Dark ruby color with tinges of purple. Vanilla, spices, oak, leather, graphite and a echo of tobacco on the nose. Dusky on the palate with a blend of aged black and red fruits and more of the above spices, oak, leather vanilla. Great acidity on the finish with a lot of those secondary characteristics cOming through. Five days later under private preserve I got a whiff of blood orange and cherry marmalade, leather on the nose and red berry fruit, smooth tannins, wood, mocha and coffee on the finish.
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Dark purple color. Fragrant nose of cassis , cinnamon and allspice. Dark fruit flavors predominate with a underlying touch of vanilla, but not overtly oaky. Mid level tannins and acidity. Ready to drink, especially with an hour decant. Has at least another 5-7 years until any decline.
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(at Magdalena – Baltimore) This was just fantastic. Depth and ripeness was impressive. Deep and satisfying dark red fruit with a sprinkle of oak dust that is not intrusive. I was surprised by the silkiness of the palate feel. Should last for years. (94)
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A really nice change of pace from the cabernets that we usually consume. Made to age, we may have enjoyed this wine too early...but oh was it good! Opened and allowed to slow ox for 2+ hours. Deep, dark garnet in the glass with no hint of amber. Nose was expressive, including toast and vanilla aromas that wouldn't quit. Full mouthfeel with a smooth, silky texture revealing flavors of black fruit, red fruit, pomegranate, tobacco and leather with a touch of sweetness throughout. Medium length finish. An excellent, fairly priced, mature example of a tempranillo wine entering its' prime drinking window. Agree with Steve Tanzer's 92 points.
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La robe du vin est pourpre intense, d'une insolente jeunesse. Il n'est pas des plus bavard niveau intensité, mais il nous donne tout de même de jolies flaveurs de prune juteuse, de boite à épices, avec une note crémeuse et pointe sanguine. En bouche le vin imprègne, avec une matière caressante et travaillé, les tanins sont présents mais domptés, l'acidité est en parfaite harmonie et apporte juste assez de tonus à l'ensemble. Le vin s'étire assez longuement. Très bien pour le prix. Ma 2e et dernière bouteilles vers 2020.
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A menos de 20€ en Alcampo. Muy tempranillo de Laguardia, intenso y negro. Siempre con la clase que debería caracterizar a un gran reserva de esta casa. Endrinas, mazapan y guindas en licor, madera integrando, en busca de la complejidad.
La boca tiene chicha dentro de ese halo de refinamiento. Muy buena acidez, aun no ha llegado su momento, espero más complejidad, a revisitar en 10 años.
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Big old school Spanish. Woody, mulchy nose. Black fruit with Tempranillo spice and great acidic balance. Tannin still there but pretty soft. It will keep but enjoyable now.
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Vibrant ruby in color, this wine reveals candied cherry, saddle leather and vanilla on the nose. The mouth feel brings juicy, subtly sweet tannins with added elements of tobacco leaf and Morello cherry. The finish is slightly closed still but there is elements of complexity that a few more years of bottle age will release. 13.5% abv.
Purchased for $30US, this is an excellent example of aged Rioja. It needs a few more years to show its best. Drink 2018-2025.
Imported by Europvin USA, Van Nuys, CA.
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Dark red with some browning. Clean. Currant, spiciest, and chocolate nose with ripe raspberries and BlackBerries on the palate. High acid and medium high tannin. Full body with a medium long finish. Delicious!
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Encore une fois assez boisé et vanillé mais le fruit est assez croquant avec des tannins charnus. Belle longueur et persistance. Pas pret encore et moins raffiné que la cuvée impérial.
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Had this one last night as a sipper to go with a movie. WOW, what a nice wine! Mature(ish), new world-style Rioja. Big, dark and bold, but very smooth tannins and quite long on the finish. Purple and black fruit profile. good complexity. Definitely good QPR. I will certainly be picking up some more.
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Wow. A lot going on here. Pop and pour, but could still use a little more time in the bottle. Will likely improve with decanting. Probably 92+ at some point. Actually, an hour later, and with some chicken tangine, this is fabulous! Changed my rating from a 90 to a 92.
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Fait de Tempranillo : 95 % et Graciano : 5 %, Vanille et élevage au nez et en bouche, ample, rond et long…à revoir dans 5 années! Buvable avec les viandes grillées sur le BBQ, seul c`est too much en ce moment!
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9/19/2022 - talbot61 Likes this wine:
At Boston Wine & Poker, Needham, Mass, Sept. 18, tasted blind:
This has some bite -- tannic, intense, and complex.
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1/22/2022 - Winelover48 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still a baby. Delicious but still dominated by primary fruit.
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9/10/2021 - Al-Vino Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lots of life for the first hour of decanting, then fell off the cliff quickly.
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12/6/2020 - kalissa Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is drinking well. Appears young based on the colour. No significant tannin. Good fruit concentration. No noticeable oak. Drink or hold.
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11/23/2019 - redhead6971 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark ruby color with tinges of purple. Vanilla, spices, oak, leather, graphite and a echo of tobacco on the nose. Dusky on the palate with a blend of aged black and red fruits and more of the above spices, oak, leather vanilla. Great acidity on the finish with a lot of those secondary characteristics cOming through. Five days later under private preserve I got a whiff of blood orange and cherry marmalade, leather on the nose and red berry fruit, smooth tannins, wood, mocha and coffee on the finish.
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3/10/2019 - Danielgbm Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow! Delicious,, starting its drinking window, good acidity and very refreshing, secondary aromas,, fantastic Rioja old school
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2/2/2019 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP with pork chops. Delightful and open. Mid body, mid- acid. 13.5%
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10/16/2018 - djarcara Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark purple color. Fragrant nose of cassis , cinnamon and allspice. Dark fruit flavors predominate with a underlying touch of vanilla, but not overtly oaky. Mid level tannins and acidity. Ready to drink, especially with an hour decant. Has at least another 5-7 years until any decline.
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3/29/2018 - dbkitc wrote: 94 Points
(at Magdalena – Baltimore) This was just fantastic. Depth and ripeness was impressive. Deep and satisfying dark red fruit with a sprinkle of oak dust that is not intrusive. I was surprised by the silkiness of the palate feel. Should last for years. (94)
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3/27/2018 - Tahlequahdave1972 Likes this wine: 92 Points
A really nice change of pace from the cabernets that we usually consume. Made to age, we may have enjoyed this wine too early...but oh was it good! Opened and allowed to slow ox for 2+ hours. Deep, dark garnet in the glass with no hint of amber. Nose was expressive, including toast and vanilla aromas that wouldn't quit. Full mouthfeel with a smooth, silky texture revealing flavors of black fruit, red fruit, pomegranate, tobacco and leather with a touch of sweetness throughout. Medium length finish. An excellent, fairly priced, mature example of a tempranillo wine entering its' prime drinking window. Agree with Steve Tanzer's 92 points.
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1/26/2018 - ManuKey Likes this wine: 91 Points
Idem à la dernière bouteille! Textbook Rioja GR, parfaitement fondu, et très long en bouche. Une excellente bouteille!
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12/7/2017 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 90 Points
PnP. More mature than I would have guessed, but very pretty. Drink now or a bad bottle? 13.5%
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11/21/2017 - ManuKey Likes this wine: 90 Points
La robe du vin est pourpre intense, d'une insolente jeunesse. Il n'est pas des plus bavard niveau intensité, mais il nous donne tout de même de jolies flaveurs de prune juteuse, de boite à épices, avec une note crémeuse et pointe sanguine. En bouche le vin imprègne, avec une matière caressante et travaillé, les tanins sont présents mais domptés, l'acidité est en parfaite harmonie et apporte juste assez de tonus à l'ensemble. Le vin s'étire assez longuement. Très bien pour le prix. Ma 2e et dernière bouteilles vers 2020.
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9/29/2017 - JimmyBubbles Likes this wine: 89 Points
A menos de 20€ en Alcampo. Muy tempranillo de Laguardia, intenso y negro. Siempre con la clase que debería caracterizar a un gran reserva de esta casa. Endrinas, mazapan y guindas en licor, madera integrando, en busca de la complejidad.
La boca tiene chicha dentro de ese halo de refinamiento. Muy buena acidez, aun no ha llegado su momento, espero más complejidad, a revisitar en 10 años.
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6/24/2017 - OmiyaDrinker wrote: 91 Points
Family trip to Rioja - June 2017; 6/20/2017-6/26/2017 (Rioja): Complex nose of blood, iron, toast. Very silky mouthfeel with high quality tannins. Good balance and long swirling finish.
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6/3/2017 - Doblk Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big old school Spanish. Woody, mulchy nose. Black fruit with Tempranillo spice and great acidic balance. Tannin still there but pretty soft. It will keep but enjoyable now.
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1/8/2017 - bconly Likes this wine:
Good but not nearly ready.
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7/9/2016 - daveyk39 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fresh fruit and hints of smoke.
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6/23/2016 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 91 Points
Vibrant ruby in color, this wine reveals candied cherry, saddle leather and vanilla on the nose. The mouth feel brings juicy, subtly sweet tannins with added elements of tobacco leaf and Morello cherry. The finish is slightly closed still but there is elements of complexity that a few more years of bottle age will release. 13.5% abv.
Purchased for $30US, this is an excellent example of aged Rioja. It needs a few more years to show its best. Drink 2018-2025.
Imported by Europvin USA, Van Nuys, CA.
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6/23/2016 - dkstar1 Likes this wine: 88 Points
This will become a very good wine. But these would benefit a great deal if held for a minimum of 10 more years.
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5/14/2016 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted. Surprisingly smooth and mature. Not sure if it will fade or find another set of legs, but it's drinking beautifully now. 13.5%
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1/16/2016 - Vino Monkeys Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark red with some browning. Clean. Currant, spiciest, and chocolate nose with ripe raspberries and BlackBerries on the palate. High acid and medium high tannin. Full body with a medium long finish. Delicious!
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12/26/2015 - maxima wrote: 89 Points
Encore une fois assez boisé et vanillé mais le fruit est assez croquant avec des tannins charnus. Belle longueur et persistance.
Pas pret encore et moins raffiné que la cuvée impérial.
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12/18/2015 - rjweitzman wrote:
not my night. hated this one too
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10/10/2015 - kfrench150 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Had this one last night as a sipper to go with a movie. WOW, what a nice wine! Mature(ish), new world-style Rioja. Big, dark and bold, but very smooth tannins and quite long on the finish. Purple and black fruit profile. good complexity. Definitely good QPR. I will certainly be picking up some more.
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10/7/2015 - Dopas wrote: 91 Points
Nice for the value. Slightly fruity, not fully balanced but close. Nice finish
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9/8/2015 - Double-A Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark currant, bread dough, mineral, and tar on the nose. Good replays, solid, gripping palate; good fruit and spice flavours to finish.
4/5
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8/30/2015 - rjweitzman wrote: 92 Points
delicious. going to wait on the next bottle and give it some more time.
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8/26/2015 - Vino Monkeys Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wow. A lot going on here. Pop and pour, but could still use a little more time in the bottle. Will likely improve with decanting. Probably 92+ at some point. Actually, an hour later, and with some chicken tangine, this is fabulous! Changed my rating from a 90 to a 92.
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8/11/2015 - rjweitzman wrote: 92 Points
fantastic wine!! pnp but would recommend letting it sit for an hour. much in agreement with rp
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8/2/2015 - flussier wrote: 90 Points
Beau vin, pas trop boisé pour un gran reserva. Bel arome.
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6/21/2015 - maxima wrote: 89 Points
Fait de Tempranillo : 95 % et Graciano : 5 %,
Vanille et élevage au nez et en bouche, ample, rond et long…à revoir dans 5 années!
Buvable avec les viandes grillées sur le BBQ, seul c`est too much en ce moment!
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