Always a wonderful Tempranillo that is great for the price and needs some aging. The 2014 is exactly where it is at its best- drink now. The balance between all the elements is here, but probably won't be if you wait for 2023.
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This is interesting, but the oak and tannins need to settle down a bit. It was a better the second day, but still not balanced enough for me to rate higher. Oak, tobacco, and orange peel on the nose. Thick and chalky on the palate with dark currant. Tannins are prominent on the finish with spicy black tea and savory dark fruit.
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Black currants, toasted wood, spice and cassis make up this complex Rioja. Very expressive after an hour plus decant…the fruit actually becomes ripe and chewy. This wine becomes sneaky good after time which suggests it has more life in it.
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Nose of tobacco, black cherry, and leather. Similar on the palate with chocolate, nutmeg, cedar, and more cherry. This is a rich Rioja that seems to have less oak influence than most. Probably not much a lot of new oak being used at $18. It’s just beginning to show signs of age with browning edges and slowly receding tannins and acidity. If it’s anything like the 1987 Gran Reserva I had a few months ago, it has a long life ahead of it.
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Really very fine. Rich, fruity, and very clean on the front end. You most definitely get the American oak here, but also with sigificant acid uplift on the back end that raises this wine well above usual modern-styled rioja fare. Brings a smile to the face. Will peak in 2-3 years. I almost gave it a 92, but then I realized I gave an amazing Dunn Cab only a 93. I need to spread out my score compression a bit!!
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Really nice value here. Consistent with other notes. Wine has a nice brightness right out of the bottle. Great tannins on the back end. Tons of earth here. Nice change of pace for me from new world after new world.
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Elegant with flavor of cherry, pepper, mushrooms and dirt. Oakie but not overpowering. Low acidity, harmonious balance, firm tannins and medium body. Perfect right out of the bottle. Drink alone or with meats. We had it with smoked pork shoulder which was shredded into the tacos. This wine tasted wonderfully despite onions in the tacos :)
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A: Medium ruby N: Medium (+) nose. Black cherry, plum, vanilla, baking spice, chocolate, fig, earth, leather. P: Dry, medium (+) acid, medium (+) grippy tannins, medium (+) body, medium alcohol, medium(+) intensity and medium finish. C: The tannin appears very grippy and through time and polymerisation, will be smoother and better integrated. This rather unbalalnces the wine at this time. The intensity/ concentration and length is good and there is real complexity here from the primary, secondary and tertiary flavours. The wine is of Very Good Quality The wine is suitable for bottle ageing, There are still primary elements and secondary elements that will mature into greater complexity while the acidity and alcohol and tannin will work to keep the wine fresh over the next 3- 5 years Good value at <$20 French oak apparent
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Blackberry on the nose to start. One hour decant and getting some plum, spice and floral notes. Tannins still fairly strong. Will wait a year for the next bottle as this has a way to go to match the 2012.
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American oak inflected, wood spice, cinnamon aromas that are layered over dark red cherry notes. The medium-bodied palate has nice aroma replays on the flavour profile led by red cherry spice notes. It has chalky tannins and refreshing acidity. Long, spiced finish with very good length.
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Deep dark purple in the glass, this one needs some time to open up. After an hour or two, the nose is very full with dark fruits, BlackBerry and plum. The wine is warm, dry, notes of toast, oak, mixed berries and a little spice working toward a dry tangy finish. Good deal for the price.
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Seymour Wine Club Meeting 4/27/19 (Home of Lew Stanio): Tasted blind. Aromas of vanilla, cherry and currant. The nose on this really stuck out because it was the only one with vanilla on it. Just different from the others. Got flavors of cherry, blackberry and plum. Ends with a 15-20 second finish with cherry notes. I initially liked this a bit more but after re-tasting and comparing to the other wines I downgraded it. Not a bad wine but just a notch below the other in my opinion.
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For me, this wine is always a safe bet when I see it on a wine list. This vintage was no exception. Dark berry and plum fruit, med-heavy body, some spice, cedar, mineral. Yummy and very approachable. Went great with my roast tenderloin.
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10/30/2023 - chelidon Likes this wine: 88 Points
On the decline, drink them asap.
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12/14/2022 - chelidon Likes this wine: 90 Points
Near or at peak, drinking very well.
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6/17/2022 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 90 Points
Always a wonderful Tempranillo that is great for the price and needs some aging. The 2014 is exactly where it is at its best- drink now. The balance between all the elements is here, but probably won't be if you wait for 2023.
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2/18/2022 - Frankiedo wrote: 82 Points
Very nice . Deep colour. Nice aroma, great for the price. Nice as gift
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10/19/2021 - aleksds wrote: 88 Points
This is interesting, but the oak and tannins need to settle down a bit. It was a better the second day, but still not balanced enough for me to rate higher. Oak, tobacco, and orange peel on the nose. Thick and chalky on the palate with dark currant. Tannins are prominent on the finish with spicy black tea and savory dark fruit.
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9/13/2021 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Black currants, toasted wood, spice and cassis make up this complex Rioja. Very expressive after an hour plus decant…the fruit actually becomes ripe and chewy. This wine becomes sneaky good after time which suggests it has more life in it.
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7/24/2021 - trastevere Likes this wine: 88 Points
Deep purple colour. Nice spicy aromas. Good pure dark berry fruits, spicy notes, and the tannins, though softening, still have a lot of grip.
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4/19/2021 - Gkautry Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well structured. Still a little young. 90
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3/31/2021 - evjoh wrote:
Nose of tobacco, black cherry, and leather. Similar on the palate with chocolate, nutmeg, cedar, and more cherry. This is a rich Rioja that seems to have less oak influence than most. Probably not much a lot of new oak being used at $18. It’s just beginning to show signs of age with browning edges and slowly receding tannins and acidity. If it’s anything like the 1987 Gran Reserva I had a few months ago, it has a long life ahead of it.
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2/19/2021 - Camvin Likes this wine:
88/100
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9/3/2020 - Camvin Likes this wine:
85/100
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7/11/2020 - ralaspech wrote: 89 Points
Quite young and tannic--requires 2+ hours of decanting before drinking. Prominent cocoa and leafy/earthy notes. Good value.
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6/25/2020 - gbalko wrote:
Never a disappointment.
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5/12/2020 - Shrages wrote: 91 Points
Really very fine. Rich, fruity, and very clean on the front end. You most definitely get the American oak here, but also with sigificant acid uplift on the back end that raises this wine well above usual modern-styled rioja fare. Brings a smile to the face. Will peak in 2-3 years. I almost gave it a 92, but then I realized I gave an amazing Dunn Cab only a 93. I need to spread out my score compression a bit!!
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4/25/2020 - Camvin Likes this wine:
4.3/5
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3/31/2020 - Ry1028 wrote: 88 Points
Really nice value here. Consistent with other notes. Wine has a nice brightness right out of the bottle. Great tannins on the back end. Tons of earth here. Nice change of pace for me from new world after new world.
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3/15/2020 - Camvin Likes this wine:
4/5
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3/2/2020 - AnnaandMarty2014 Likes this wine: 85 Points
Elegant with flavor of cherry, pepper, mushrooms and dirt. Oakie but not overpowering. Low acidity, harmonious balance, firm tannins and medium body. Perfect right out of the bottle. Drink alone or with meats. We had it with smoked pork shoulder which was shredded into the tacos. This wine tasted wonderfully despite onions in the tacos :)
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2/15/2020 - Brothers in Quarantine Likes this wine: 83 Points
Good value
Black cherry
baking spice
Medium tannins
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1/10/2020 - Heynetty wrote:
A: Medium ruby
N: Medium (+) nose. Black cherry, plum, vanilla, baking spice, chocolate, fig, earth, leather.
P: Dry, medium (+) acid, medium (+) grippy tannins, medium (+) body, medium alcohol, medium(+) intensity and medium finish.
C: The tannin appears very grippy and through time and polymerisation, will be smoother and better integrated. This rather unbalalnces the wine at this time. The intensity/ concentration and length is good and there is real complexity here from the primary, secondary and tertiary flavours. The wine is of Very Good Quality
The wine is suitable for bottle ageing, There are still primary elements and secondary elements that will mature into greater complexity while the acidity and alcohol and tannin will work to keep the wine fresh over the next 3- 5 years
Good value at <$20
French oak apparent
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12/25/2019 - Camvin Likes this wine:
4.5/5
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12/15/2019 - Henbest Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark fruit, black cherry, earthy, long finish, medium tannins
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11/14/2019 - Livonietisr wrote: 90 Points
Black cherry, oak spices. Firm tanins, taste of cherry, vanilla, smoke. Long finish. Good.
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9/2/2019 - Navydame wrote:
Neutral
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8/25/2019 - Siwink57 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Blackberry on the nose to start. One hour decant and getting some plum, spice and floral notes. Tannins still fairly strong. Will wait a year for the next bottle as this has a way to go to match the 2012.
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8/16/2019 - cono_sur Likes this wine: 89 Points
American oak inflected, wood spice, cinnamon aromas that are layered over dark red cherry notes. The medium-bodied palate has nice aroma replays on the flavour profile led by red cherry spice notes. It has chalky tannins and refreshing acidity. Long, spiced finish with very good length.
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8/16/2019 - willie_p74 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep dark purple in the glass, this one needs some time to open up. After an hour or two, the nose is very full with dark fruits, BlackBerry and plum. The wine is warm, dry, notes of toast, oak, mixed berries and a little spice working toward a dry tangy finish. Good deal for the price.
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5/18/2019 - jackwesh Likes this wine: 97 Points
Wonderful wine
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4/27/2019 - slywka7 wrote: 89 Points
Seymour Wine Club Meeting 4/27/19 (Home of Lew Stanio): Tasted blind. Aromas of vanilla, cherry and currant. The nose on this really stuck out because it was the only one with vanilla on it. Just different from the others. Got flavors of cherry, blackberry and plum. Ends with a 15-20 second finish with cherry notes. I initially liked this a bit more but after re-tasting and comparing to the other wines I downgraded it. Not a bad wine but just a notch below the other in my opinion.
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4/14/2019 - wine4ever Likes this wine: 90 Points
For me, this wine is always a safe bet when I see it on a wine list. This vintage was no exception. Dark berry and plum fruit, med-heavy body, some spice, cedar, mineral. Yummy and very approachable. Went great with my roast tenderloin.
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