A single-vineyard Rioja composed mainly of Tempranillo with some Garnacha and Graciano. Aged for 14-15 months in new French oak barriques. 14% alcohol.
Quite deep, extracted and rather opaque blackish-red color. Brooding, dark-toned and somewhat sweetish nose with slightly international aromas of wizened black cherries, some blueberries, a little bit of sweet, chocolatey mocha oak, light herbal notes of thyme and garrigue, a hint of prunes and a savory touch of woody spice. The wine is silky, sunny and quite chewy on the palate with a moderately full body and lush, textural flavors of sweet bilberries and very ripe blackcurrant, some ferrous notes of blood, a little bit of milk chocolate, light herbal notes of thyme, a hint of coffee oak and a touch of cherry marmalade. The structure relies more on the ample and moderately grippy tannins than on the balanced yet somewhat soft, medium-to-moderately high acidity. The finish is long, rich and gently grippy with flavors of sweet dark plums, some toasty cocoa oak, a little bit of developed meaty umami, light ferrous notes of blood, a hint of blackcurrant jam and a touch of extracted woody bitterness.
A tasty and accessible but also very international and rather monolithic modernist Rioja that doesn't come across as that Spanish. Honestly, this would be quite difficult to guess correctly as a Rioja wine in a blind tasting, since this feels as much like a Napa Cab or Aussie Shiraz to me as it does feel modern Spanish red. It is pleasant and enjoyable in its own, blockbuster-y way, but I really don't seem to get these wines. I can happily drink the wine if somebody pours me this, but it really doesn't show any qualities that would make me want to fill my cellars with it. I doubt the wine has been much more interesting in its youth, either. Feels way overpriced for its quality at 49,90€ - if I want a massively big, extracted and heavily oaked Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero seems to do the thing better at lower price.
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Clear deep ruby with watery garnet rim; clean medium nose of cedar, dill, black berry, black licorice and tomato plant; dry; pfn - beautiful but not overly complex; medium plus body; high tannins; medium plus acidity; medium finish; finish is a little on the short side - disappointing; drinking well now - wouldn’t have wanted to experience those tannins 10 years ago
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Bouquet is tight but fresh with hints of olive. Superb mouth feel with a tannic structure delivering long length to a ripe sour cherry fruit profile. Long and dry finish. Still early for this one but the proof is there for this to be exceptional with further age.
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Wizards Trade Tasting (Warehouse): Maybe something was off with the bottle. This seemed boring, with nothing of interest going on. Other tasters shared similar thoughts. 87-89 based on this tasting.
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2/13/2021 - forceberry wrote: 87 Points
A single-vineyard Rioja composed mainly of Tempranillo with some Garnacha and Graciano. Aged for 14-15 months in new French oak barriques. 14% alcohol.
Quite deep, extracted and rather opaque blackish-red color. Brooding, dark-toned and somewhat sweetish nose with slightly international aromas of wizened black cherries, some blueberries, a little bit of sweet, chocolatey mocha oak, light herbal notes of thyme and garrigue, a hint of prunes and a savory touch of woody spice. The wine is silky, sunny and quite chewy on the palate with a moderately full body and lush, textural flavors of sweet bilberries and very ripe blackcurrant, some ferrous notes of blood, a little bit of milk chocolate, light herbal notes of thyme, a hint of coffee oak and a touch of cherry marmalade. The structure relies more on the ample and moderately grippy tannins than on the balanced yet somewhat soft, medium-to-moderately high acidity. The finish is long, rich and gently grippy with flavors of sweet dark plums, some toasty cocoa oak, a little bit of developed meaty umami, light ferrous notes of blood, a hint of blackcurrant jam and a touch of extracted woody bitterness.
A tasty and accessible but also very international and rather monolithic modernist Rioja that doesn't come across as that Spanish. Honestly, this would be quite difficult to guess correctly as a Rioja wine in a blind tasting, since this feels as much like a Napa Cab or Aussie Shiraz to me as it does feel modern Spanish red. It is pleasant and enjoyable in its own, blockbuster-y way, but I really don't seem to get these wines. I can happily drink the wine if somebody pours me this, but it really doesn't show any qualities that would make me want to fill my cellars with it. I doubt the wine has been much more interesting in its youth, either. Feels way overpriced for its quality at 49,90€ - if I want a massively big, extracted and heavily oaked Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero seems to do the thing better at lower price.
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8/5/2018 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Clear deep ruby with watery garnet rim; clean medium nose of cedar, dill, black berry, black licorice and tomato plant; dry; pfn - beautiful but not overly complex; medium plus body; high tannins; medium plus acidity; medium finish; finish is a little on the short side - disappointing; drinking well now - wouldn’t have wanted to experience those tannins 10 years ago
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4/19/2013 - Kevin_C wrote: 94 Points
Bouquet is tight but fresh with hints of olive. Superb mouth feel with a tannic structure delivering long length to a ripe sour cherry fruit profile. Long and dry finish. Still early for this one but the proof is there for this to be exceptional with further age.
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10/5/2009 - hutch wrote:
Wizards Trade Tasting (Warehouse): Maybe something was off with the bottle. This seemed boring, with nothing of interest going on. Other tasters shared similar thoughts. 87-89 based on this tasting.
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