Surprisingly still a lot of stuffing in this bottle. Based on another vintage consumed earlier I thought the oak would be way too pronounced but while it was prominent it was not at all overwhelming and everything was pretty well integrated still having nice tannic backbone and acidity.
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Nose is all tertiary at this point, but still very pleasing, especially if you like old Bordeaux. Palate is mostly acid however. A long decant took care of some of the sharp edges, but there's really no fruit at all left.
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WCC Rioja Blind (Dorato's Resturant, Guilderland, NY): [Opened about 45 minutes before drinking.] Muted nose of red fruit and mulch. Tannic red currant fruit with drying tannins on the finish. May improve significantly with more age. Judgement reserved.
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Popped and poured. Dense. Lots of oak on the dark nose and palate. Plenty of spice. Dense, but somehow less depth. One dimensional- dark fruit, spice and oak. Shortish finish. Maybe this was better a few years ago, but still a nice wine to drink.
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Last bottle. Had the 98 a night before.. the 98 seems to be the fruitier one of the two, both really nice right now, with the 96 at peak but can hold nicely for a while
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From magnum, this is medium bricking red. Getting much more classically floral and elegant on the nose, with subtle charcoally smoke but relatively little fruit. Midweight and graceful on the attack and midpalate, but unfortunately the tannin seems if anything a little rougher at age 15.
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Parker 11 years ago said "This continues to be one of the sexiest, most voluptuously-textured, exotic wines to emerge from Rioja". Its a sexy wine right now that is for sure. Oak is down too at last. I loved it. Needs air, and will surly hold a few more years, though glowing right now. To be fair, not the most complex of wines, but a tasty, easy, satisfying wine for sure!
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Popped early Am and served at dinner that night for my birthday...this wine was ready to go and I enjoyed it but only got a taste....wish I had more strong impressions
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The color has taken on a brownish tinge. Definitely looks like an older wine, more than 13 years old. The nose is pretty but subdude. Sort of has a nuttiness to it. Not a whole lot of fruit left. Reminds me of an older Chianti on the palate
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Medium dark garnet. Heady and overly sweet upon opening, but with air gains much better definition, while the plummy fruit (here I can see Parker's Pomerol parallel) takes a darker profile. Adding nuance are gravelly soil and sweet anise, with an overall high-toned impression. Utterly smooth through the midpalate, with some dustiness to the tannin evident on the finish. Currently this needs air for sure, but I don't necessarily see any benefit of further aging.
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The wine had a great nose of mature red fruits with spice and leather. On the palate the wine was a bit hollow, lacking the fruit needed to balance out the remaining tannins. I am not sure if this was an off bottle or just tired. The nose was 90pts.
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7/6/2023 - Dmax808 wrote: 92 Points
Surprisingly still a lot of stuffing in this bottle. Based on another vintage consumed earlier I thought the oak would be way too pronounced but while it was prominent it was not at all overwhelming and everything was pretty well integrated still having nice tannic backbone and acidity.
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5/30/2016 - scottnmand wrote: 81 Points
Nose is all tertiary at this point, but still very pleasing, especially if you like old Bordeaux. Palate is mostly acid however. A long decant took care of some of the sharp edges, but there's really no fruit at all left.
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1/13/2016 - matthewearl Does not like this wine: 85 Points
This wine is gone, theres zero finish... nose is a bit deceiving because there seems to be some life. But there isn't.
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1/31/2013 - kenv wrote:
WCC Rioja Blind (Dorato's Resturant, Guilderland, NY): [Opened about 45 minutes before drinking.] Muted nose of red fruit and mulch. Tannic red currant fruit with drying tannins on the finish. May improve significantly with more age. Judgement reserved.
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11/8/2012 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 86 Points
Tempranillo Day Mature Rioja Blindtasting (Tom's House, Palo Alto, California): Group's #6 (my #8) – 48 pts.; 0, 1, 2, 2 - bricking medium dark red violet color; mature, tobacco, horsey, brett, dill, olive nose; mature, tobacco, tart black fruit, cigar box, saline, tart prune, olive palate; medium-plus finish
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8/12/2012 - johnh1001 wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Dense. Lots of oak on the dark nose and palate. Plenty of spice. Dense, but somehow less depth. One dimensional- dark fruit, spice and oak. Shortish finish. Maybe this was better a few years ago, but still a nice wine to drink.
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3/21/2012 - Lorien wrote: 89 Points
Last bottle. Had the 98 a night before.. the 98 seems to be the fruitier one of the two, both really nice right now, with the 96 at peak but can hold nicely for a while
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12/20/2011 - tcfishler wrote:
From magnum, this is medium bricking red. Getting much more classically floral and elegant on the nose, with subtle charcoally smoke but relatively little fruit. Midweight and graceful on the attack and midpalate, but unfortunately the tannin seems if anything a little rougher at age 15.
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1/30/2011 - Lorien wrote: 90 Points
Parker 11 years ago said "This continues to be one of the sexiest, most voluptuously-textured, exotic wines to emerge from Rioja". Its a sexy wine right now that is for sure. Oak is down too at last. I loved it. Needs air, and will surly hold a few more years, though glowing right now. To be fair, not the most complex of wines, but a tasty, easy, satisfying wine for sure!
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9/20/2010 - Lorien wrote: 88 Points
lovely thought oak is a little too noticeable.
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8/15/2010 - Lorien wrote: 88 Points
very nice right now. average complexity. no surprises - you get what you expect. easy wine to enjoy. will hold a little longer.
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4/4/2010 - Mr T wrote:
Popped early Am and served at dinner that night for my birthday...this wine was ready to go and I enjoyed it but only got a taste....wish I had more strong impressions
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10/9/2009 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 89 Points
The color has taken on a brownish tinge. Definitely looks like an older wine, more than 13 years old. The nose is pretty but subdude. Sort of has a nuttiness to it. Not a whole lot of fruit left. Reminds me of an older Chianti on the palate
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9/28/2007 - tcfishler wrote: 90 Points
Medium dark garnet. Heady and overly sweet upon opening, but with air gains much better definition, while the plummy fruit (here I can see Parker's Pomerol parallel) takes a darker profile. Adding nuance are gravelly soil and sweet anise, with an overall high-toned impression. Utterly smooth through the midpalate, with some dustiness to the tannin evident on the finish. Currently this needs air for sure, but I don't necessarily see any benefit of further aging.
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7/12/2007 - tendring Likes this wine: 94 Points
Gerrard Steel Inaugural London Winetasting of Hidden Gems (The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple): A delicious developed nose (cabbage).
Fruity, tannic, balanced.
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10/15/2006 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. In transition. Losing its fruit and gaining aromatic complexity. Drink over next 2 to 3 years.
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3/4/2006 - Big Dog wrote: 87 Points
The wine had a great nose of mature red fruits with spice and leather. On the palate the wine was a bit hollow, lacking the fruit needed to balance out the remaining tannins. I am not sure if this was an off bottle or just tired. The nose was 90pts.
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1/15/2005 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Nice, deep color. Muted fruit on the nose and on the palate. Some tannin on the finish. The fruit will not outlast the tannins. Drink up!
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