This wine evolved over time. My initial taste I thought the wine was thin and lacked structure. Within a half our there was plenty of fruit and some real depth. Drank half the bottle and save the rest for the next day. Day 2 the wine was just as good with ample fruit flavors and a smooth finish.
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Decanted two hours before drinking. Most popular wine of eight or so options at a party. The usual roughness of a Ribera del Duero was gone which I guess I should expect from a 2003 & decanting it, but I missed that roughness. Still a very nice wine.
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What a progression this wine has made in the last couple of years. A great bottle this evening, better considering the price ($23). Popped /poured. Dark red fruit and rich florals on the nose. Very rich mouthfeel. Pretty much resolved and and very well balanced with just the right touch of slight sweetness to offset the otherwise masculine character. Relatively full-bodied, this does start to show some mild tannins as it spends time in the glass. Excellent wine both on its own and with food (G's grilled chicken with chipotle butter). A very nice surprise given my earlier reviews. A good example of the benefits of storing wine, especially given that this one has been in the "annex" for the last 4 years, corner of the basement with no special temp/hum control.
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Fresh. Flavorful. Balanced. Clean and unpretentious. Smooth, but still with good structure. I'd say it's in it's drinking prime right now. Lacking in aromatics, though
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Mid-Fall Wine Tasting (Down's Lake): No dtl'd notes, but I'd rate this in the 88 point vicinity. I think I might have aired this one out to long, as it just didn't have the depth of fruit I expected. Seemed somewhat washed out compared to prior bottles.
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This academic year I sent my oldest daughter off to a small liberal arts college. On a recent trip home we got into a discussion about sophistication. I defined sophistication as the ability to make finer and finer distinctions and the taste to know which distinctions were worth making. She did not like my definition. Not really a big surprise as, I suspect, the whole purpose of the conversation was to make the point that her father was a cultural Philistine. As I sat down to write this wine review I was still mulling that definition and decided that it was a good one for an afficionado’s approach to wine. Wouldn’t we all like both the knowledge and the taste to make finer and finer distinctions.
This wine is built on themes that are easy to understand and easy to like; straight forward flavors, nothing out of balance, no glaring juxtapositions, and smooth segues between the components. While no part is extraordinary, it is a testament to the wine makers art that all parts are equally complementary. Plum, prune, and herb/oak nose. Not effusive aromas but enough for a smile. Medium bodied and as other reviewers have noted, elegant. Berry, cherry, plum, herbs in the taste supported by what are now soft tannins. Finish sticks around, and like the whole wine is a compliment of fruit, acid, and tannins. Perfect in its own way of not trying to be more than it is.
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Very elegant, but leaves me wanting for something just a bit more. Somewhat reticent on the nose. On the palate, more complexity and better integrated than last time around, with a layered and long finish with just a hint of port sweetness and mild/fine tannins at the end, reminding me in some ways of an aged Amarone. Not as rustic, heavy or gamey as many Spanish wines I've tried. For food, try something with a similar elegance and refinement. Tonight's pairing with Jamaican jerk chicken was a loser, with the food overpowering the wine.
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Opened an hour before serving, which was a little more than necessary. Plum, prune (in a very nice way), and oak nose. Soft tannin backbone that provided structure for the fruit. Cherry, plum, and a very slight herb taste. Lingering white pepper finish. Exceeding well put together wine that is drinking wonderfully right now.
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Popped/poured. Initially seemed thin. 10-15 minutes of vigorous spinning changes this wine nicely, giving it more depth and character. Mixture of dark and bright fruit aromas on the nose, with the slightest hint of dill. Medium weight palate, with some acidity and a very fine tannin on a medium length soft finish. Overall, rather elegant in styling.
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Medium bodied and elegant, this is definitely not an overripe oak bomb. However, for the present it is either a bit closed or it is just plain a bit simple and while not thin, certainly not effusive on the nose or complex on the palate. Perfectly drinkable and enjoyable but leaves you looking for more depth and concentration. A bummer as the balance and restrained use of oak is notable!
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Very Burgundian in style. Translucent red with terrific cherry and earth. Velvety texture. A big hit at dinner and beat out the Allende and the Laurel with the Paella dinner.
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A very nice tempranillo - Still young, but drinking strong with some good breathing time. Drank on an outing, so only got to breath in the bottle for a hour or so. Great fruiut/acididty/tannin balance. Probably should have just waited and gave it more aging time.
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This is a food wine. Tonight (second of six) with my wife's killer lightly breaded pork medalions and caper parsely cream sauce. Savory nose and even more savory mouth clinching with tannins. It matched the pork and parsely beautifully but I didn't love the finish, which came up off balance. I will decant next time.
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Popped a bottle for the employees. everyone enjoyed. My impression of Spanish wines so far is of very ripe but very smooth wines. Very nice floral aromas with dark fruits and a very nice long finish. Slight heat on the finish.
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Nose of ripe red and black fruit, prune juice, licorice. In the mouth this feels younger, with concentrated dark fruit, plum, cherry, smoke. A touch pruney/roasted. Interesting, chewy and structured with furry tannins. Needs time. On day 2, tannins have settled down and the aromatic profile is reminiscent of a ripe California shiraz. However the palate is nicely dry with good acidity. Tasty, but lacks distinction.
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Usually when a wine rates in the high 80's it is because it has an obvious fault that detracts from other positive characteristics. This wine has no obvious faults, but it has also has no stunning characteristics. A very nice berry and redwood nose that is quite persistent. Light to medium bodied. Very pretty color. Somewhat tannic forward as compared to California wines, but extremely well balanced. The berry flavors follow over into the taste, also tastes of plum. Very pleasant finish. We had it with a very simple meal of grilled steak and potatoes, it was perfect. I purchased a case and I am extremely happy I have 11 more bottles
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Had without food night before Thanksgiving. Decanted for 2 hours. That helped a lot. Medium Bodied, fairly balanced. I liked the nose more then the taste. Didn't get much fruit, plenty of Terror, wet earth, pleasant. I think it is a little young right now.
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Similar notes to prior entry. Upon opening, the nose was a bit odd, with a bit of dill/vinegar. Didn't notice this last time, but don't remember if I decanted the last one or not. Over 30-45 minute in the glass, the nose rounded out considerably into a more perfumed presence. The label indicates "decant for an hour", which at this stage is good advice. Improves significantly with an hour or two (92-93).
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Medium-bodied, with a rich nose given its youth. Very well rounded/balanced, great fruit, tannins manageable....drinking well now, though it will get better over the next 2-3 years. I have a hard time seeing it lasting to 2015 as suggested by WS, but that could be simply because of how well it's doing now. The tough part will be holding onto a couple of bottles for that long. It'll be interesting to see if this makes the WS Top 100 list. It drinks better than many of the bargain entries on the list from years past.
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1/10/2016 - TJK Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good QPR. nice solid wine, still had some life but was probably past prime.
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8/18/2012 - Barakahn Likes this wine: 89 Points
still very drinkable. age has subdued the tannins however.
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10/1/2011 - rfras wrote: 91 Points
This wine evolved over time. My initial taste I thought the wine was thin and lacked structure. Within a half our there was plenty of fruit and some real depth. Drank half the bottle and save the rest for the next day. Day 2 the wine was just as good with ample fruit flavors and a smooth finish.
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4/16/2011 - spidersva Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted two hours before drinking. Most popular wine of eight or so options at a party. The usual roughness of a Ribera del Duero was gone which I guess I should expect from a 2003 & decanting it, but I missed that roughness. Still a very nice wine.
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8/27/2010 - vanpe003 wrote: 93 Points
What a progression this wine has made in the last couple of years. A great bottle this evening, better considering the price ($23). Popped /poured. Dark red fruit and rich florals on the nose. Very rich mouthfeel. Pretty much resolved and and very well balanced with just the right touch of slight sweetness to offset the otherwise masculine character. Relatively full-bodied, this does start to show some mild tannins as it spends time in the glass. Excellent wine both on its own and with food (G's grilled chicken with chipotle butter). A very nice surprise given my earlier reviews. A good example of the benefits of storing wine, especially given that this one has been in the "annex" for the last 4 years, corner of the basement with no special temp/hum control.
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7/30/2010 - schway wrote: 92 Points
Fresh. Flavorful. Balanced. Clean and unpretentious. Smooth, but still with good structure. I'd say it's in it's drinking prime right now. Lacking in aromatics, though
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4/9/2010 - GARDEN wrote: 92 Points
The wine opened up after about 10 minutes.
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2/3/2010 - GARDEN wrote: 92 Points
I rated this 91 on the first night and 92 on the second night. The bottle was vacume sealed between nights.
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10/11/2009 - vanpe003 wrote:
Mid-Fall Wine Tasting (Down's Lake): No dtl'd notes, but I'd rate this in the 88 point vicinity. I think I might have aired this one out to long, as it just didn't have the depth of fruit I expected. Seemed somewhat washed out compared to prior bottles.
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7/19/2009 - ggmama wrote: 95 Points
The wine was deep ruby, dense and complex with multiple layers that unfolded over 2-3 hours of dinner.
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2/6/2009 - NPWolfe wrote: 89 Points
This academic year I sent my oldest daughter off to a small liberal arts college. On a recent trip home we got into a discussion about sophistication. I defined sophistication as the ability to make finer and finer distinctions and the taste to know which distinctions were worth making. She did not like my definition. Not really a big surprise as, I suspect, the whole purpose of the conversation was to make the point that her father was a cultural Philistine. As I sat down to write this wine review I was still mulling that definition and decided that it was a good one for an afficionado’s approach to wine. Wouldn’t we all like both the knowledge and the taste to make finer and finer distinctions.
This wine is built on themes that are easy to understand and easy to like; straight forward flavors, nothing out of balance, no glaring juxtapositions, and smooth segues between the components. While no part is extraordinary, it is a testament to the wine makers art that all parts are equally complementary. Plum, prune, and herb/oak nose. Not effusive aromas but enough for a smile. Medium bodied and as other reviewers have noted, elegant. Berry, cherry, plum, herbs in the taste supported by what are now soft tannins. Finish sticks around, and like the whole wine is a compliment of fruit, acid, and tannins. Perfect in its own way of not trying to be more than it is.
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12/7/2008 - NPWolfe wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with the other notes and drinking wonderfully right now.
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9/22/2008 - vanpe003 wrote: 91 Points
Very elegant, but leaves me wanting for something just a bit more. Somewhat reticent on the nose. On the palate, more complexity and better integrated than last time around, with a layered and long finish with just a hint of port sweetness and mild/fine tannins at the end, reminding me in some ways of an aged Amarone. Not as rustic, heavy or gamey as many Spanish wines I've tried. For food, try something with a similar elegance and refinement. Tonight's pairing with Jamaican jerk chicken was a loser, with the food overpowering the wine.
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9/11/2008 - NPWolfe wrote: 90 Points
Opened an hour before serving, which was a little more than necessary. Plum, prune (in a very nice way), and oak nose. Soft tannin backbone that provided structure for the fruit. Cherry, plum, and a very slight herb taste. Lingering white pepper finish. Exceeding well put together wine that is drinking wonderfully right now.
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9/1/2008 - TwoDogs wrote: 91 Points
very nice w/beef brisket
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6/19/2008 - vanpe003 wrote: 91 Points
Popped/poured. Initially seemed thin. 10-15 minutes of vigorous spinning changes this wine nicely, giving it more depth and character. Mixture of dark and bright fruit aromas on the nose, with the slightest hint of dill. Medium weight palate, with some acidity and a very fine tannin on a medium length soft finish. Overall, rather elegant in styling.
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5/30/2008 - pbjosh wrote: 88 Points
Medium bodied and elegant, this is definitely not an overripe oak bomb. However, for the present it is either a bit closed or it is just plain a bit simple and while not thin, certainly not effusive on the nose or complex on the palate. Perfectly drinkable and enjoyable but leaves you looking for more depth and concentration. A bummer as the balance and restrained use of oak is notable!
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4/25/2008 - bwillia wrote: 92 Points
Very Burgundian in style. Translucent red with terrific cherry and earth. Velvety texture. A big hit at dinner and beat out the Allende and the Laurel with the Paella dinner.
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1/12/2008 - TwoDogs wrote: 90 Points
Not a overly expressive wine but is pieced together very well. Looked for deeper flavors after an hour or so but no dice.
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12/7/2007 - jctaylor wrote: 93 Points
Very oaky with nice red and dark fruit.
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12/3/2007 - SBA Guru wrote: 91 Points
Nice wine, great value
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7/16/2007 - SBA Guru wrote: 91 Points
Nice wine drinking well.
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6/19/2007 - schway wrote: 87 Points
Earthy nose. Not much fruit. Tight, drying, tannic and austere. Flawed?
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5/23/2007 - dfitzg2 wrote: 89 Points
Excellent! Deep red with nice fragrance and plenty of complex, yet subtle tastes.
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5/8/2007 - DocSkinner wrote: 91 Points
A very nice tempranillo - Still young, but drinking strong with some good breathing time. Drank on an outing, so only got to breath in the bottle for a hour or so. Great fruiut/acididty/tannin balance. Probably should have just waited and gave it more aging time.
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5/1/2007 - the godfather wrote: 88 Points
nice easy drinking
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3/18/2007 - Rollerball wrote: 92 Points
Tonight with chicken, hummus, and onions; even juicier than prior bottles.
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3/9/2007 - EMichels wrote: 90 Points
Full round nose; Good long finish; Slightly tart; 5,12,15,8
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3/4/2007 - Rollerball wrote: 91 Points
This is a food wine. Tonight (second of six) with my wife's killer lightly breaded pork medalions and caper parsely cream sauce. Savory nose and even more savory mouth clinching with tannins. It matched the pork and parsely beautifully but I didn't love the finish, which came up off balance. I will decant next time.
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2/16/2007 - WineForRob wrote: 90 Points
Popped a bottle for the employees. everyone enjoyed. My impression of Spanish wines so far is of very ripe but very smooth wines. Very nice floral aromas with dark fruits and a very nice long finish. Slight heat on the finish.
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2/7/2007 - 5laton wrote:
Nose of ripe red and black fruit, prune juice, licorice. In the mouth this feels younger, with concentrated dark fruit, plum, cherry, smoke. A touch pruney/roasted. Interesting, chewy and structured with furry tannins. Needs time. On day 2, tannins have settled down and the aromatic profile is reminiscent of a ripe California shiraz. However the palate is nicely dry with good acidity. Tasty, but lacks distinction.
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2/3/2007 - NPWolfe wrote: 89 Points
Usually when a wine rates in the high 80's it is because it has an obvious fault that detracts from other positive characteristics. This wine has no obvious faults, but it has also has no stunning characteristics. A very nice berry and redwood nose that is quite persistent. Light to medium bodied. Very pretty color. Somewhat tannic forward as compared to California wines, but extremely well balanced. The berry flavors follow over into the taste, also tastes of plum. Very pleasant finish. We had it with a very simple meal of grilled steak and potatoes, it was perfect. I purchased a case and I am extremely happy I have 11 more bottles
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1/11/2007 - TwoDogs wrote: 92 Points
delightful. Did not decant. Will follow the instructions on the bottle next time.
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11/23/2006 - jcurl wrote: 90 Points
Had without food night before Thanksgiving. Decanted for 2 hours. That helped a lot. Medium Bodied, fairly balanced. I liked the nose more then the taste. Didn't get much fruit, plenty of Terror, wet earth, pleasant. I think it is a little young right now.
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11/16/2006 - vanpe003 wrote: 91 Points
Similar notes to prior entry. Upon opening, the nose was a bit odd, with a bit of dill/vinegar. Didn't notice this last time, but don't remember if I decanted the last one or not. Over 30-45 minute in the glass, the nose rounded out considerably into a more perfumed presence. The label indicates "decant for an hour", which at this stage is good advice. Improves significantly with an hour or two (92-93).
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10/20/2006 - vanpe003 wrote: 91 Points
Medium-bodied, with a rich nose given its youth. Very well rounded/balanced, great fruit, tannins manageable....drinking well now, though it will get better over the next 2-3 years. I have a hard time seeing it lasting to 2015 as suggested by WS, but that could be simply because of how well it's doing now. The tough part will be holding onto a couple of bottles for that long. It'll be interesting to see if this makes the WS Top 100 list. It drinks better than many of the bargain entries on the list from years past.
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8/6/2006 - Paul Lin wrote: 89 Points
Tasted at the Wine Exchange on August 5, 2006. Loads of bright fruit flavors, light-medium body. Still young and tannic.
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