supporting roles. Full bodied with ample acidity and refined tannins. However, at this stage the oak is far too prominent for my tastes. Could be lovely if it integrates. Recommend hold 3-4 years and a 2 hour decant if you're drinking today.
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12/6/2014 - Ombibulous Likes this wine: 87 Points
Very nicely aged. Full bodied, with a very pleasant nose and flavour. Not very tannic. The tannins have mellowed from age and the colour has browned from age. Decanted and swirled for aeration. This wine tastes like it could use time to breathe, probably a couple hours or more. Still it is delicious with the cheese I'm having, Pierre Robert triple cream brie, a very, very soft but not runny cheese that is delicious and quite flavourful, especially when warmed up to room temperature. Pierre Robert is named after the cheese maker, Robert Rouzaire and his son, Pierre. Rouzaire is a famous affineur, and he created this decadent cheese by allowing wheels of Brillat Savarin to age in his caves for extended periods of time. It has a luxuriously rich buttery texture with a tangy aftertaste and a more developed flavor than the typical triple cream. It is from the Champagne region. This Rioja goes fairly well with this cheese. $28 at Costco. Having tried it, I probably would not buy it again unless I really needed a fairly aged Rioja, although even then I would probably buy a 2001 Faustino that is on the market now. Overall value: 3.5 stars of 5. Overall impression: high very good.
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11/9/2014 - rayq wrote: 89 Points
At this stage it's quite disappointing. Time may improve this but right now it seems very marked by oak (and new oak at that??)
The return to the retro label made me think this might be a traditional Rioja straight off but sadly it's not.
Perhaps with time it will achieve more elegance and typicity than it displays right now.
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10/18/2014 - Phenol73 Likes this wine: 93 Points
(Tasted at Berry's Spain 2014): Pronounced notes of damp forest floor, mud, black cherries, dried flower petals, coffee. Big acidity; tanins a touch drying. This is strong, imposing and seductive.
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10/9/2014 - sailincarib Likes this wine: 80 Points
I liked this. Shirley, not so much. I thought it was full bodied and had a complex taste. I would buy again to go with spicy Spanish tapas
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9/11/2014 - SimonN wrote: 90 Points
Decanted and drank over a 5 hour period. Not immediately accessible but improved steadily and if there were any left I expect it would have been even better the next day. Drinkable now but probably a few years too early.
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7/13/2014 - wayne47 wrote:
Very thin, can not justify the $32 price. Pass.
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3/13/2014 - yofog wrote: 92 Points
Quite tannic, with lots of acidity that really takes hold of the palate. Young and grippy.
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11/9/2012 - Too much practice. wrote: 87 Points
Smoky, restrained, slightly more pinot in style than the Rioja Alta's, but still excellent.
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