20 minute decant (very little sediment). Impressive old world nose. Nicely balanced fruit and secondary elements. Less american oak than most Rioja. Excellent overall and in a good drinking window now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/6, very good cork. Decanted 1/2 hr. Medium/deep ruby core, pale ruby rim. Smoky, mainly dark fruited nose, quite rich, mocha notes. Medium bodied, black fruited at first, mocha, spice, soft tannins, quite ripe/sweet, fresh/vibrant acidity brings with it flashes of red fruit then liquorice notes on the good length still slightly constricted finish. Drinking now but should improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
La mano de Chus Madrazo se percibe en la increíble presencia de este tinto de color granate cubierto y ribete ligeramente abierto. La nariz es intensa y atractiva, hay fruta roja, fresca, pero también licorosa, atractivos especiados, algo de flor ajada, tabaco inglés, delicados tostados y un fondo de cueros finos. En boca tiene buen ataque, cuerpo medio, tanino pulido, buena acidez, suaves amargos, estructura media y gran longitud. Un gran vino que con el paso de los años tiene a mostrar cierto carácter clásico...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3rd of 6 by tasting group, my 2nd. Wine had bright fruit and lively nose. The middle was very smooth and enjoyable, with the wine finishing very long on the palate. This really brought it up in the Rioja group of 2010's.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep dark center, red rim with only modest signs of age. The nose blends more traditional Rioja elements with a more modern style (more restrained Napa reds come to mind), there is some dill and coconut from the oak mixed with ripe plums and cassis. The taste continues the theme - some richness of fruit, but dry and tannin towards the end, alcohol is well integrated (14%), great fruit finish. Can see why this is popular, a more accessible style but still retains many of the old school elements. Excellent now with a bit of air, but probably better in ~5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Surprenamment léger pour un tempranillo. Pas mal de fruits, une acidité moy-, des tanins assouplis et une belle rondeur. Rien de très complexe mais bon RQP.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Très beau Reserva, certe un brin moderne, mais toujours sur la coche! Le vin s'avère être en pleine forme et entament son plateau visiblement. Au niveaux des saveurs, on perçoit les fruits noirs juteux, la boite à épices, la réglisse, on commence également à sentir quelques fruits secs, c'est complexe et clairement abouti. En bouche l'attaque est smooth, avec des tanins soyeux et un parfait équilibre entre les différents éléments, la finale est longue et enivrante... Un très beau rapport Q/P ici encore une fois!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Better than expected! In my recollection this was an “over oaked” wine, this vintage proves me wrong: dried red fruit, plum, prune, black currant, clove, medium body, long finish. Drink now up to 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Red and black fruits on the nose. Quite a glossy mouthfeel. Certainly more modern styled. Quite primary for a 10year old wine. Has years (decades) left. No harm drinking now but this will reward cellaring. 92pts for how it is now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A real pleasure to drink. The fruit shines through, more so than in many other Riojas. And the excellent balance makes it easy to like while pairing well with many foods. Seems to be at its peak now. I don't expect it to improve much more. Suggest drinking by 2025.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another exquisite Rioja. Velvety, sensual, full of alluring sexiness. Mesmerising, exotic fragrances of cassia bark, vanilla and crushed fresh forest strawberries, and near-perfect structure. Sweet and heady, impeccable oak integration, just enough firmness of tannin and assertive acidity to show this wine is a long-haul proposition. But even at this young stage in its evolution it is eminently presentable. I can imagine that in 30 years it will be sublime. Wonderful. Love this stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, raspberry and black currant (cassis). It tastes like blackberry, cranberry, black currant (cassis) and oak. The body is medium. The wine has linear texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep dark Ruby. Pronounced vanilla. Decent balance and good structure, but overall rather monolithic. Nice enough over three nights, with minimal evolution.
Un beau vin qui nous amène le meilleur de la Rioja, particulièrement pour le prix payé. Toujours très beau. Joufflu de la barrique, un beau fruit avec une finale légèrement sucré. 91 sur 100.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A pleasure, as always. Nose is first close but already loaded with mulberries and violets. Very fragrant with a lot of petals. Then enters structure, fruit and even so the year was excellent in Rioja with lots of sun and heat it is far more elegant and lighter than 2007 or 2008. It is a real beauty and I am looking forward to try the Gran Reserva 2010.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Young, dark Rioja in a rather modern style. Aromas of vanilla, dry wood, sweet red berries. Full bodied, polished tannins, quite sweet mouthfeel combined with quite dry tannins. Some alcohol shines through. Long, sweet aftertaste dominated by plums, vanilla and dry earth. A pleasant but somewhat boring wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Catado en una vertical junto al Contino Reserva 2011.
-Color media-alta. Ribete más claro que empieza a mostrar los años de guarda. -Nariz recien abierto: fruta roja, torrefactos y un poco a turba. -Nariz al cabo de 2 horas: roble y fruta, mucho menos alcohólico que el 2011. -Ataque en boca muy bueno, madera, tostados y una astringencia muy agradable. Me parece un rioja super elegante. -Postgusto 30-60 segundos muy especiado y ciruelas.
Te podrías beber un par de botellas sin problemas, presenta una acidez para una buena guarda que lo asentarán y darán un redondeo notable.
Se puede disfrutar ya, es un rioja de corte modernito que me encanta.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Jeune certe mais m'a semblé plus abouti et complexe que le 2008 bu ce weekend. Nez dense sur les fruits rouge, le chocolat et les épices. En bouche, c'est délicieux. Des mures et des cerise avec du poivre et un peu de tabac. Les tannins sont serrés mais bien enrobés et la finale bien longue. Très bon et ça augure bien!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is simply delicious. It's still youthful with a deep cherry core and a purple rim. Hints of oak on the nose with a hint of sweetness, a hint of caramel and wafer I often get from Contino. Also some tell tale Riojan espresso and woodsmoke. There's nicely rich and ripe fruit but it's not big or overdone, there's a savoury, almost sour, note that keeps it refreshing. It's a lovely wine. Drinking beautifully now and will only get better. Drunk over two nights. Second night the best. No rush but also pity not to check in on it right now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From memory, from a late dinner. No decant. We had the 2011 del Olivo the day before, and this Reserva was clearly firmer and without the sweet touch that we found in the Olivo. Some developed notes. Absolutely a good wine but not particularly memorable. 90-91.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Contino visit (Contino, Rioja): Tank sample. Halfway through fining. Similar nose. Denser fruit on the front of the mid-palate. Finer and maybe less persistent on the finish (a result of having been through fining?). (4+)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/27/2024 - ccarter5181 wrote: 91 Points
20 minute decant (very little sediment). Impressive old world nose. Nicely balanced fruit and secondary elements. Less american oak than most Rioja. Excellent overall and in a good drinking window now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2022 - guy12 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still improving
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2022 - Dugis wrote: 90 Points
cherry blackberry dark fruit red fruit. Clear fruity flavors. Almost no oak. Great velvety mouthfeel
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2022 - Paul D wrote: 90 Points
1/6, very good cork. Decanted 1/2 hr.
Medium/deep ruby core, pale ruby rim. Smoky, mainly dark fruited nose, quite rich, mocha notes. Medium bodied, black fruited at first, mocha, spice, soft tannins, quite ripe/sweet, fresh/vibrant acidity brings with it flashes of red fruit then liquorice notes on the good length still slightly constricted finish. Drinking now but should improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2022 - ManuKey Likes this wine: 90 Points
Idem à la dernière! Une touche plus évolué.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2021 - PacoHigon Likes this wine:
La mano de Chus Madrazo se percibe en la increíble presencia de este tinto de color granate cubierto y ribete ligeramente abierto. La nariz es intensa y atractiva, hay fruta roja, fresca, pero también licorosa, atractivos especiados, algo de flor ajada, tabaco inglés, delicados tostados y un fondo de cueros finos. En boca tiene buen ataque, cuerpo medio, tanino pulido, buena acidez, suaves amargos, estructura media y gran longitud. Un gran vino que con el paso de los años tiene a mostrar cierto carácter clásico...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2021 - up4wine wrote:
3rd of 6 by tasting group, my 2nd. Wine had bright fruit and lively nose. The middle was very smooth and enjoyable, with the wine finishing very long on the palate. This really brought it up in the Rioja group of 2010's.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2021 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep dark center, red rim with only modest signs of age.
The nose blends more traditional Rioja elements with a more modern style (more restrained Napa reds come to mind), there is some dill and coconut from the oak mixed with ripe plums and cassis.
The taste continues the theme - some richness of fruit, but dry and tannin towards the end, alcohol is well integrated (14%), great fruit finish.
Can see why this is popular, a more accessible style but still retains many of the old school elements. Excellent now with a bit of air, but probably better in ~5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2021 - Tige Likes this wine: 89 Points
Surprenamment léger pour un tempranillo.
Pas mal de fruits, une acidité moy-, des tanins assouplis et une belle rondeur.
Rien de très complexe mais bon RQP.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2021 - ManuKey Likes this wine: 90 Points
Très beau Reserva, certe un brin moderne, mais toujours sur la coche! Le vin s'avère être en pleine forme et entament son plateau visiblement. Au niveaux des saveurs, on perçoit les fruits noirs juteux, la boite à épices, la réglisse, on commence également à sentir quelques fruits secs, c'est complexe et clairement abouti. En bouche l'attaque est smooth, avec des tanins soyeux et un parfait équilibre entre les différents éléments, la finale est longue et enivrante... Un très beau rapport Q/P ici encore une fois!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2021 - guy12 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Modern style, still very young, no sediment. Big rich, sweet friuits, velvety tannins, keep for more complexity to develop
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2020 - Mark van Delft Likes this wine: 91 Points
Better than expected! In my recollection this was an “over oaked” wine, this vintage proves me wrong: dried red fruit, plum, prune, black currant, clove, medium body, long finish. Drink now up to 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2020 - rayq wrote: 92 Points
Red and black fruits on the nose. Quite a glossy mouthfeel. Certainly more modern styled. Quite primary for a 10year old wine. Has years (decades) left. No harm drinking now but this will reward cellaring.
92pts for how it is now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2020 - mac-eye Likes this wine:
Still wonderful. Wish I had more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2019 - mac-eye Likes this wine: 92 Points
A real pleasure to drink. The fruit shines through, more so than in many other Riojas. And the excellent balance makes it easy to like while pairing well with many foods. Seems to be at its peak now. I don't expect it to improve much more. Suggest drinking by 2025.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2019 - mlb4msu Likes this wine: 90 Points
Blackberry, dark cherry, leather. Front of pallet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2019 - ricard Likes this wine: 95 Points
Another exquisite Rioja. Velvety, sensual, full of alluring sexiness. Mesmerising, exotic fragrances of cassia bark, vanilla and crushed fresh forest strawberries, and near-perfect structure. Sweet and heady, impeccable oak integration, just enough firmness of tannin and assertive acidity to show this wine is a long-haul proposition. But even at this young stage in its evolution it is eminently presentable. I can imagine that in 30 years it will be sublime. Wonderful. Love this stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2018 - Androurse Likes this wine: 90 Points
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, raspberry and black currant (cassis). It tastes like blackberry, cranberry, black currant (cassis) and oak. The body is medium. The wine has linear texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2018 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Deep dark Ruby. Pronounced vanilla. Decent balance and good structure, but overall rather monolithic. Nice enough over three nights, with minimal evolution.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/9/2018 - guy12 wrote: 89 Points
Improving
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2018 - Twinkles wrote: 89 Points
Solid. Nothing fancy, just solid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2017 - mat600 wrote: 91 Points
Un beau vin qui nous amène le meilleur de la Rioja, particulièrement pour le prix payé. Toujours très beau. Joufflu de la barrique, un beau fruit avec une finale légèrement sucré. 91 sur 100.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2017 - Christian von Dresky Likes this wine: 92 Points
A pleasure, as always. Nose is first close but already loaded with mulberries and violets. Very fragrant with a lot of petals. Then enters structure, fruit and even so the year was excellent in Rioja with lots of sun and heat it is far more elegant and lighter than 2007 or 2008. It is a real beauty and I am looking forward to try the Gran Reserva 2010.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2017 - dagij Likes this wine: 87 Points
Young, dark Rioja in a rather modern style. Aromas of vanilla, dry wood, sweet red berries. Full bodied, polished tannins, quite sweet mouthfeel combined with quite dry tannins. Some alcohol shines through. Long, sweet aftertaste dominated by plums, vanilla and dry earth. A pleasant but somewhat boring wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2017 - GonzaloManzaneda Likes this wine: 92 Points
Catado en una vertical junto al Contino Reserva 2011.
-Color media-alta. Ribete más claro que empieza a mostrar los años de guarda.
-Nariz recien abierto: fruta roja, torrefactos y un poco a turba.
-Nariz al cabo de 2 horas: roble y fruta, mucho menos alcohólico que el 2011.
-Ataque en boca muy bueno, madera, tostados y una astringencia muy agradable. Me parece un rioja super elegante.
-Postgusto 30-60 segundos muy especiado y ciruelas.
Te podrías beber un par de botellas sin problemas, presenta una acidez para una buena guarda que lo asentarán y darán un redondeo notable.
Se puede disfrutar ya, es un rioja de corte modernito que me encanta.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2017 - maxima wrote: 90 Points
Jeune certe mais m'a semblé plus abouti et complexe que le 2008 bu ce weekend.
Nez dense sur les fruits rouge, le chocolat et les épices.
En bouche, c'est délicieux. Des mures et des cerise avec du poivre et un peu de tabac.
Les tannins sont serrés mais bien enrobés et la finale bien longue.
Très bon et ça augure bien!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2017 - rayq wrote: 93 Points
This is simply delicious. It's still youthful with a deep cherry core and a purple rim. Hints of oak on the nose with a hint of sweetness, a hint of caramel and wafer I often get from Contino. Also some tell tale Riojan espresso and woodsmoke. There's nicely rich and ripe fruit but it's not big or overdone, there's a savoury, almost sour, note that keeps it refreshing. It's a lovely wine. Drinking beautifully now and will only get better. Drunk over two nights. Second night the best. No rush but also pity not to check in on it right now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2016 - BSA wrote: 91 Points
From memory, from a late dinner. No decant. We had the 2011 del Olivo the day before, and this Reserva was clearly firmer and without the sweet touch that we found in the Olivo. Some developed notes. Absolutely a good wine but not particularly memorable. 90-91.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2013 - SimonG wrote:
Contino visit (Contino, Rioja): Tank sample. Halfway through fining. Similar nose. Denser fruit on the front of the mid-palate. Finer and maybe less persistent on the finish (a result of having been through fining?). (4+)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment