Mid garnet. Lovely nose of damson, spice, leather, and a touch of coffee. Thirteen years since previous bottle, primary fruit has calmed and settled now, and is starting to show some secondary development, the lush and padded fruit now silky and refined. Classic Rioja profile. Mid palate complexity and a decent finish. Lovely. ****
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unfortunately the cork crumbled upon opening and the wine just had very little structure..tasted ok..but it was definitely not quite right..i think to much oxygen got to the wine and it aged out
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Drinking much better than the Vina Real Gran Reserva at this point. Delicious crushed blackberry notes and it doesn't have the overpowering oak of the 1996 VR GR.
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Delicious. Menthol on the nose, but it wasn't unpleasant or overwhelming. Very smooth, resolved tannins. My last bottle unfortunately, because this wine still had lots of life left. Took to my wine group dinner. By coincidence, it followed a 2005 Murrietta Ygay Rioja Gran Reserva. Lots of similarities noted, but the Murrietta was still too young and overpowering.
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Lovely nose of creamy vanilla, oak and caramel. Palate has some fruit some acidity, but just lacking a touch from what it was a year ago. Maybe needs to breathe a bit. Still very good 89
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Hamtopia. Nose lovely though dominated by american oak at this stage. Impeccable balance, elegant style. Could be more complex and will give other bottle a few more years to see.
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Drank 3 bottles at a friend's birthday party I held at my house, everyone wanted to drink more but I wouldn't let them! Caramel nose, not too much oak showing, nice fruit and a smooth and a wonderful finish, still a good few years left
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Small Rioja gathering (RSJ, London SE1): This and the 1995 Contino Reserva were very much cut from the same cloth. Excellent weight and balance from both, though the Imperial was more structured and backward of the two. Great balance.
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Fermentado en acero. Color PN para ribetes naranjas. Casi transparente. Nariz franca. Armario de cocina, principalmente clavo. Caramelo de café con leche. Pastelería. Sensación cremosa en boca. Para ser olido durante horas. Mi inesperado.
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The edges are almost orange now, and it is very, very soft. Possibly a little past it's prime (My 1st taste, so hard to say) but still drinking very nicely.
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Heavy, clunky and a little disappointing. Flavor's remarkably grapey for an 11-year old wine and a little simple. I'm not seeing much down the road, but if I had more of these I would definitely wait on them.
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Absoultely needed the long decant that I gave it. Started out tart and acidic and opened up to reveal lively fruit flavours of banana and strawberry. Subtle spice gave a medium-length finish.
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Espanha (Piselli): Corte de Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (10%) e Mazuelo (5%). Depois de estagiar em barrica e garrafa, foi colocado no mercado em janeiro de 2004. Provado às cegas. Como sabíamos os vinhos, mas não a ordem em que seriam servidos, foi facilmente identificado como riojano. Rubi com traços atijolados, límpido e brilhante. Aromas de coco, cereja e especiarias, com leve e delicado floral. Madeira bem casada, taninos finos e ainda um pouco presentes, médio corpo, boa concentração de fruta e frescor. Clássico e com tipicidade, alia textura sedosa e grande acidez. Muito agradável, boa relação qualidade/preço. Meu chute: Imperial 96? E/E.
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Double decanted and recorked four hours ahead of tasting. Starts off with Italian-like acidity and a slightly bitter cherry palate that I place in Barolo. Over the next hour or so rounds out and opens out to a lovely, fleshy, dense strawberry fruit with silky tanins and good acidity. Beautifully balanced with hints of toasted oak on the nose, but not overdone. A full, rounded style of Rioja and to my palate a vast improvement over the mean acidic and dried out examples that Rioja can be. With suitable air, a point now and excellent qpr.
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This wine started very tight with a slight vanilla nose and mostly smokey herbal taste. However, after 3-4 hours of air, it began to really sing, with strong, velvety lush cherry notes and terrific spice. Wonderful potential. Wait a few years before trying the next one.
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The nose is somewhat muted and even an hour later did not open up. Still a beatiful, complex nose and a wonderful, balanced medium-bodied wine that complements roasted and stewed meats to make for a super meal.
50+5+11+17+8=91
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Dark ruby/garnet colour. Crystal clear. Aromas of butterscotch, cherry, and plum. Medium-bodied, with cherry, plum, earth, and currant notes. Short-moderate finish, 20s, with red fruit.
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The wine is ruby at the core, bricking out toward a clear edge. The nose is restrained, with lead pencil and a whiff of vanilla. It is light on the palate, and reminds me of tart cherry and strawberries, with juicy acidity. The wine is balanced, and delightful to drink. There is no astringency whatsoever. I enjoyed this wine very much.
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5/31/2022 - cweiss wrote:
In Norton. I'd say fully mature and quite nice, though outdone by a 2001 Rioja Alta.
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8/8/2020 - SimonG wrote: 91 Points
Mid garnet. Lovely nose of damson, spice, leather, and a touch of coffee. Thirteen years since previous bottle, primary fruit has calmed and settled now, and is starting to show some secondary development, the lush and padded fruit now silky and refined. Classic Rioja profile. Mid palate complexity and a decent finish. Lovely. ****
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10/28/2018 - Ticker tape guy wrote: 87 Points
unfortunately the cork crumbled upon opening and the wine just had very little structure..tasted ok..but it was definitely not quite right..i think to much oxygen got to the wine and it aged out
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8/22/2017 - millej Likes this wine:
Drinking much better than the Vina Real Gran Reserva at this point. Delicious crushed blackberry notes and it doesn't have the overpowering oak of the 1996 VR GR.
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4/12/2016 - mouton45 wrote: 92 Points
Delicious. Menthol on the nose, but it wasn't unpleasant or overwhelming. Very smooth, resolved tannins. My last bottle unfortunately, because this wine still had lots of life left. Took to my wine group dinner. By coincidence, it followed a 2005 Murrietta Ygay Rioja Gran Reserva. Lots of similarities noted, but the Murrietta was still too young and overpowering.
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11/12/2013 - Neecies Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cherry, vanilla, fruit cake and caramel. Others found the dill (am oak) but I did not. Supple in the mouth with resolved tannins.
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8/23/2013 - Burgundynick Likes this wine: 89 Points
Lovely nose of creamy vanilla, oak and caramel. Palate has some fruit some acidity, but just lacking a touch from what it was a year ago. Maybe needs to breathe a bit. Still very good 89
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8/14/2013 - robmatic wrote: 92 Points
Simply beautiful.
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4/20/2013 - Burgundynick Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great Rioja nose and palate, caramel and silky smooth and rounded. Just a tad less good as my last ones. 89 points
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11/21/2012 - cweiss wrote:
Hamtopia. Nose lovely though dominated by american oak at this stage. Impeccable balance, elegant style. Could be more complex and will give other bottle a few more years to see.
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11/6/2012 - mouton45 Likes this wine: 90 Points
wine group dinner
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11/6/2012 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Brown Bag Wine Dinner at Two Chefs - Double Blind (TWO CHEFS, MIAMI, FL): - Crimsom color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium body. Polished texture with a long finish - Bob's wine. I don't believe anyone recognized it as Rioja!
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6/6/2012 - robmatic wrote: 91 Points
Wonderfully traditional and drinking beautifully, though a bit woodier than I was expecting.
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4/13/2012 - Burgundynick wrote: 90 Points
Just like the last bottle very good
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2/9/2012 - Burgundynick Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank 3 bottles at a friend's birthday party I held at my house, everyone wanted to drink more but I wouldn't let them! Caramel nose, not too much oak showing, nice fruit and a smooth and a wonderful finish, still a good few years left
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9/22/2011 - king-bing wrote:
Small Rioja gathering (RSJ, London SE1): This and the 1995 Contino Reserva were very much cut from the same cloth. Excellent weight and balance from both, though the Imperial was more structured and backward of the two. Great balance.
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5/20/2011 - Harley1199 wrote:
Imperial Gran Reserva Vertical Tasting / Cata Vertical Imperial Gran Reserva (Bodega Santa Cecilia - Madrid): Fermented in steel. PN colour for orange rims. Almost transparent. Frank nose. Kitchen cupboard, mainly clove. Toffee. Pastryshop. Creamy mouthfeel. Remarkable acidity. To be smelt for hours. My outsider.
Fermentado en acero. Color PN para ribetes naranjas. Casi transparente. Nariz franca. Armario de cocina, principalmente clavo. Caramelo de café con leche. Pastelería. Sensación cremosa en boca. Para ser olido durante horas. Mi inesperado.
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4/22/2011 - Didman wrote: 92 Points
A beautiful sophisticated lady. Delicate, mature, elegant.
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4/10/2011 - thamuhacha wrote: 86 Points
The edges are almost orange now, and it is very, very soft. Possibly a little past it's prime (My 1st taste, so hard to say) but still drinking very nicely.
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2/3/2011 - tuebach wrote:
Over the hill!
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12/11/2010 - imcarthur Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful maturing rioja. Slight bricking. Nice floral nose. Surprisingly fruity middle with a long finish. A very good wine.
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9/19/2010 - Alan S wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful classic Rioja - one of my all time favourites. Always consistent. Only have one of these left now from 96
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1/10/2010 - Tudz Drkl wrote: 91 Points
Nose
Eucalyptus, big dark red fruit, nuts, vanilla, a little smoke
Profile
Long acidic finish with tannins left on roof of mouth and dark baked burnt fruits on tongue.
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6/15/2009 - Eugene wrote: 93 Points
Amazingly still feels young. Drinks well now, although needs some air, but will last for a long time. Balanced, classic rioja.
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3/7/2009 - J_R wrote:
smelled like chicken soup and dill. delicious.
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12/7/2008 - joni.m.anttonen@gmail.com wrote:
over the hill
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9/8/2008 - joni.m.anttonen@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Nose: Earth, oak, vanilla, red berries,
Palate: Round, well integrated tannins, moderate long
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2/28/2008 - JamesSanders wrote: 89 Points
Heavy, clunky and a little disappointing. Flavor's remarkably grapey for an 11-year old wine and a little simple. I'm not seeing much down the road, but if I had more of these I would definitely wait on them.
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10/22/2007 - joshmethot wrote:
beautiful. well balanced, sweet fruit and vanilla. tannins gentle, complex nose.
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9/6/2007 - idrinkvino wrote: 91 Points
Absoultely needed the long decant that I gave it. Started out tart and acidic and opened up to reveal lively fruit flavours of banana and strawberry. Subtle spice gave a medium-length finish.
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8/24/2007 - losvinhos wrote: 92 Points
Espanha (Piselli): Tradicional Rioja. Grande vinho. Excelente/Excepcional
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8/24/2007 - Vinho wrote: 92 Points
Espanha (Piselli): Corte de Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (10%) e Mazuelo (5%). Depois de estagiar em barrica e garrafa, foi colocado no mercado em janeiro de 2004.
Provado às cegas. Como sabíamos os vinhos, mas não a ordem em que seriam servidos, foi facilmente identificado como riojano. Rubi com traços atijolados, límpido e brilhante. Aromas de coco, cereja e especiarias, com leve e delicado floral. Madeira bem casada, taninos finos e ainda um pouco presentes, médio corpo, boa concentração de fruta e frescor. Clássico e com tipicidade, alia textura sedosa e grande acidez. Muito agradável, boa relação qualidade/preço. Meu chute: Imperial 96? E/E.
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6/15/2007 - SimonG wrote:
Double decanted and recorked four hours ahead of tasting. Starts off with Italian-like acidity and a slightly bitter cherry palate that I place in Barolo. Over the next hour or so rounds out and opens out to a lovely, fleshy, dense strawberry fruit with silky tanins and good acidity. Beautifully balanced with hints of toasted oak on the nose, but not overdone. A full, rounded style of Rioja and to my palate a vast improvement over the mean acidic and dried out examples that Rioja can be. With suitable air, a point now and excellent qpr.
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2/4/2007 - GraemeBell wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 4 hours. Bright crimson. Expressive fruity nose, gamey, cherries. Balanced and refined. Wish I had some more.
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2/3/2007 - leibp wrote: 94 Points
This wine started very tight with a slight vanilla nose and mostly smokey herbal taste. However, after 3-4 hours of air, it began to really sing, with strong, velvety lush cherry notes and terrific spice. Wonderful potential. Wait a few years before trying the next one.
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10/21/2006 - MRichman wrote:
Fruit forward, but somewhat muted. Flat, acidic. Nice traces, but does not come out as I would hope. Could be closed. Finishes with citric acid.
B-
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10/7/2006 - Tad GW wrote: 91 Points
The nose is somewhat muted and even an hour later did not open up. Still a beatiful, complex nose and a wonderful, balanced medium-bodied wine that complements roasted and stewed meats to make for a super meal.
50+5+11+17+8=91
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11/29/2005 - MF wrote:
Pale red at the rim; a nose of oak and cocoa/chocolate. Very silky tannis, completely integrated with a very long finish. Tremendous wine.
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7/7/2005 - futronic wrote: 87 Points
Dark ruby/garnet colour. Crystal clear. Aromas of butterscotch, cherry, and plum. Medium-bodied, with cherry, plum, earth, and currant notes. Short-moderate finish, 20s, with red fruit.
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1/9/2005 - Jaytee wrote: 87 Points
The wine is ruby at the core, bricking out toward a clear edge. The nose is restrained, with lead pencil and a whiff of vanilla. It is light on the palate, and reminds me of tart cherry and strawberries, with juicy acidity. The wine is balanced, and delightful to drink. There is no astringency whatsoever.
I enjoyed this wine very much.
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