Definitely on the downward slope but was still holding on and showing some nice characteristics tonight. Vanilla and oak still present, some residual fruits, lots or tertiary notes of course, the alcohol almost all dissipated. Nice wine.
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Russk. Expats at Pablo and Cindy's. As always, a very lovely wine, and food friendly fantastic QPR . Perhaps not the best vintage. This one had the usual dill and gentle sweetness, but a little bit more lanolin. Totally ready to drink now, but not showing signs of over maturity.
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Russk. Expats at Pablo and Cindy's. I brought. Always a great food wine. Though not the best yr for Alberdi. Paired well with the fish. In balance. Showing dill and lanolin. Good now. But still has more time.
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In a really good place, this is near peak but at the back end of the slope. Dark red, with slight bricking on the sides. Dark fruited notes - blackberry, some iron and minerals. In the mouth, nice acid backbone, helps make it work well with food. Very nice for the price at $16
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It's excellent to have a 2007 wine, but similar to the previous bottle, this was probably better earlier; not a sense that there's more aging potential.
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I was hoping that this had improved from our first bottle, in 2014. The QPR is still good, and its nice to have a 2007. But, this seems to have mellowed out still more. Its drinking well, but there's no sense that it will continue to evolve in bottle.
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Excellent, like all of the Rioja Alta wines. I've never been disappointed in any of their wines and they are often the star of the show. Wonderful nose and a delightful long finish. Drinking beautifully now, but will age well for many more years.
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Lots of oak influence to be sure, but also a backbone of fine-grained tannin and abundant red and black fruit make for a balanced, character-filled wine thats hard not to like, especially for the price.
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Ruby core, faded edge. All green pine on the nose. Bright, sweet red fruit on the attack. Elegant feel, tobacco leaf for complexity, and great acidity, but the finish reprises the astringent pine resin quality imparted by the American oak. Undeniably attractive, but as with many La Rioja Alta wines, the wood treatment negates a lot of the pleasure for me.
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Dark, ruby red. Dark fruit and oak on the nose. Moderately high tannins. Somewhat astringent and tart. Rich tasting. Notes of chocolate on the finish. Really excellent.
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Wonderfully balanced - still black cherry fruit, but predominant cedar, cigar box, and earth on both nose and palate. Perfect choice for a casual wine and Spanish cheese night - brought out the nuttiness in the Manchego and herbal notes in the Iberico cheeses. A great value and will seek out again!
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A very pale ruby colour. Pronounced nose of coconut, nutmeg spice, licorice and sap from the oak, the latter of which makes it smell almost syrupy. The palate shows high acidity, with low tannin and a light body. Here some fruit (cranberries) comes through. There is a persistent sweet taste despite the wine being dry, owing to this sappy flabour from the oak. The wine has structure, with each flavour coming through individually, but is simultaneously smooth. It's only downside is that there is not enough body to hold up these flavours, leading to a shorter finish than desired. Still, very good.
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Well i finally decided it was an 89 point wine, because on the second evening it seemed to loose a bit, or maybe it was just a tad on the cool side. Anyway, this is a stunningly good wine , especially on the first evening, should have drunk it all, but was eager to find out ho it performed a day later...... First evening is as the writings goes for taste and nose so am not going to repeat that....especially if you take a look at the estates homepage . So for the pricing i think its really good value and way better than what i previously have tried from local shops....am pretty sure i will get more of this...so now i am really curious on the other wines from this estate i bought.
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Fresh oak and cocoa on the nose, followed by bright, tart cherry attack. Some pleasing bitterness, and rounded out with some earth notes. The mid palate isn't as fleshed out as the rest of it, but this is a amiable and crowd-pleasing show, doing well at this price point. Carefully straddles Old and New World Spanish winemaking.
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This is a favorite of ours, light wine with slight orange rim, medium fruit, mineral and strong vanilla, with good balance, oak and mild tannins, clean finish.
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clear, bit brick like colour; warm and very beautiful. nose: somehow "burnt" in the first attack, stuffy but very well mannered. Deep, robust. Some sweet cherry wood, aome gloss paint - everything pleasant. taste: light bodied and very elegant. Leathery with acidity towards the finish. Classic traditional Rjoja.
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Shared a glass with a wine pairing dinner at McCrady's , Charleston, SC. the WOTN from this pairing. Good fruit, lots of interesting character, good depth. Went very well with the duck with black truffle sauce. Drinking well.
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Light ruby with tawny edge. Prominent pine and dill American oak nose. Light red fruit that is just swamped by astringent vanillin wood. Yuck-this vinification is never to my taste.
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Något mörkare frukt och mer vaniljek än övriga riservor från producenten. Fin intensitet om än inte överväldigande komplext. Gott och riktigt bra för det låga priset.
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A nice "reserva." This is a crianza in Spain but a reserva in the US. I don't know why La Rioja Alta does that. Even if the wine meets the requirements of a reserva (as it surely does), why call it one thing in Spain and something different in the US? That said, the wine shows nice LRA style -- sweet cherry red fruit with plenty of nice tobacco and spice notes with fresh acidity and pretty texture. An easy drinking and pleasant wine.
I really like that this is a seven year old wine and available in the stores at a reasonable price. That said, it didn't bowl me over as much as I'd hoped. The Rioja taste is present, but perhaps I'm judging it relative to less well-aged wines, it comes across as much more mild than I'd expected. Yes, there is the vanilla from the oak, and the cherry, and a bit of spice, but not nearly the impact I'd expected. Still, I rate this as one that is worth continuing to watch (two more bottles in our cellar). This may continue to evolve and the price point is very attractive.
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Vin Chicago tasting. The gumball/high-toned nature of the oak is evident on this and has too much influence on the final product. A review somewhere calls this a good classic example of Rioja, but I didn't find that to be the case.. the oak threw this one off for me.
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Bright, clear ruby/garnet in hue. Lots of traditional American oak dominates the nose at first, with buttery, creamy, dill notes. Beneath that and with some air come bright red cherry and raspberry, dried flowers, cinnamon, leather, and herb. Too much oak for me at this point, though I'm sure it will recede with age. Still pretty oaky on the palate, but the other characteristics are turned up a notch and balance better, with an explosion of juicy red fruits (makes me think particularly of cherry and pomegranate) and a nice dusting of baking spices. There's also some nice underbrush / cedar / tobacco character as well as a cured-meat savoriness. It has a nice middle weight in the mouth and a smooth, well-knit texture somewhere between silk and velvet in thickness, and has good freshness. Long, spicy, dark chocolate finish. Very classy stuff on the palate.
The oak on the nose is a little much at first, but it recedes with air and this is otherwise pretty impressive stuff, especially for $18-20. I'm sure it will only get better from here.
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RUSSK. A pleasant surprise, not because I dont love the 2005 and 2006. But because I was afraid the 2007 would disappoint. I didn't. Great nose, balance, acidity and cut. A great go to food wine. 91-. Buy more.
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These seem to keep getting better, great everyday value available today to keep around. New world style, oaky, orange peel flavors, moderate fruit and not overly acidic -- it seems to have balanced out some since earlier this year. Okay to PnP, and will be drinking final 6 bottles over the next few years.
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Ruby color. Doesn't seem to have the orangish tint on the edges that's typical for Riojas. Smell and taste are very representative of other Altas, though. Quite oaky. Very sharp (tannic) and spicy taste. Brightly fruity finish. Tasty and a great value.
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Wonderful old dark fruit on the nose with hints of chocolate. Long finish with some tannins and lots of wood. Good with red meat or other protein. Great value at $18
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A solid effort. Lighter and more whimsical than their other offerings. Still a very good Rioja though with typical tempranillo profile. Would benefit from another year or maybe two in the bottle, but I suspect that it will peak then and not go longer.
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Great Rioja at a good price point. Red color with some level of translucency, on the nose bouquet of crushed berries with vanilla extract. The body is medium light, showing notes of cola, tobacco, vanilla and dark fruits. Is a easy to drink wine that pairs well with food, I had it with paella in the last weekend of summer and my guests were delighted by the matching. The rating is driven by wishing just a nod drier.
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Tasted at winery: Good plush fruit of old/sweet strawberry, dried cherry, sour asian plum, dried floral notes with a good dose of coconut, dill, suntan lotion, vanilla. 100% Temp. Pretty good, but the oak is a little heavy.
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Medium ruby / burnt orange color. Northern sour cherry and sweet spices with Rioja-tangy fruit. Choke cherry with coal-black mocha finish. Beautifully crafted with classic Rioja Alta clarity, it's an archetype 100% Rioja tempranillo from color to finish. Still young, but the energy is worth experiencing right now.
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On the palate, tannins very evident, as is the oak. Quite decent acidity, almost menthol characters. Some sweetness, and a little hot. Not hugely structured. Entry level wine.
[£17 at Loki Wines (Birmingham) La Rioja Alta tasting]
Personally, I thought the Aster Ribera much better value.
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A bit of a muddled fruit nose with a touch of vanilla. Predominantly red fruit on the palate with a almost chalky finish with a cedar tone. Nothing offensive, just not distinctive in any way.
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Unabashedly super oaky, it's a love it or hate it thing. There's really bright acidity, more some than some recent issues of Alberdi, which helps to keep the oak from dulling the wine. I think it's delicious, but it's definitely old-school.
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Still lots of oak, but I got less from this bottle than the last. Probably just my palate and no indication of inconsistency.
This time I had one glass night one, then saved the rest for night two. That was a good move, as the oak blows away a bit and leaves you with more of the terrific Rioja underneath.
Good fruit, rich and perfumed. Dark colored wine, ruby with brown.
Wife said this was one of the best wines we had opened lately. Don't completely agree, but terrific wine never-the-less.
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OAK. Woah, like, seriously. Tons of oak. New American oak. And a lot of it.
After decanting and much vigerous swirling, the wine began to show itself. Fantastic stuff under all that oak. Beautiful lush and juicy fruit Lovely acidity. Good tannic grip, but not over bearing.
Have I mentioned the oak? There's a great massive pile of oak in this wine.
This stuff is going to be phenominal in 4 years. Hang on to it, or decant for a few days before drinking. Yeah, days!
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2/21/2024 - EvoPeteMTL Likes this wine: 92 Points
Definitely on the downward slope but was still holding on and showing some nice characteristics tonight. Vanilla and oak still present, some residual fruits, lots or tertiary notes of course, the alcohol almost all dissipated. Nice wine.
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3/6/2023 - whudock Likes this wine: 93 Points
drinking beautifully with lots of time remaining. Strong cherry fruit, leather, vanilla, cardamom and earth. Bright metal notes.
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8/9/2020 - Will Hansen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank with Indian food, including lamb kheema. Wine spice went very well with spices in the food
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3/12/2019 - whudock Likes this wine: 91 Points
dense and deep with lots of leather notes complementing the still strong fruit.
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7/29/2018 - Janstan Likes this wine: 88 Points
Had no food with this wine.
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3/3/2018 - Gail and Len Likes this wine: 91 Points
Well balanced. Medium to full body. Soft tannns. Liked by both of us.
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12/3/2017 - RussK Likes this wine: 91 Points
Russk. Expats at Pablo and Cindy's. As always, a very lovely wine, and food friendly fantastic QPR . Perhaps not the best vintage. This one had the usual dill and gentle sweetness, but a little bit more lanolin. Totally ready to drink now, but not showing signs of over maturity.
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12/2/2017 - RussK wrote: 91 Points
Russk. Expats at Pablo and Cindy's. I brought. Always a great food wine. Though not the best yr for Alberdi. Paired well with the fish. In balance. Showing dill and lanolin. Good now. But still has more time.
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4/16/2017 - bubbachumps wrote: 90 Points
In a really good place, this is near peak but at the back end of the slope. Dark red, with slight bricking on the sides. Dark fruited notes - blackberry, some iron and minerals. In the mouth, nice acid backbone, helps make it work well with food. Very nice for the price at $16
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2/19/2016 - tb_baltimore Likes this wine: 89 Points
It's excellent to have a 2007 wine, but similar to the previous bottle, this was probably better earlier; not a sense that there's more aging potential.
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11/14/2015 - tb_baltimore Likes this wine: 89 Points
I was hoping that this had improved from our first bottle, in 2014. The QPR is still good, and its nice to have a 2007. But, this seems to have mellowed out still more. Its drinking well, but there's no sense that it will continue to evolve in bottle.
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9/13/2015 - theoves Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent, like all of the Rioja Alta wines. I've never been disappointed in any of their wines and they are often the star of the show. Wonderful nose and a delightful long finish. Drinking beautifully now, but will age well for many more years.
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7/12/2015 - Bob Sacamano Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lots of oak influence to be sure, but also a backbone of fine-grained tannin and abundant red and black fruit make for a balanced, character-filled wine thats hard not to like, especially for the price.
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7/12/2015 - drwine2001 wrote:
Ruby core, faded edge. All green pine on the nose. Bright, sweet red fruit on the attack. Elegant feel, tobacco leaf for complexity, and great acidity, but the finish reprises the astringent pine resin quality imparted by the American oak. Undeniably attractive, but as with many La Rioja Alta wines, the wood treatment negates a lot of the pleasure for me.
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7/4/2015 - JollyWino Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark, ruby red. Dark fruit and oak on the nose. Moderately high tannins. Somewhat astringent and tart. Rich tasting. Notes of chocolate on the finish. Really excellent.
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5/15/2015 - Bozekt wrote: 91 Points
Wonderfully balanced - still black cherry fruit, but predominant cedar, cigar box, and earth on both nose and palate. Perfect choice for a casual wine and Spanish cheese night - brought out the nuttiness in the Manchego and herbal notes in the Iberico cheeses. A great value and will seek out again!
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4/29/2015 - purevar1etals wrote: 89 Points
A very pale ruby colour. Pronounced nose of coconut, nutmeg spice, licorice and sap from the oak, the latter of which makes it smell almost syrupy.
The palate shows high acidity, with low tannin and a light body. Here some fruit (cranberries) comes through. There is a persistent sweet taste despite the wine being dry, owing to this sappy flabour from the oak.
The wine has structure, with each flavour coming through individually, but is simultaneously smooth. It's only downside is that there is not enough body to hold up these flavours, leading to a shorter finish than desired. Still, very good.
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4/18/2015 - Matches wrote: 88 Points
Always good, always better night two once some of the oak has blown off
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3/8/2015 - FDP wrote: 89 Points
Well i finally decided it was an 89 point wine, because on the second evening it seemed to loose a bit, or maybe it was just a tad on the cool side.
Anyway, this is a stunningly good wine , especially on the first evening, should have drunk it all, but was eager to find out ho it performed a day later......
First evening is as the writings goes for taste and nose so am not going to repeat that....especially if you take a look at the estates homepage .
So for the pricing i think its really good value and way better than what i previously have tried from local shops....am pretty sure i will get more of this...so now i am really curious on the other wines from this estate i bought.
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2/18/2015 - chefdilletante wrote:
Fresh oak and cocoa on the nose, followed by bright, tart cherry attack. Some pleasing bitterness, and rounded out with some earth notes. The mid palate isn't as fleshed out as the rest of it, but this is a amiable and crowd-pleasing show, doing well at this price point. Carefully straddles Old and New World Spanish winemaking.
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2/16/2015 - vinole wrote: 89 Points
Red fruit profile with some nice leather and earth and medium minus acidity. Good wine for the price.
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2/14/2015 - henryv wrote: 91 Points
This is a favorite of ours, light wine with slight orange rim, medium fruit, mineral and strong vanilla, with good balance, oak and mild tannins, clean finish.
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2/1/2015 - lovanc@outlook.com wrote:
Fruit forward wine with some acidity and tannins in the background. Simple flavor profile but delicious and easy drinking.
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1/25/2015 - europat55 wrote: 90 Points
Riojas (Donato Enoteca, Redwood City, CA): Good mix of fruity and rustic on the nose (B++). Excellent palate (B++).
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1/24/2015 - Bordeauxman wrote: 89 Points
Well balanced fruit forward. Oak showing a bit stronger than I prefer.
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1/5/2015 - WinoTim wrote: 85 Points
Just OK for me. Definitely has Tempranillo characteristics. Wouldn't seek out to buy another bottle.
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12/25/2014 - Jeffyboy Likes this wine: 90 Points
clear, bit brick like colour; warm and very beautiful. nose: somehow "burnt" in the first attack, stuffy but very well mannered. Deep, robust. Some sweet cherry wood, aome gloss paint - everything pleasant. taste: light bodied and very elegant. Leathery with acidity towards the finish. Classic traditional Rjoja.
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12/23/2014 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Shared a glass with a wine pairing dinner at McCrady's , Charleston, SC.
the WOTN from this pairing. Good fruit, lots of interesting character, good depth. Went very well with the duck with black truffle sauce. Drinking well.
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12/23/2014 - johnh1001 wrote: 89 Points
pretty red fruit, noticeable oak and cedar notes. Nice spice on the palate. A little thin. Easy and pleasant.
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11/30/2014 - drwine2001 wrote:
Light ruby with tawny edge. Prominent pine and dill American oak nose. Light red fruit that is just swamped by astringent vanillin wood. Yuck-this vinification is never to my taste.
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11/28/2014 - linuhage wrote:
Något mörkare frukt och mer vaniljek än övriga riservor från producenten. Fin intensitet om än inte överväldigande komplext. Gott och riktigt bra för det låga priset.
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11/25/2014 - Old School Fan wrote: 88 Points
A nice "reserva." This is a crianza in Spain but a reserva in the US. I don't know why La Rioja Alta does that. Even if the wine meets the requirements of a reserva (as it surely does), why call it one thing in Spain and something different in the US? That said, the wine shows nice LRA style -- sweet cherry red fruit with plenty of nice tobacco and spice notes with fresh acidity and pretty texture. An easy drinking and pleasant wine.
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11/20/2014 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Current and concentrated. I remember why I liked you so much a few years before. Dark cherry, earth, has more than some approachability. It's gone.
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11/18/2014 - tb_baltimore Likes this wine: 90 Points
I really like that this is a seven year old wine and available in the stores at a reasonable price. That said, it didn't bowl me over as much as I'd hoped. The Rioja taste is present, but perhaps I'm judging it relative to less well-aged wines, it comes across as much more mild than I'd expected. Yes, there is the vanilla from the oak, and the cherry, and a bit of spice, but not nearly the impact I'd expected. Still, I rate this as one that is worth continuing to watch (two more bottles in our cellar). This may continue to evolve and the price point is very attractive.
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11/3/2014 - DaleW wrote:
Coconut and toffee aromas from the US oak, redder fruits, plush, spicy, it’s a little much for me now, but think it will calm down. For now B-
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11/2/2014 - SoundinBetween wrote:
Vin Chicago tasting. The gumball/high-toned nature of the oak is evident on this and has too much influence on the final product. A review somewhere calls this a good classic example of Rioja, but I didn't find that to be the case.. the oak threw this one off for me.
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10/31/2014 - Ron Van Holland wrote: flawed
Vegetative taste. Had to toss. Opened another bottle. Great.
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10/21/2014 - jsander wrote: flawed
Dried out cork. Corked. Down the drain.
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10/21/2014 - jsander wrote: 87 Points
First one had dried cork and was in fact corked. This bottle was fine. Nice QPR. Spicy.
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10/18/2014 - JVG wrote:
Bright, clear ruby/garnet in hue. Lots of traditional American oak dominates the nose at first, with buttery, creamy, dill notes. Beneath that and with some air come bright red cherry and raspberry, dried flowers, cinnamon, leather, and herb. Too much oak for me at this point, though I'm sure it will recede with age. Still pretty oaky on the palate, but the other characteristics are turned up a notch and balance better, with an explosion of juicy red fruits (makes me think particularly of cherry and pomegranate) and a nice dusting of baking spices. There's also some nice underbrush / cedar / tobacco character as well as a cured-meat savoriness. It has a nice middle weight in the mouth and a smooth, well-knit texture somewhere between silk and velvet in thickness, and has good freshness. Long, spicy, dark chocolate finish. Very classy stuff on the palate.
The oak on the nose is a little much at first, but it recedes with air and this is otherwise pretty impressive stuff, especially for $18-20. I'm sure it will only get better from here.
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9/28/2014 - RussK wrote: 91 Points
RUSSK. A pleasant surprise, not because I dont love the 2005 and 2006. But because I was afraid the 2007 would disappoint. I didn't. Great nose, balance, acidity and cut. A great go to food wine. 91-. Buy more.
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9/18/2014 - MMiazga Likes this wine: 90 Points
These seem to keep getting better, great everyday value available today to keep around. New world style, oaky, orange peel flavors, moderate fruit and not overly acidic -- it seems to have balanced out some since earlier this year. Okay to PnP, and will be drinking final 6 bottles over the next few years.
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9/17/2014 - shleepy wrote: 92 Points
Ruby color. Doesn't seem to have the orangish tint on the edges that's typical for Riojas. Smell and taste are very representative of other Altas, though. Quite oaky. Very sharp (tannic) and spicy taste. Brightly fruity finish. Tasty and a great value.
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9/16/2014 - Zkouwe Likes this wine: 86 Points
Wonderful old dark fruit on the nose with hints of chocolate. Long finish with some tannins and lots of wood. Good with red meat or other protein. Great value at $18
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9/14/2014 - wadrian57 Likes this wine: 90 Points
A classic easy drinking Rioja. Paired beautifully with roast leg of lamb. At the price point this is wonderful value for a very nice food wine.
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9/1/2014 - cristian_m wrote: 89 Points
A solid effort. Lighter and more whimsical than their other offerings. Still a very good Rioja though with typical tempranillo profile. Would benefit from another year or maybe two in the bottle, but I suspect that it will peak then and not go longer.
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8/30/2014 - Oldworlddrinker Likes this wine: 88 Points
Great Rioja at a good price point. Red color with some level of translucency, on the nose bouquet of crushed berries with vanilla extract. The body is medium light, showing notes of cola, tobacco, vanilla and dark fruits. Is a easy to drink wine that pairs well with food, I had it with paella in the last weekend of summer and my guests were delighted by the matching. The rating is driven by wishing just a nod drier.
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7/26/2014 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
Tasted at winery: Good plush fruit of old/sweet strawberry, dried cherry, sour asian plum, dried floral notes with a good dose of coconut, dill, suntan lotion, vanilla. 100% Temp. Pretty good, but the oak is a little heavy.
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7/5/2014 - baseballvino wrote: 91 Points
Comparison of 07 Alberdi, 04 Ardanza and 01 Gran Reserva 904. Took about an hour to open up. Solid, excellent taste and great QPR.
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6/22/2014 - AV2012 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Some wines from a trip; 6/19/2014-7/2/2014: Good old school classic Rioja. (B+)
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5/22/2014 - chbeaumont wrote: 87 Points
Dark; chocolatey, fruitcake; fleshy, bold, tannins unresolved. Will benefit from a couple more years.
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4/11/2014 - Ron Van Holland wrote: 91 Points
Medium ruby / burnt orange color. Northern sour cherry and sweet spices with Rioja-tangy fruit. Choke cherry with coal-black mocha finish. Beautifully crafted with classic Rioja Alta clarity, it's an archetype 100% Rioja tempranillo from color to finish. Still young, but the energy is worth experiencing right now.
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4/10/2014 - peterseville wrote:
Brick red colour.
On the nose, warm spice and subtle oak.
On the palate, tannins very evident, as is the oak. Quite decent acidity, almost menthol characters. Some sweetness, and a little hot. Not hugely structured. Entry level wine.
[£17 at Loki Wines (Birmingham) La Rioja Alta tasting]
Personally, I thought the Aster Ribera much better value.
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3/21/2014 - Bill Bucklew wrote: 81 Points
A bit of a muddled fruit nose with a touch of vanilla. Predominantly red fruit on the palate with a almost chalky finish with a cedar tone. Nothing offensive, just not distinctive in any way.
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3/15/2014 - yofog wrote: 90 Points
Unabashedly super oaky, it's a love it or hate it thing. There's really bright acidity, more some than some recent issues of Alberdi, which helps to keep the oak from dulling the wine. I think it's delicious, but it's definitely old-school.
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3/3/2014 - Matches Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still lots of oak, but I got less from this bottle than the last. Probably just my palate and no indication of inconsistency.
This time I had one glass night one, then saved the rest for night two. That was a good move, as the oak blows away a bit and leaves you with more of the terrific Rioja underneath.
Good fruit, rich and perfumed. Dark colored wine, ruby with brown.
Wife said this was one of the best wines we had opened lately. Don't completely agree, but terrific wine never-the-less.
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2/26/2014 - jjou Does not like this wine: 83 Points
Lots of oak, dark fruit crumble on nose. Sweet, sweet.
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1/17/2014 - Matches Likes this wine: 88 Points
OAK. Woah, like, seriously. Tons of oak. New American oak. And a lot of it.
After decanting and much vigerous swirling, the wine began to show itself. Fantastic stuff under all that oak. Beautiful lush and juicy fruit Lovely acidity. Good tannic grip, but not over bearing.
Have I mentioned the oak? There's a great massive pile of oak in this wine.
This stuff is going to be phenominal in 4 years. Hang on to it, or decant for a few days before drinking. Yeah, days!
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