Had one bottle in the cellar left but thought I would consign it to my vinegar production based upon a bottle tasted in 2017. As usual I always taste the bottle before decanting it and was very surprised that it was still vibrant far better than the bottle tasted two years ago. Fresh and very integrated, nicely developed tannin level. Very nice wine
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med+ purple with orange hue. Nose-pretty- violet, black cherry cola, rose. med bodied, med tannins, med+ acidity, well balanced, great mouthfeel, tomato leaf/tobacco, raspberry/cherry. This is great. Drinking well now and for a few more years but why risk it. Modern style Rioja
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Very developed and tawny. It is a classic Rioja that is aged and developed. Modest oak, brown sugar and berries, soft and supple. This is at its peak, I have one other bottle that will be consumed within the month.
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Rust colour. Sour cherry and tobacco, subdued oak on the nose. Well balanced with bright med+ acidity, integrated tannins, mature red fruit, hints of baking spice. Drinking well now. I really like this.
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Opened tow hours before serving as part of 2004 Rioja Reserva and Gran Reserva tasting.
Bright garnet color. Feint leather dried cherry and slightly floral nose. Medium(-) weight with very smooth tannins. Dried but fresh cherry tobacco and leather flavours.
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Wine aged very well in my Eurocave. Good complexity of aromas and flavors - classic rioja. No real sign of age yet - I will be looking for more as it was a great value.
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Annual Christmas Dinner at the Ngu's 2013 (Meyer Road): 30 minutes in decanter and poured back into bottle. Consumed about 2 hours after that. Mild restrained cola nose. Sweet plums and hints of capsicum on the palate. Well integrated. Just a touch of heat. Medium bodied. Very smooth long finish. Afterthought was just that it was a little hollow on the mid-palate.
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The aroma is ripe cherry, blackberry, and spice. The body is medium with zippy pepper, cherry, mocha and mint. The long finish is full of smooth, dusty tannins. It is very well-balanced and elegant - the antithesis of the heavily oaked style.
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Dark cherries, dark chocolate and hints of tabaco. Very smooth, like velvet. Pleasant medium finish. Its extremely well rounded with no edges. Very nice.
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Excellent. At its peak? Supple tannins, good acidity, dark fruit with a tobacco and dark chocolate blackberry nose. Excellent Rioja although a little lacking in oak.
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This was my 4th bottle of the 2004 LAN Rioja Reserva over the last two years, and I would say this is the first of those bottle where I felt like it all came together. It was light, and balanced, and both started and finished well. Fruit & tannins in balance. Like light silk. Nice.
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Such a fantastic wine, finally drank after nine years, six of which were spent on my shelf. We served up some lamb burgeres and a caprese salad, and decanted the wine - though I am not sure if this was a must (the cork broke, so we needed to filter out some debris). Dark cherry and cranberry on the palate mixed with a nose of the same plus some good tobacco and mahogany notes. Outrageously smooth and well balanced, we were so sad to drink the last drop. They don't bottles like this every day.
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Drinking well now, and should last for 1-2 more years. Oak is present but not dominant. Tempranillo fruit is there, with some cherry and mineral notes.
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Wasn't corked, just had no flavor. Dull and lifeless. Loved it a few years ago. Have two left, hope this one was just bad and not that it is past its prime.
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1st taste was unremarkable. Timid, and closed. 2nd hour was somewhat better. Very light style, with a slightly metallic finish. Better with food. We'll see what hour 3 tastes like, but for now I would say this is a solid, but not extraordinary wine.
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Very enjoyable nose of sheep's butt and blackberry. The flavors are simple but done well with balanced fruit, earth, acidity, integrated tannins, and a short but pleasant finish. This is probably at its peak but will likely stay there for another year or two.
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Dark garnet color. Very light bouquet of earth and herb. Later becomes rich tobacco. Incredible smoothness is its dominant character, followed by earth and mineral. Not fruity. Light prune and raisin finish.
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We decanted this bottle an hour before drinking. Ruby color. Not much bouquet. Some cherry? Very smooth on the palate. Someone mentioned tart cherry. I think that's it. Good long legs. Long finish. Very nice QPR.
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Sure has softend around the edges with a smooth finish. Went very well with pasta and red sauce. Has improved significantly since last year...but unfortunately its all gone now.
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I'll say it again: This is a food wine! Like most old world style Spanish wines, its made to be paired with food more than consumed without. When first opened the nose was weak and the tannins and tartness were dominating. After about 30 minutes in the glass and paired with steak the wine opened wide with tart cherry a rich earthy nose and a moderate finish with very fine grained tannins. I don't think it has lots of years left, but paired with food it can be a contender for great QPR for several more years. Day 2 brought a more mature profile with slightly stewed red fruits dominating and a slight spice hint on the finish.
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Initial taste was sour cherry, hint of leather and the nose was fleeting. Decanted for an hour and it began to open up. Tart sour cherry was replaced by smooth velvety ripe cherries. Nose opened and was impressive. Great juice for the money.
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Not very impressed. Either closed down or there is nothing much there. Some minerality and herbal qualities (dried sage), but very little fruit and not much tannin. Ready to drink and pleasurable, but unimpressive.
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Dark ruby color, quite dense in the center Nose pleasantly open and intense: dark berries, cassis, blackberries On palate a bit short, medium weight, more closed than the nose suggested, quite a bit of tannin. nothing exceptional but maybe I should make allowances for the fact that the bottle had been open for two days... Hold for another 3-5 years
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way past its prime, or never had much to start with. Vague cocoa and mushrooms on the nose; not much at all on the palate except general red wine flavor. I'm going to save the rest and cook with it.
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Very characteristic of '04 reservas of Rioja in the traditional sense. This medium-bodied wine is silky and smooth, with a core of red cherry, licorice flavors that are intensified and focused by toasted oak. Decent finish. Quite complex and layered. Drink now until 2016.
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Tight and acidic with too much wood influence upon opening, but after decanting for 1 hour, most of that blew off and left a nice balance between fruit, earth, leather and fine tannins. 2-3 hours later, it was getting bigger with more big dark fruit and the alcohol on the finish was more pronounced, but not obtrusive. Day 2 after sealing the decanter over night has it much more refined with good mellow vanilla on the finish with more stewed red fruit. I think it was at its best last night, but this wine is probably fine soon after opening with the right food pairing. Great QPR and I think it has a few more good years left in it.
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Very nice bottle for price of $18. Smooth velvety well-rounded dark fruit in the mid palate good nose. Decanted for about half an hour. Smooth... will buy more. Not too heavy well structured. Can handle heavy meats.
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nose: Figs, floral elements, sweet smokiness, very big nose that flows from the glass.
Palate: Starts out dark and a tad harsh but that quickly transitions to some smooth, soft, dark, brambly fruit with a little bit of spice. Nice long, spicy, lingering finish.
Perfectly matched with some Mexican food this evening. Great qpr. Would buy again.
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Strong hints of smoke and leather on the nose upon opening, with hints of plum and fig. The plum and fig dominate after it has had time to aerate. Medium-bodied with dark red fruit on the palate. The peppery features of the garnacha (10%) come through on the mid-palate and finish. I didn't realize at purchase that this was a blend - 80% tempranillo, 10% mazuelo (carignan) and 10% garnacha (grenache). But it is well done.
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Upon removing foil, cork was stained slightly on top, and the cork was stained up the sides from seepage. No real signs of oxidation on the nose or palate, but the wine was kind of dull and lifeless, short finish.. I'm guessing it was cooked.
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Had w/dinner. Let breathe for 90 min. & Vinturi decant. Ruby red color. Very nice aromas of strawberry & plum, hot & sweet spices, vanilla & smoky oak.
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Some vanilla, cherry, hint of coco, but some of the alcohol too. On the pallet I get a little oak, vanilla, sour cherry, finishes with some heat. Generally straightforward and not overly complex. I feel the balance is off just a bit. Solid just not all that exciting.
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Wanted to post a second note as we had a different experience with the wine this time. It STILL NEEDS LOTS OF AIR! Needed 1hr+ in the decanter to develop and come across balanced. Once there, we enjoyed it much more this time. Easy drinking, floral notes, nice oak and astringent background, some interesting stuff going on. Still didn't "love" it, but this is definitely a decent and enjoyable drink.
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Weak nose and thin texture lead to overwelming tannins and almost a lip smacking tartness on the finish. Amongst the crowd tasting Spanish reds, this was the least popular rioja and the second least popular wine overall.
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For the price, buy the crianza. It's a great wine, more intense than its brother, but the extra aging in oak isn't convincing enough. Classic old style Rioja w/ simple tannin tast. Great w/most foods. The wife liks it alot! $19 would be on the high side.
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Enjoyable and a crowd pleaser, but not a standout. Intense fruit of dark berries and plums. Reasonably well balanced. Not much subtlety and sense of place. Still, a pretty satisfying bottle.
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Smoke on the nose, muted fruits. Big taste, lots of tannins, fruit again quite subtle. Cedar. Velvety feel and long smooth finish. Satisfying, great with lamb.
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Nose was plums and pepper. Fruity and spicy on the palate with lots of tannins. Great wine! Even though we're right in the middle of the drinking window now, it could have been aged longer to mellow out the tannins.
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nose - plum, inside of a shoe, some spicy oak mouth - solid red fruit, red berries, still considerable tannin structure, in the mouth none of that rusticity or saddle leather that i associate with old style rioja. Drinks smoothly, and grew on me over the course of the night
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Lovely, feminine Rioja, amazing smoothness on the palate, great QPR - Dark, medium bodied with a nose of cherry, plum, spice, leather and vanilla, impecably balanced, structured, perhaps at it's peak, silky smooth on the palate with excellent length, happy to have 2 more bottles (90 Points).
Bought, popped and poured. Solid wine with nose of cherries and leather. Medium-bodied juicy wine with tannins you hardly notice- relatively short finish but a great QPR. Bottom line... I really enjoyed this wine and would buy again.
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Dark ruby colour. Intense fruity, elegant bouquet with aromas of dark forest fruit. On the palate well-built with distinct acidity and barrel. Quite short.
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Take a jar of raspberry / rhubarb jam, grind some pepper over the top and put in a smoker for a few hours and you've got this bottle of Lan. Decent bottle of wine for the price.
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This wine was a phenomenal drink, it opened up over the course of two days without the need to decant. Strong cherry smell and taste The wine looks Ruby colored. The legs are Slow. It smells like and Cherry. The body is Medium/Full. The wine is textured Silky. The wine finishes Medium.
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Consumed over two evenings. Decanted 1/2 the first evening. Somewhat one dimensional on the first evening, but opened up and showed more complexity on the 2nd evening. Smooth and drinkable now.
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decanted for about 90 minutes before first glass. On the nose earth and cherries. On the palate the tannins were almost not noticable. There were cherries, cedar and a nice spicyness. matched very well with the braised short ribs.
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Vinturied. Medium-dark garnet. Expressive nose of black cherry, plum, smoked sea salt, and rosemary. Dark fruits, earthy minerals, and leather on the palate. Medium bodied, with great acidity and smooth tannins. Short-medium finish. A good food wine.
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Once again, very consistent with prior. Solid color. The nose has some oak, but not a monster in the least. The time to air this bottle is at least one hour, although approachable to pop and pour. Opens with more fruit and depth of floral vibrance by 2nd and 3rd hours. Good Dark berry fruit, with supple tannins. This coats the mouth more than drying it out. Very food friendly, and a solid Rioja for this price point.
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More sour than I remember; I used to like this more (not the sour part). This should be right in its prime drinking time according to the label on the back of the bottle.
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Nice bottle, very smooth. My first rioja, so not sure where it comes in. I would try it again, came highly recommended from a trusted source at a local store.
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Ah, the vicissitudes of bottle variation among mass-production wines. For this was the adjective unmemorable devised. Tonight's specimen giving nothing on the nose, the palate, or the finish. Dim, dull, dreary, devoid of any remarkable quality save its absence. Rated 75 just because you can drink it distractedly with indifferent victuals. Might go nicely enough with television and tv dinners.
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Blackberries, black plums, clean river stones (think no moss or mud), some faint herbaceousness (like herbs de provence maybe?). Fairly dry finish, but juicier up front. A little too much oak for my liking, but decent. Went well with a selection of cheeses. 88pts.
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Limited notes, but I thought this was very delicious. Pretty dry and the one drawback was a relatively short finish. Otherwise the fruit was ripe, with a secondary mineral element that I found appealing. Would recommend.
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First experience with this wine, with several more bottles for later. Not fully developed, but has some depth an richness. Seems a more modern style than older vintages. Rather short finish; could improve. A value wine at around $15. Tonight, worth 90-points, fully satisfying.
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Nice dark color. Medium body wine with dark fruit and herbs on the nose. Dark fruit, cherries and some flowers on the mid-palate. Firm tannins. The wine was good but did not have a delicious factor that would make me crave more.
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Nothing remarkable at first that would justify the fine reputation. However, this wine has it all and in the right balance: body, structure and taste of dark cherries. Gets better with every sip !
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Opened and served without decanting at 63 degrees. Medium red color. Nose of ripe red fruit, earth and cinnamon. Bright, fresh cherry and plum flavor that is tart and restrained yet pleasant. Tannins are not intrusive. It might benefit from decanting but certainly drinks well enough without. It opened up very quickly. Good match with this evening's beef stew.
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Drank these 2 at a family event I brought them to. The problem was there wasnt much other wine and as I opened these, I needed to take a glass and drink on a pop and pour basis versus my preferred decant and wait method. So, the main complaint was tightness and tannins on the finish, but the fruit was there and I think the agening potential and/pr need to decant in the near term are there.
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solid rioja and QPR but nothing to go crazy over. Decanted 2 hours.....strong cherry and chocolate. Was a table favorite but I guess my expectations were much higher. At $15...waivering on buying again.
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Not too fruity -- subtle hints of dark cherry -- with a slight green cabbage aroma. Medium oak. Pleasing level of tannins with good structure -- could probably withstand a few more years in the bottle. Fairly unremarkable immediately after pouring, but opens up substantially with decant time. All in all, a good value wine, but nothing earth shattering.
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decanted for about 45 minutes before first glass. On the nose there was tar and cherries. On the palate the wine had a wonderful sour cherry flavor mixing in with a nice smokiness. The herbal component has died down, and I didn't notice the acidity as much.
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Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of smoke, white pepper, black berries, thistle and wet stones. Rich flavors of black berries, plums and a bit of raspnberry. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink over the short to medium term.
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90 Points and Above (Farpointe Cellar): The nose started with a lot of tar and smoke. Underneath that was licorice, and a small amount of floral aromas. There was a little plum at the end. The palate was very juicy, was strong flavors of smoke mixed with plum. The finish had floral notes and licorice.
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Dark Purple. Blackberry, black currant, dill, & mint on the nose. Very nice blackberry, blueberry, & black currant on the palate. Tannins are very smooth giving a great mouthfeel. Getting mocha after opening awhile.Very nice effort.
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Bumping up another point. The earthiness has toned down a little but still present. Little more acidic though on the finish, but I like the evolution of this wine.
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very nice wine, well balanced, not too fruity- hard to see how it makes WS top 100 though. I guess I prefer new world, big wines, so it is hard to go overboard on a wine like this.
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Wow. Really good. Definitely better the next day. Dark purple color and dark fruit aromas. A very nice balance of dark fruits with both tannins and alcohol. Nice full mouth feel and lots of tannins on the finish.
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very impressive Rioja. agree with other comments good reflection of the terrior; earthy tones, cherry notes, smooth tannins and the oak, which is often an overkill in many Riojas, was very subtle. enjoyed -would buy more
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Smooth in the mouth, but just far too much oak for my taste. The vanilla and oak flavors here really overwhelm the grape. Well balanced acidity with a bit of tannins.
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Not a pop and pour wine. Decant at least an hour before drinking. Subtle but complex nose of sour cherries, cinnamon, baking spices, vanilla, tobacco, faint cocoa and earth. Tannins are firm and acidity is bright but becomes noticeably sharper on the finish. Sour cherries, vanillin and pepper on the palate. Good upside potential.
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Red and purple cherries and berries on the nose, with spearmint, cocoa and earth notes; bracing acidity, and elegant red and purple fruit flavors; nice chewy tannins with a long finish, cherries and strawberry-rhubarb at the end. Great qpr, but overrated perhaps, especially considering so many better Spanish reds out there.
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There's no doubt in my mind that if I had tried this wine blind I would have said Rioja. An unbelievable amount of terroir. Lots of varietal charectar too. There's no doubt this is tempranillo. There's soil, tobacco and red fruit. Acid is noticeable and welcome. Very good sampling of what Rioja has to offer.
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P&P'd. Dusty sour cerries on the nose that followed the tannins into the palate. A realtively delicate old school wine that ultimately had too high acid levels for my taste.
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this was very good, but the wine has a distinctive flavor to me that I can't describe and was not captured by any of the other reviewers(at least for me) Very good qpr.
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Quite a nice little wine. It would make a fantastic daily drinker and its got a decent pricepoint as well. Hints of spice and chocolate on the nose with a palate of pepper and sour cherries. Decent finish.
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Drank over two days w/ pizza and pasta (spaghetti marinara). Pop and poured through the vinturi aerator that I recently purchased.
Night 1 - Dark purple to black almost in color. Nose was sedated. Tasted and smelled some alcohol peaking over the dark berries, spice and cinnamon flavors. Would say a little out of balance but can't beat the QPR.
Night 2 - Color and taste fairly the same as first night except got a little more out of the nose. w/ no additional layers revealing itself. A simple table wine that's consummable.
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had with smoked ribs. Decanted for about 40 minutes. On the nose oak with Strawberries and raspberries, mixed with tar. On the palate the oak matched well with the smokiness of the ribs. Definite green/herbal component of the wine mixes in with the sour cherries/strawberries. nice bottle
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Pretty acidic wine, but works well with food. At $15 bucks a bottle, hard to go wrong with this Rioja. Drank over three days and the taste held up well as the aromo faded.
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Initially a bit of grandma's basement where she threw last year's Christmas tree. But a please nose of red cherries. Medium bodied and fresh and lively. Darker fruits with plum along with cherries. Well integrated tannins. Great up front acifity. Wet campfire and smoke.
Day 2 - smelled and tasted totally corked. Maybe I missed it last night?!?!
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A: Ruby and deep. Looks like a Bordeaux N: A little barnyard horse in here. Hay and eucalyptus. Mushroom and orange peel. T: Tart, puckery acidic with nice firm tannins. Bright red fruits and truffles F: Loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong. Overall: New world wine meets old world. Yummy but hmmm. I like the technical back label chart and data they provide. V: 4/5
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Deep dark purple. Strong deep black current and oak on the nose. This does blow off after an hour, but there is still an oak and heat that persists. Still worth laying down a bit, but very worthy now with red meat and roasted veggies. Would like to keep one or two bottles of this to 2010 to see the result.
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MUST DECANT! Needed 30-45mins breathing before it was even remotely enoyable, and did go through some interesting changes. After that it was ok, a decent Tempranillo, but did not live up to the hype. At this price point you can't expect TOO much more, but I wouldn't buy this again.
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Pretty nose of fruit, smoke and flowers. The palate is full of ripe cherries and tobacco, along with some smoke and cocoa notes. A bit more refined (or old world) than some inky, rich modern counterparts, but refreshing for that reason. A great wine at $16.
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Bought as result of recommendation and listing as one of 2008's Top 100 Wines. To me, wine was a bit harsh as compared to other tempranillos I've tasted. Other group tasters felt the same way. Dry taste, grassy/hay taste, albeit a nice nose.
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Medium Dark burgundy red. Semi-clear. Very strong red fruit with spice and leather. Very robust mouthfeel and flavor profile. Medium body, but consistent red fruit. Medium finish. I liked this more than I expected. First night it was a strong contender. Waning a little by night two, but still a good character. not a big QPR, but I would buy again.
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old world nose ... great balance for a $14 wine ... gets better in the glass with each passing sip ... a lot of spice on the finish ... great QPR and 89 means an excellent wine. Cheers!
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Based on previous tasting notes, I decided to decant for an hour before tasting. The nose was full of cherries and the taste was smooth with cherries and oak. Simple but decent finish. Not complex, but still enjoyable.
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Give this a good hour to open up right now. Dark ruby in the glass and a blast of oak permeates at first. Ripe black cherries, little earthiness and what I would describe as Arugula note as well. Big fruit up front but mellows out over time and develops a nice textured finish with twinge of smoke and coco, but not much. Potential to get better IMO
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Like other reviewers- great QPR for $15. #52 on Wine Spectator.... maybe not. A good Tempranillo daily drinker, definitely yes. Would also recommend letting the wine open up- after 30+ minutes the wine opened up.
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second bottle of the night, so notes aren't as complete as they should be. decanted for about 30 minutes before first glass. On the nose there was a ton of cherries and tobacco. On the palate the wine has a decent amount of oak, that plays well with cherries, and a nice spicy herbal component. Excellent QPR.
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ruby red with red border. not much layering. not opaque. nose is tight upon opening. nose gives up dark cherry fruit. i did not get much more than that. i was hoping for chocolate and leather or smoke but didn't get much of that. body is light-medium. palate with nice sour cherries and dark fruits and a hint of pepper and spice but not that much. not much oak either. i agree with alot of the other reviews in that this wine needs some time to open up. has a nice tannic structure that will improve with bottle age. this wine is delicate and light and elegant and pairs nicely with light foods. it wouldn't stand up against really hearty food. it is not a crowd pleaser at the present time because it doesn't explode but it is nice and elegant. has a chewy peppery medium finish. nicely structured.
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Ruby in the glass. Light nose of cherry and dusty library books. Mouth is typical Rioja, with cherry, dusty tannins in the center, some spice underneath and a hint of oak. Tasty, but not over-the-top. Balance is good (moderate acidity, medium-bodied), finish is long.
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Beautiful color, Aromas of fresh dark fruits, dark chocolate,with some leather and smokey notes. This wine is lively, concentrated and has some elegance to it. Great Value for under $ 15. (Best from 2009-2014) - JD88
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Excellent qpr, maybe one of the best of the year. The nose reveals dark fruit with a skosh of smoke. On the palate, this baby has a good mouthfeel, and the fruit is met with a brooding, tarry component that impressed the heck out of me for a $20 wine.
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Didn't take formal notes on this but I remember it being very angular, linear and elegant. Like a very trim, well-dress woman "of a certain age". Plums and other black fruits. Some leather or tobacco? Definitely worth trying again but no score this time.
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Popped and poured, consumed over 2 days. Dark ruby, with a red rim. Very tight nose on the pop and pour, giving up very little. Palate is also tight, little sour cherry, but barely any fruit or flavor. Over an hour or so it opens up aromatically, to a more typical rioja nose, earthy, sour cherry and some cedar. Similar flavors on the palate, bright red fruits, sour cherry, fleshes out on the midpalate with some oak and spice and finishes with some drying tanins and mouth watering acidity. On day two this continues to improve. More fruit on the palate, and gains some aromatic and flavor complexity; some cigar ash on the nose and more prominent spice on the midpalate. Very good QPR at $14, will seek out more. Definitely decant if consuming now.
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Very earthy in the glass; improved within an hour. Saved 1/2 bottle for next day and opened up even more. Indeed tastes more oaky than bouquet might lead one to believe. As good as other Spanish reds of this vintage costing 2x the price.
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The Sampler (Angel, London): Rich purple in colour, this wine shows a savoury nose with earthy and vegetal characters. The palate shows rich red fruit, a touch of oak and soft tannins. Tastes better than it smells!
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4/12/2019 - Woodbridge Brad Likes this wine: 89 Points
Had one bottle in the cellar left but thought I would consign it to my vinegar production based upon a bottle tasted in 2017. As usual I always taste the bottle before decanting it and was very surprised that it was still vibrant far better than the bottle tasted two years ago. Fresh and very integrated, nicely developed tannin level. Very nice wine
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11/25/2015 - AV2012 wrote: 85 Points
Fat, feels like a modern style wine. Rustic with dried fruits. Nice with lamb, becomes sweet.
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10/2/2014 - lhickey Likes this wine: 93 Points
med+ purple with orange hue. Nose-pretty- violet, black cherry cola, rose. med bodied, med tannins, med+ acidity, well balanced, great mouthfeel, tomato leaf/tobacco, raspberry/cherry. This is great. Drinking well now and for a few more years but why risk it. Modern style Rioja
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9/14/2014 - Woodbridge Brad Likes this wine: 86 Points
Very developed and tawny. It is a classic Rioja that is aged and developed. Modest oak, brown sugar and berries, soft and supple. This is at its peak, I have one other bottle that will be consumed within the month.
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7/7/2014 - scampbell wrote: 75 Points
Better on the nose than on the tongue. It is a bit thin for me.
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5/31/2014 - degrandcru Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consistent with last note. Very good and I think its at its peak right now.
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4/14/2014 - lhickey wrote: 91 Points
Rust colour. Sour cherry and tobacco, subdued oak on the nose. Well balanced with bright med+ acidity, integrated tannins, mature red fruit, hints of baking spice. Drinking well now. I really like this.
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4/5/2014 - df1962 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Opened tow hours before serving as part of 2004 Rioja Reserva and Gran Reserva tasting.
Bright garnet color. Feint leather dried cherry and slightly floral nose. Medium(-) weight with very smooth tannins. Dried but fresh cherry tobacco and leather flavours.
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3/9/2014 - WinthropT96 wrote: 88 Points
Wine aged very well in my Eurocave. Good complexity of aromas and flavors - classic rioja. No real sign of age yet - I will be looking for more as it was a great value.
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1/17/2014 - cpdwines Likes this wine: 87 Points
Still good, but should be drank asap.
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12/28/2013 - Derek Darth Taster Likes this wine: 90 Points
Annual Christmas Dinner at the Ngu's 2013 (Meyer Road): 30 minutes in decanter and poured back into bottle. Consumed about 2 hours after that.
Mild restrained cola nose. Sweet plums and hints of capsicum on the palate. Well integrated. Just a touch of heat. Medium bodied. Very smooth long finish. Afterthought was just that it was a little hollow on the mid-palate.
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12/2/2013 - bin905 Likes this wine: 90 Points
The aroma is ripe cherry, blackberry, and spice. The body is medium with zippy pepper, cherry, mocha and mint. The long finish is full of smooth, dusty tannins. It is very well-balanced and elegant - the antithesis of the heavily oaked style.
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11/5/2013 - IamNotDrinkingAny#@!%Merlot wrote: 90 Points
Tasting great right now. Beautiful.
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8/25/2013 - degrandcru Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark cherries, dark chocolate and hints of tabaco. Very smooth, like velvet. Pleasant medium finish. Its extremely well rounded with no edges. Very nice.
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8/10/2013 - km5 wrote:
tasting ripe and smooth
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8/3/2013 - Reblin Likes this wine: 90 Points
My last two bottles were lovely. Smooth, with dark fruit and tobacco notes.
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5/2/2013 - gingerbreadman Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent. At its peak? Supple tannins, good acidity, dark fruit with a tobacco and dark chocolate blackberry nose. Excellent Rioja although a little lacking in oak.
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3/27/2013 - ilive4water Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was my 4th bottle of the 2004 LAN Rioja Reserva over the last two years, and I would say this is the first of those bottle where I felt like it all came together. It was light, and balanced, and both started and finished well. Fruit & tannins in balance. Like light silk. Nice.
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3/3/2013 - wine30flight Likes this wine: 92 Points
Such a fantastic wine, finally drank after nine years, six of which were spent on my shelf. We served up some lamb burgeres and a caprese salad, and decanted the wine - though I am not sure if this was a must (the cork broke, so we needed to filter out some debris). Dark cherry and cranberry on the palate mixed with a nose of the same plus some good tobacco and mahogany notes. Outrageously smooth and well balanced, we were so sad to drink the last drop. They don't bottles like this every day.
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2/23/2013 - GGinSF wrote: 88 Points
Drinking well now, and should last for 1-2 more years. Oak is present but not dominant. Tempranillo fruit is there, with some cherry and mineral notes.
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12/31/2012 - PeterMadrid wrote: 84 Points
Good, but not great wine. Classical Rioja, smooth and pleasant to drink, but lacking the certain 'extra'.
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12/20/2012 - Reblin Likes this wine: 88 Points
Drinking well. Smooth, no harsh tannin. Medium fruit.
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11/29/2012 - somadoc wrote: 85 Points
Drinkable but not great. Too bad 'cause my wife loves spanish wine.
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8/30/2012 - moany rhoney wrote: 84 Points
What is this trying to be? Notroija, modern but hollow.
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8/7/2012 - Burgaddict wrote:
Very heavy wine. Full with tart fruit, lots of alcohol. I had the impression I was drinking port.
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7/7/2012 - bin905 wrote: 89 Points
Smooth, easy drinking, but not mundane. Nice fruit and spice with light oak. A good summer wine.
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5/19/2012 - Jobu wrote:
Wasn't corked, just had no flavor. Dull and lifeless. Loved it a few years ago. Have two left, hope this one was just bad and not that it is past its prime.
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5/17/2012 - Battleship wrote: 90 Points
Improved on prior notes but probably has peaked. One of the best bargains of its day
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4/14/2012 - ilive4water wrote: 87 Points
1st taste was unremarkable. Timid, and closed. 2nd hour was somewhat better. Very light style, with a slightly metallic finish. Better with food. We'll see what hour 3 tastes like, but for now I would say this is a solid, but not extraordinary wine.
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3/3/2012 - rbergy Likes this wine: 88 Points
Licorice, cherries, vanilla and oak
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12/3/2011 - David_T wrote: 87 Points
Very enjoyable nose of sheep's butt and blackberry. The flavors are simple but done well with balanced fruit, earth, acidity, integrated tannins, and a short but pleasant finish. This is probably at its peak but will likely stay there for another year or two.
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11/5/2011 - halprewitt wrote: 90 Points
nice for the price
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11/4/2011 - Sijan wrote: 89 Points
Very nice. Medium-to-light bodied with cherry, plum, and cedar notes. Slightly earthy. Good QPR.
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10/29/2011 - Swest wrote: 85 Points
Dark garnet color. Very light bouquet of earth and herb. Later becomes rich tobacco. Incredible smoothness is its dominant character, followed by earth and mineral. Not fruity. Light prune and raisin finish.
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10/29/2011 - Wineson Likes this wine: 89 Points
We decanted this bottle an hour before drinking. Ruby color. Not much bouquet. Some cherry? Very smooth on the palate. Someone mentioned tart cherry. I think that's it. Good long legs. Long finish. Very nice QPR.
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9/23/2011 - ras2006 wrote: 85 Points
Nice balance, I like this bottle better than the one tried 9 months ago.
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9/19/2011 - cpsmith33 wrote: 88 Points
nice solid rioja. note too many notes.
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8/13/2011 - folsomarndt wrote: 90 Points
Sure has softend around the edges with a smooth finish. Went very well with pasta and red sauce. Has improved significantly since last year...but unfortunately its all gone now.
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8/8/2011 - Battleship wrote: 89 Points
I'll say it again: This is a food wine! Like most old world style Spanish wines, its made to be paired with food more than consumed without. When first opened the nose was weak and the tannins and tartness were dominating. After about 30 minutes in the glass and paired with steak the wine opened wide with tart cherry a rich earthy nose and a moderate finish with very fine grained tannins. I don't think it has lots of years left, but paired with food it can be a contender for great QPR for several more years. Day 2 brought a more mature profile with slightly stewed red fruits dominating and a slight spice hint on the finish.
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7/27/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote: 86 Points
Second day, it did improve but still a little light and the finish is missing something, anything. I guess not as bad as I portrayed it yesterday.
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7/26/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote: 83 Points
Expecting much more. Nothing to write home about. If I had another bottle I would use it for very good sangria or beef stew.
Desilusionado.
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7/23/2011 - thirstyman wrote:
Initial taste was sour cherry, hint of leather and the nose was fleeting. Decanted for an hour and it began to open up. Tart sour cherry was replaced by smooth velvety ripe cherries. Nose opened and was impressive. Great juice for the money.
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7/22/2011 - sirwine wrote: 84 Points
Not very impressed. Either closed down or there is nothing much there. Some minerality and herbal qualities (dried sage), but very little fruit and not much tannin. Ready to drink and pleasurable, but unimpressive.
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7/12/2011 - Bandreas wrote: 84 Points
Dark ruby color, quite dense in the center
Nose pleasantly open and intense: dark berries, cassis, blackberries
On palate a bit short, medium weight, more closed than the nose suggested, quite a bit of tannin.
nothing exceptional but maybe I should make allowances for the fact that the bottle had been open for two days...
Hold for another 3-5 years
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7/5/2011 - frockaloid wrote:
way past its prime, or never had much to start with. Vague cocoa and mushrooms on the nose; not much at all on the palate except general red wine flavor. I'm going to save the rest and cook with it.
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7/1/2011 - djpo wrote: 88 Points
Smoky, cassis, dry finish. Evocative.
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6/26/2011 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote: 90 Points
Very characteristic of '04 reservas of Rioja in the traditional sense. This medium-bodied wine is silky and smooth, with a core of red cherry, licorice flavors that are intensified and focused by toasted oak. Decent finish. Quite complex and layered. Drink now until 2016.
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5/17/2011 - gromi Likes this wine: 89 Points
Has gotten better since 1 year ago, its all gone now though
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5/15/2011 - gilberto57 Likes this wine: 90 Points
The scent of ripe black cherries, with silky textures and a smooth finish.
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5/6/2011 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Drank over 2 nights - VG rioja w/ good QPR; dark ruby color with loads of plum and smoke - nice finish
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5/1/2011 - JJHACamp wrote: flawed
i'm starting to hate corks
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4/25/2011 - Stif wrote: 91 Points
Very nice and easy
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3/20/2011 - ggtirevite wrote: 82 Points
Disappointing
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3/17/2011 - askoje wrote: 87 Points
Tobacco, autumn leaves and cinnamon on both nose and taste. Dry finish with OK length
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2/28/2011 - WineSnob7 wrote: 90 Points
Nice fig, tobacco nose and yet fruit to the tongue. Nice.
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2/27/2011 - sweaty wrote: 87 Points
Lighter, Pinot-like style. Dusty and acid driven.
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2/9/2011 - Nedder_travels_the_world wrote: 88 Points
excellent QPR - tasting notes consistent with others. Drink now.
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2/1/2011 - wa2ofd wrote: 83 Points
This wine was a gift. Just grabbed it last night thinking a light easy drinker...not at all...tight, astringent w/o much if redeeming quality....
Had again the following dAy with a knowledgeable friend, blind....could not place the wine with 5 tries...Not recomended...
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1/29/2011 - Battleship wrote: 91 Points
Tight and acidic with too much wood influence upon opening, but after decanting for 1 hour, most of that blew off and left a nice balance between fruit, earth, leather and fine tannins. 2-3 hours later, it was getting bigger with more big dark fruit and the alcohol on the finish was more pronounced, but not obtrusive. Day 2 after sealing the decanter over night has it much more refined with good mellow vanilla on the finish with more stewed red fruit. I think it was at its best last night, but this wine is probably fine soon after opening with the right food pairing. Great QPR and I think it has a few more good years left in it.
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1/23/2011 - gajalaa wrote: 88 Points
good deep red color with nose of smoke with a palate of plum, violet, licorice and smoke, nice balance with good intensity
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12/18/2010 - sharkFIN wrote: 86 Points
Chuck's birthday...
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12/16/2010 - JoshA wrote: 90 Points
Cherry on the nose. Figs, tobacco and mocha on the palate. Long, luscious finish.
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11/28/2010 - greekboy1 wrote: 90 Points
Very nice bottle for price of $18. Smooth velvety well-rounded dark fruit in the mid palate good nose. Decanted for about half an hour. Smooth... will buy more. Not too heavy well structured. Can handle heavy meats.
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11/26/2010 - hiker_guy wrote:
nose:
Figs, floral elements, sweet smokiness, very big nose that flows from the glass.
Palate:
Starts out dark and a tad harsh but that quickly transitions to some smooth, soft, dark, brambly fruit with a little bit of spice. Nice long, spicy, lingering finish.
Perfectly matched with some Mexican food this evening. Great qpr. Would buy again.
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11/19/2010 - Cantina Hill's wrote:
Excellewnt. Aged balen
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10/31/2010 - camacu wrote: 82 Points
Nothing that you would call bad about this one.. just nothing you would call great, either.. Kind of on the thin side,,but fruuity thin..
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10/29/2010 - noshooz wrote: 89 Points
Strong hints of smoke and leather on the nose upon opening, with hints of plum and fig. The plum and fig dominate after it has had time to aerate. Medium-bodied with dark red fruit on the palate. The peppery features of the garnacha (10%) come through on the mid-palate and finish. I didn't realize at purchase that this was a blend - 80% tempranillo, 10% mazuelo (carignan) and 10% garnacha (grenache). But it is well done.
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10/27/2010 - MadWoodworker wrote: 84 Points
It was a nice enough wine, but completely lacking in complexity.
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10/22/2010 - williamswhine wrote: 86 Points
Tasted young/tight, despite it's 6 years of age. Not a memorable wine or worth re-buying.
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10/15/2010 - gigabit wrote: 89 Points
Everything is finally starting to come together with this wine.
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10/14/2010 - mos wrote: 86 Points
Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry
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10/10/2010 - Actionjaxon wrote: 89 Points
Enjoyed with our Spanish neighbour Tony
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10/8/2010 - greekboy1 wrote: 87 Points
Nice dark fruit. A lot of alcohol on the finish. A bit thin. Would buy again but I was expecting more. Reasonable structure.
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10/6/2010 - Grape_ape wrote: flawed
Upon removing foil, cork was stained slightly on top, and the cork was stained up the sides from seepage. No real signs of oxidation on the nose or palate, but the wine was kind of dull and lifeless, short finish.. I'm guessing it was cooked.
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10/5/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Smokey and chocolatey not that bad at all. Rather tasty. Ok at $19.
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10/1/2010 - DRS-Inc wrote: 88 Points
Had w/dinner. Let breathe for 90 min. & Vinturi decant. Ruby red color. Very nice aromas of strawberry & plum, hot & sweet spices, vanilla & smoky oak.
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9/20/2010 - Cheshire wrote: 87 Points
Some vanilla, cherry, hint of coco, but some of the alcohol too. On the pallet I get a little oak, vanilla, sour cherry, finishes with some heat. Generally straightforward and not overly complex. I feel the balance is off just a bit. Solid just not all that exciting.
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9/2/2010 - Li6 wrote: 88 Points
Elegant aromas of stewed strawberries, plums, and a touch of spice. Medium-bodied, finishes with tart cherries. A bit hollow on the mid-palate.
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8/10/2010 - europat55 wrote: 78 Points
Quite thin and uni-dimentional.
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8/7/2010 - WannabeRenaissanceMan wrote: 88 Points
Pretty good, but not my favourite Rioja - a little too light for my tastes
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7/28/2010 - KSWinegeek wrote: 88 Points
Attractive floral and plum nose. Not much on the attack, but has a nice, lasting sour cherry finish. Approachable.
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7/23/2010 - wgb wrote: 90 Points
big fruit; well integrated
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7/4/2010 - twofthrs wrote: 89 Points
Drink up. Won't hold much longer.
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7/3/2010 - OTTnMIA wrote: 88 Points
Wanted to post a second note as we had a different experience with the wine this time. It STILL NEEDS LOTS OF AIR! Needed 1hr+ in the decanter to develop and come across balanced. Once there, we enjoyed it much more this time. Easy drinking, floral notes, nice oak and astringent background, some interesting stuff going on. Still didn't "love" it, but this is definitely a decent and enjoyable drink.
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6/20/2010 - nogohawk wrote: 90 Points
Drank over 2 nights - VG rioja; had little experience with this variety - dark ruby color with loads of plum and smoke - nice finish
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6/12/2010 - winepups wrote: 77 Points
Weak nose and thin texture lead to overwelming tannins and almost a lip smacking tartness on the finish. Amongst the crowd tasting Spanish reds, this was the least popular rioja and the second least popular wine overall.
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5/15/2010 - robnmo wrote: 88 Points
popped and poured. Not as much oak as prior bottles. sorry to see the last bottle go.
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5/12/2010 - fxhaddad wrote: 89 Points
For the price, buy the crianza. It's a great wine, more intense than its brother, but the extra aging in oak isn't convincing enough. Classic old style Rioja w/ simple tannin tast. Great w/most foods. The wife liks it alot! $19 would be on the high side.
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5/10/2010 - rc@ughey wrote: 86 Points
Enjoyable and a crowd pleaser, but not a standout. Intense fruit of dark berries and plums. Reasonably well balanced. Not much subtlety and sense of place. Still, a pretty satisfying bottle.
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5/5/2010 - Punt wrote:
Smoke on the nose, muted fruits. Big taste, lots of tannins, fruit again quite subtle. Cedar. Velvety feel and long smooth finish. Satisfying, great with lamb.
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5/4/2010 - jgoetzin wrote: 91 Points
European style. Earthly, leather tastes
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5/1/2010 - WannabeRenaissanceMan wrote: 89 Points
Nose was plums and pepper. Fruity and spicy on the palate with lots of tannins. Great wine! Even though we're right in the middle of the drinking window now, it could have been aged longer to mellow out the tannins.
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4/25/2010 - TedH wrote: 89 Points
Great Rioja and a good every day wine...
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4/22/2010 - antelope wrote: 87 Points
Lush nose of plums, palate was a bit tannic, even on day 2. Will try to give this more air next time.
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4/16/2010 - cjsadler wrote: 90 Points
One of the world's great red values if you ask me (got it at $12.99 on sale). Past vintages suggest this will get even better with a little more age.
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4/13/2010 - ggtirevite wrote: 90 Points
Had at a spanish restaurant with mariscada. perfect match
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4/10/2010 - JOsgood wrote:
Medium weight Rioja. Classic in style. Great QPR.
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4/7/2010 - KevinMc wrote: 90 Points
Nice Rioja. Lots of spice, fruit and finish. Good value. (89.5)
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4/5/2010 - soyhead wrote: 89 Points
nose - plum, inside of a shoe, some spicy oak
mouth - solid red fruit, red berries, still considerable tannin structure, in the mouth none of that rusticity or saddle leather that i associate with old style rioja. Drinks smoothly, and grew on me over the course of the night
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4/4/2010 - Tarrant wrote: 90 Points
Lovely, feminine Rioja, amazing smoothness on the palate, great QPR - Dark, medium bodied with a nose of cherry, plum, spice, leather and vanilla, impecably balanced, structured, perhaps at it's peak, silky smooth on the palate with excellent length, happy to have 2 more bottles (90 Points).
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3/31/2010 - AMeatWithVino wrote: 89 Points
Bought, popped and poured. Solid wine with nose of cherries and leather. Medium-bodied juicy wine with tannins you hardly notice- relatively short finish but a great QPR. Bottom line... I really enjoyed this wine and would buy again.
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3/30/2010 - mkaminski wrote: 87 Points
Dark ruby colour. Intense fruity, elegant bouquet with aromas of dark forest fruit. On the palate well-built with distinct acidity and barrel. Quite short.
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3/28/2010 - twofthrs wrote: 89 Points
Connie wanted to taste this so I opened another.
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3/24/2010 - twofthrs wrote: 89 Points
Nicely done. Drinking well right now. Wouldn't hold too much longer.
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3/6/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 87 Points
Take a jar of raspberry / rhubarb jam, grind some pepper over the top and put in a smoker for a few hours and you've got this bottle of Lan. Decent bottle of wine for the price.
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3/4/2010 - jsmccaff Likes this wine: 90 Points
This wine was a phenomenal drink, it opened up over the course of two days without the need to decant. Strong cherry smell and taste
The wine looks Ruby colored.
The legs are Slow.
It smells like and Cherry.
The body is Medium/Full.
The wine is textured Silky.
The wine finishes Medium.
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3/2/2010 - ewisor wrote: 86 Points
Consumed over two evenings. Decanted 1/2 the first evening. Somewhat one dimensional on the first evening, but opened up and showed more complexity on the 2nd evening. Smooth and drinkable now.
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2/27/2010 - robnmo wrote: 88 Points
decanted for about 90 minutes before first glass. On the nose earth and cherries. On the palate the tannins were almost not noticable. There were cherries, cedar and a nice spicyness. matched very well with the braised short ribs.
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2/26/2010 - cartime wrote: 89 Points
Vinturied. Medium-dark garnet. Expressive nose of black cherry, plum, smoked sea salt, and rosemary. Dark fruits, earthy minerals, and leather on the palate. Medium bodied, with great acidity and smooth tannins. Short-medium finish. A good food wine.
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2/23/2010 - DTWOB wrote: 89 Points
I found this wine to be very approachable and well liked.
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2/22/2010 - ames1 wrote: 88 Points
dark fruit in the nose, and some menthol. plenty of oak, but not harsh tannins on the palate.
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2/22/2010 - mpricher wrote: 90 Points
Once again, very consistent with prior. Solid color. The nose has some oak, but not a monster in the least. The time to air this bottle is at least one hour, although approachable to pop and pour. Opens with more fruit and depth of floral vibrance by 2nd and 3rd hours. Good Dark berry fruit, with supple tannins. This coats the mouth more than drying it out. Very food friendly, and a solid Rioja for this price point.
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2/21/2010 - ronscottf wrote: 89 Points
Absolutely must decant this for quite a long time prior to consuming to get the full flavor of this wine.
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2/10/2010 - Sid_Mac wrote: 80 Points
More sour than I remember; I used to like this more (not the sour part). This should be right in its prime drinking time according to the label on the back of the bottle.
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2/6/2010 - wnance wrote:
Nice bottle, very smooth. My first rioja, so not sure where it comes in. I would try it again, came highly recommended from a trusted source at a local store.
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1/23/2010 - Beck wrote: 89 Points
nice bottle. good tannins, plum finishing with a little gra[phite but staying clean
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1/19/2010 - drbill wrote:
nondescript. disappointing.
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12/21/2009 - Vinomane wrote: 75 Points
Ah, the vicissitudes of bottle variation among mass-production wines. For this was the adjective unmemorable devised. Tonight's specimen giving nothing on the nose, the palate, or the finish. Dim, dull, dreary, devoid of any remarkable quality save its absence. Rated 75 just because you can drink it distractedly with indifferent victuals. Might go nicely enough with television and tv dinners.
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12/14/2009 - Pool Boy wrote: 88 Points
Blackberries, black plums, clean river stones (think no moss or mud), some faint herbaceousness (like herbs de provence maybe?). Fairly dry finish, but juicier up front. A little too much oak for my liking, but decent. Went well with a selection of cheeses. 88pts.
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12/12/2009 - BSpdx wrote: 89 Points
Limited notes, but I thought this was very delicious. Pretty dry and the one drawback was a relatively short finish. Otherwise the fruit was ripe, with a secondary mineral element that I found appealing. Would recommend.
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12/6/2009 - Vinomane wrote: 90 Points
First experience with this wine, with several more bottles for later. Not fully developed, but has some depth an richness. Seems a more modern style than older vintages. Rather short finish; could improve. A value wine at around $15. Tonight, worth 90-points, fully satisfying.
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11/27/2009 - optiwine wrote: 79 Points
Not a very impressive wine. typically, i like the Rioja wines, but this i wont be serving again.
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11/26/2009 - Brshriver wrote: 91 Points
Full bodied. Dark cherries. Leather finish
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11/13/2009 - ocattorney wrote: 84 Points
Nice dark color. Medium body wine with dark fruit and herbs on the nose. Dark fruit, cherries and some flowers on the mid-palate. Firm tannins. The wine was good but did not have a delicious factor that would make me crave more.
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11/12/2009 - noroc77 wrote: 88 Points
Nothing remarkable at first that would justify the fine reputation. However, this wine has it all and in the right balance: body, structure and taste of dark cherries. Gets better with every sip !
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11/9/2009 - tantotinto wrote: 88 Points
Opened and served without decanting at 63 degrees. Medium red color. Nose of ripe red fruit, earth and cinnamon. Bright, fresh cherry and plum flavor that is tart and restrained yet pleasant. Tannins are not intrusive. It might benefit from decanting but certainly drinks well enough without. It opened up very quickly. Good match with this evening's beef stew.
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11/7/2009 - slywka7 wrote: 87 Points
This vintage wasn't really doing it for me with the tar, prune and earth aromas. Little thin with cherry on the palate.
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11/7/2009 - gigabit wrote: 86 Points
Decanted for two hours; cherry, vanilla, and too much oak.
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10/19/2009 - Battleship wrote: 90 Points
Drank these 2 at a family event I brought them to. The problem was there wasnt much other wine and as I opened these, I needed to take a glass and drink on a pop and pour basis versus my preferred decant and wait method. So, the main complaint was tightness and tannins on the finish, but the fruit was there and I think the agening potential and/pr need to decant in the near term are there.
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10/11/2009 - golfwineski wrote: 89 Points
solid rioja and QPR but nothing to go crazy over. Decanted 2 hours.....strong cherry and chocolate. Was a table favorite but I guess my expectations were much higher. At $15...waivering on buying again.
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10/11/2009 - joeandkim wrote: 85 Points
Not too fruity -- subtle hints of dark cherry -- with a slight green cabbage aroma. Medium oak. Pleasing level of tannins with good structure -- could probably withstand a few more years in the bottle. Fairly unremarkable immediately after pouring, but opens up substantially with decant time. All in all, a good value wine, but nothing earth shattering.
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10/10/2009 - robnmo wrote: 88 Points
decanted for about 45 minutes before first glass. On the nose there was tar and cherries. On the palate the wine had a wonderful sour cherry flavor mixing in with a nice smokiness. The herbal component has died down, and I didn't notice the acidity as much.
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10/3/2009 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
WIML90
Tasted October 3, 2009 at a retail tasting.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of smoke, white pepper, black berries, thistle and wet stones. Rich flavors of black berries, plums and a bit of raspnberry. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink over the short to medium term.
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10/3/2009 - mmurry wrote: 90 Points
90 Points and Above (Farpointe Cellar): The nose started with a lot of tar and smoke. Underneath that was licorice, and a small amount of floral aromas. There was a little plum at the end. The palate was very juicy, was strong flavors of smoke mixed with plum. The finish had floral notes and licorice.
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9/26/2009 - pepper wrote: 83 Points
Day 1--ordinary but drinkable; Day 2--down the drain in favor of a 2007 S. Rhone CdR. Feels like an upgrade to business class.
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9/24/2009 - Grillgod wrote: 90 Points
Dark Purple. Blackberry, black currant, dill, & mint on the nose. Very nice blackberry, blueberry, & black currant on the palate. Tannins are very smooth giving a great mouthfeel. Getting mocha after opening awhile.Very nice effort.
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9/14/2009 - cabdrinker wrote: 88 Points
Bumping up another point. The earthiness has toned down a little but still present. Little more acidic though on the finish, but I like the evolution of this wine.
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8/31/2009 - michigan dogs wrote: 88 Points
very nice wine, well balanced, not too fruity- hard to see how it makes WS top 100 though. I guess I prefer new world, big wines, so it is hard to go overboard on a wine like this.
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8/30/2009 - AustinDRC wrote:
Wow. Really good. Definitely better the next day. Dark purple color and dark fruit aromas. A very nice balance of dark fruits with both tannins and alcohol. Nice full mouth feel and lots of tannins on the finish.
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8/2/2009 - lumpkins wrote: 89 Points
very impressive Rioja. agree with other comments good reflection of the terrior; earthy tones, cherry notes, smooth tannins and the oak, which is often an overkill in many Riojas, was very subtle.
enjoyed -would buy more
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7/29/2009 - Lessthanzero wrote: 88 Points
1-2 hour decant and some food helped this wine gain an extra point.
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7/19/2009 - Matt T wrote: 86 Points
Smooth in the mouth, but just far too much oak for my taste. The vanilla and oak flavors here really overwhelm the grape. Well balanced acidity with a bit of tannins.
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7/17/2009 - cmclean wrote: 90 Points
What a beauty - roses, cherries, peaches, tobacco, spice, very soft and silky. A steal for $22. Buy it up.
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7/11/2009 - ScubaSommelier wrote: 90 Points
Very impressive. Good value as well.
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7/8/2009 - TCKM wrote: 89 Points
Not a pop and pour wine. Decant at least an hour before drinking. Subtle but complex nose of sour cherries, cinnamon, baking spices, vanilla, tobacco, faint cocoa and earth. Tannins are firm and acidity is bright but becomes noticeably sharper on the finish. Sour cherries, vanillin and pepper on the palate. Good upside potential.
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7/7/2009 - wahoo70 wrote: 88 Points
Red and purple cherries and berries on the nose, with spearmint, cocoa and earth notes; bracing acidity, and elegant red and purple fruit flavors; nice chewy tannins with a long finish, cherries and strawberry-rhubarb at the end. Great qpr, but overrated perhaps, especially considering so many better Spanish reds out there.
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7/3/2009 - DoubleMagnum wrote: 89 Points
There's no doubt in my mind that if I had tried this wine blind I would have said Rioja. An unbelievable amount of terroir. Lots of varietal charectar too. There's no doubt this is tempranillo. There's soil, tobacco and red fruit. Acid is noticeable and welcome. Very good sampling of what Rioja has to offer.
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6/21/2009 - Lessthanzero wrote: 88 Points
P&P'd. Dusty sour cerries on the nose that followed the tannins into the palate. A realtively delicate old school wine that ultimately had too high acid levels for my taste.
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6/20/2009 - JonGray wrote: 85 Points
very plain - no outstanding qualities - decauntered and tried to get it going
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6/19/2009 - eeeeeradicator wrote: 87 Points
Combination of dusty smokiness with bold, sour fruit.
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6/15/2009 - Pinot Evil wrote: 90 Points
Like others have noted this wine really shines after about an hour decant. I get red cherries and black licorice. Nice finish great qpr.
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6/10/2009 - michigan dogs wrote: 87 Points
this was very good, but the wine has a distinctive flavor to me that I can't describe and was not captured by any of the other reviewers(at least for me) Very good qpr.
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6/6/2009 - hiker_guy wrote:
Good wine. Would buy again.
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6/5/2009 - cvvhrn wrote: 90 Points
Quite a nice little wine. It would make a fantastic daily drinker and its got a decent pricepoint as well. Hints of spice and chocolate on the nose with a palate of pepper and sour cherries. Decent finish.
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6/4/2009 - KDutti wrote: 87 Points
Drank over two days w/ pizza and pasta (spaghetti marinara). Pop and poured through the vinturi aerator that I recently purchased.
Night 1 - Dark purple to black almost in color. Nose was sedated. Tasted and smelled some alcohol peaking over the dark berries, spice and cinnamon flavors. Would say a little out of balance but can't beat the QPR.
Night 2 - Color and taste fairly the same as first night except got a little more out of the nose. w/ no additional layers revealing itself. A simple table wine that's consummable.
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5/17/2009 - sstoloff wrote: 86 Points
Decent aromatics, cherry/cranberry/brier, but a bit acidic, and a bit of an off metallic flavor.
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5/13/2009 - QuidnuncWS wrote: 88 Points
Very good with roast pork.
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5/7/2009 - winesteaksushi wrote: 85 Points
Tasting note lost in browser crash. Recall reasonable Rioja style, improvement after decent decant. Pretty sure I gave it an 85.
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5/7/2009 - Grape_ape wrote: 88 Points
see previous notes. really benefits from a longer decant.
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5/3/2009 - jnanz wrote: 90 Points
See previous.
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4/26/2009 - robnmo wrote: 88 Points
had with smoked ribs. Decanted for about 40 minutes. On the nose oak with Strawberries and raspberries, mixed with tar. On the palate the oak matched well with the smokiness of the ribs. Definite green/herbal component of the wine mixes in with the sour cherries/strawberries. nice bottle
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4/26/2009 - Eugene wrote: 88 Points
Dark red color. Taste more concetrated than usual rioja. Felt very tight - needs more bottle time
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4/25/2009 - Texas Pete wrote: 86 Points
Pretty acidic wine, but works well with food. At $15 bucks a bottle, hard to go wrong with this Rioja. Drank over three days and the taste held up well as the aromo faded.
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4/17/2009 - ScottGoodwin wrote:
Initially a bit of grandma's basement where she threw last year's Christmas tree. But a please nose of red cherries. Medium bodied and fresh and lively. Darker fruits with plum along with cherries. Well integrated tannins. Great up front acifity. Wet campfire and smoke.
Day 2 - smelled and tasted totally corked. Maybe I missed it last night?!?!
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4/15/2009 - btennan1 wrote: 89 Points
A: Ruby and deep. Looks like a Bordeaux
N: A little barnyard horse in here. Hay and eucalyptus. Mushroom and orange peel.
T: Tart, puckery acidic with nice firm tannins. Bright red fruits and truffles
F: Loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong.
Overall: New world wine meets old world. Yummy but hmmm. I like the technical back label chart and data they provide.
V: 4/5
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3/31/2009 - Quatrefous wrote: 88 Points
Excellent Rioja for the price. Medium bodied. Great finish. Loved it.
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3/28/2009 - mpricher wrote: 90 Points
Deep dark purple. Strong deep black current and oak on the nose. This does blow off after an hour, but there is still an oak and heat that persists. Still worth laying down a bit, but very worthy now with red meat and roasted veggies. Would like to keep one or two bottles of this to 2010 to see the result.
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3/10/2009 - Friedo wrote: 90 Points
Heavy floral, opened nicely overnight.
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3/6/2009 - mklarman wrote: 90 Points
Great QPR! This one has some muscular tannins, but lots of rich, dark fruit make it very balanced. This would be a great wine with steaks.
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3/4/2009 - OTTnMIA wrote: 85 Points
MUST DECANT! Needed 30-45mins breathing before it was even remotely enoyable, and did go through some interesting changes. After that it was ok, a decent Tempranillo, but did not live up to the hype. At this price point you can't expect TOO much more, but I wouldn't buy this again.
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3/1/2009 - Grillgod wrote: 90 Points
Plum, Black Currant, and a little Blueberry is what I remember. A little tannic still, but time on the shelf should improve the next two bottles.
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3/1/2009 - drbill wrote:
has some age on it. central darkness with a nice extended border. very soft elegant round mouthfeel. overall elegant but restrained at this time.
i will cellar the other 4 bottles for awhile as i feel this will get alot better with age.
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2/25/2009 - davergny wrote: 89 Points
Nice wine, good value. Black cherries, hint of vanilla, a bit of spice, a little dry and tannic, fairly rich, elegant, balanced, good finish.
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2/15/2009 - jnanz wrote: 90 Points
Pretty nose of fruit, smoke and flowers. The palate is full of ripe cherries and tobacco, along with some smoke and cocoa notes. A bit more refined (or old world) than some inky, rich modern counterparts, but refreshing for that reason. A great wine at $16.
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2/14/2009 - williamswhine wrote: 88 Points
Bought as result of recommendation and listing as one of 2008's Top 100 Wines. To me, wine was a bit harsh as compared to other tempranillos I've tasted. Other group tasters felt the same way. Dry taste, grassy/hay taste, albeit a nice nose.
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2/13/2009 - mpricher wrote: 90 Points
Medium Dark burgundy red. Semi-clear. Very strong red fruit with spice and leather. Very robust mouthfeel and flavor profile. Medium body, but consistent red fruit. Medium finish. I liked this more than I expected. First night it was a strong contender. Waning a little by night two, but still a good character. not a big QPR, but I would buy again.
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2/10/2009 - ny pete wrote: 89 Points
old world nose ... great balance for a $14 wine ... gets better in the glass with each passing sip ... a lot of spice on the finish ... great QPR and 89 means an excellent wine. Cheers!
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2/7/2009 - westcoastwannabe wrote: 87 Points
Based on previous tasting notes, I decided to decant for an hour before tasting. The nose was full of cherries and the taste was smooth with cherries and oak. Simple but decent finish. Not complex, but still enjoyable.
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2/7/2009 - pfrichar wrote: 80 Points
While the nose was nice, this wine lacked fruit in the mid-palate. Not very interesting or compelling despite the price.
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1/31/2009 - cabdrinker wrote: 87 Points
Give this a good hour to open up right now. Dark ruby in the glass and a blast of oak permeates at first. Ripe black cherries, little earthiness and what I would describe as Arugula note as well. Big fruit up front but mellows out over time and develops a nice textured finish with twinge of smoke and coco, but not much. Potential to get better IMO
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1/16/2009 - VinoPKM wrote: 88 Points
Like other reviewers- great QPR for $15. #52 on Wine Spectator.... maybe not. A good Tempranillo daily drinker, definitely yes. Would also recommend letting the wine open up- after 30+ minutes the wine opened up.
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1/11/2009 - Alekos wrote: 88 Points
Decent, interesting, a bit overrated in my opinion. Solid bottle but wouldn't run to buy a case.
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12/31/2008 - robnmo wrote: 88 Points
second bottle of the night, so notes aren't as complete as they should be. decanted for about 30 minutes before first glass. On the nose there was a ton of cherries and tobacco. On the palate the wine has a decent amount of oak, that plays well with cherries, and a nice spicy herbal component.
Excellent QPR.
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12/25/2008 - drbill wrote:
ruby red with red border. not much layering. not opaque. nose is tight upon opening. nose gives up dark cherry fruit. i did not get much more than that. i was hoping for chocolate and leather or smoke but didn't get much of that. body is light-medium. palate with nice sour cherries and dark fruits and a hint of pepper and spice but not that much. not much oak either. i agree with alot of the other reviews in that this wine needs some time to open up. has a nice tannic structure that will improve with bottle age. this wine is delicate and light and elegant and pairs nicely with light foods. it wouldn't stand up against really hearty food. it is not a crowd pleaser at the present time because it doesn't explode but it is nice and elegant. has a chewy peppery medium finish. nicely structured.
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12/21/2008 - spendergast wrote: 89 Points
Very tight upon opening. After decanting 90 minutes, dark fruit, earth, and leather. Very good value.
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12/15/2008 - THaas wrote: 85 Points
Ruby in the glass. Light nose of cherry and dusty library books. Mouth is typical Rioja, with cherry, dusty tannins in the center, some spice underneath and a hint of oak. Tasty, but not over-the-top. Balance is good (moderate acidity, medium-bodied), finish is long.
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12/11/2008 - NavyGrog wrote: 85 Points
Light - Medium bodied. Very smooth and fruity. Multilayered with a floral nose.
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12/7/2008 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 88 Points
Beautiful color, Aromas of fresh dark fruits, dark chocolate,with some leather and smokey notes. This wine is lively, concentrated and has some elegance to it. Great Value for under $ 15. (Best from 2009-2014) - JD88
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12/4/2008 - ziavino wrote: 92 Points
Excellent qpr, maybe one of the best of the year. The nose reveals dark fruit with a skosh of smoke. On the palate, this baby has a good mouthfeel, and the fruit is met with a brooding, tarry component that impressed the heck out of me for a $20 wine.
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12/1/2008 - ChickadeeSharon wrote: 88 Points
Peppery, with licorice and dark fruits, smooth drinker, opens up nicely in glass
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11/16/2008 - Pour Boy wrote: 84 Points
Didn't find this as enjoyable as I'd hoped. Perhaps it needed more time.
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11/5/2008 - Pinot Evil wrote: 90 Points
Great value Rioja very good qpr
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10/31/2008 - ScottGoodwin wrote:
Didn't take formal notes on this but I remember it being very angular, linear and elegant. Like a very trim, well-dress woman "of a certain age". Plums and other black fruits. Some leather or tobacco? Definitely worth trying again but no score this time.
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10/26/2008 - sammy wrote: 87 Points
Nice nose. Dry taste, but full of rich flavors.
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10/10/2008 - Grape_ape wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured, consumed over 2 days. Dark ruby, with a red rim. Very tight nose on the pop and pour, giving up very little. Palate is also tight, little sour cherry, but barely any fruit or flavor. Over an hour or so it opens up aromatically, to a more typical rioja nose, earthy, sour cherry and some cedar. Similar flavors on the palate, bright red fruits, sour cherry, fleshes out on the midpalate with some oak and spice and finishes with some drying tanins and mouth watering acidity. On day two this continues to improve. More fruit on the palate, and gains some aromatic and flavor complexity; some cigar ash on the nose and more prominent spice on the midpalate. Very good QPR at $14, will seek out more. Definitely decant if consuming now.
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10/5/2008 - AeroSKI5150 wrote: 89 Points
Very earthy in the glass; improved within an hour. Saved 1/2 bottle for next day and opened up even more. Indeed tastes more oaky than bouquet might lead one to believe. As good as other Spanish reds of this vintage costing 2x the price.
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9/20/2008 - Sijan wrote: 88 Points
Agree with previous note that the palate is better than the nose. Enjoyable oaky spanish red at a good price.
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5/29/2008 - jamieirving wrote: 84 Points
The Sampler (Angel, London): Rich purple in colour, this wine shows a savoury nose with earthy and vegetal characters. The palate shows rich red fruit, a touch of oak and soft tannins. Tastes better than it smells!
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