I would say this feels like it hasn't budged much since release, except that I actually did have it on release and it is much better now. Still with an evolved, tertiary profile but the fruit is redder and fuller so in that sense it actually feels fresher than it did on release. It's a comfort wine, like sinking into your favorite easy chair. Suave, rounded, and near-weightless.
2nd to last of a case. I have loved the previous 10 bottles. This one felt very tired but Isuspect it was an off bottle. My previous bottle in 2020 was delicious.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Enjoyed over two days. Youthful notes of oak faded into fruitcake and leather. Overall this is a wine about balance, complexity, and class. Definitely more evolved than my last bottle, but plenty of life ahead for this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Maison Mythique...for sure. Nez sur le tabac et les cigares avec des fruits rouges. En bouche, le boisé se fait encore présent mais pas trop, chocolat et épices avec des tanins assez fins, belle souplesse et finale longue. Bien aimé mais a encore un beau potentiel.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
After three unexciting bottles over the past two years the wine has finally reawakened. Gorgeous earthy bouquet with superb balance and complexity. Focused mid palate and a lengthy and elegant finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ditto on my last note from November 2014. What a winery! "Dusky deep red with a little brick at the rim. Smokey vanilla on the nose with some finely etched blue and black berry fruits. One the palate there, there is the smokey vanilla oak as well as these restrained black/blue fruit flavors that are complicated by leather, orange liquor and rich gamey notes. This wine seems distinctly rioja. It has sweet restrained ripe fruit married to animal (leather, game, earth) tones. This is some great stuff. What a fantastic value. Clearly improving when I look back to my first note. Look forward to following this down the road. I am going to be buying more for the cellar."
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mature pale Ruby in color. Fabulous nose with strong floral elements combined with black fruits, cedar, cinnamon and lead pencil. Soft palate of black fruits, earth, crushed stones and cedar. No tannin, balanced and nice finish. Although this should last for while, I would drink up before the fruit disappears.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dusky deep red with a little brick at the rim. Smokey vanilla on the nose with some finely etched blue and black berry fruits. One the palate there, there is the smokey vanilla oak as well as these restrained black/blue fruit flavors that are complicated by leather, orange liquor and rich gamey notes. This wine seems distinctly rioja. It has sweet restrained ripe fruit married to animal (leather, game, earth) tones. This is some great stuff. What a fantastic value. Clearly improving when I look back to my first note. Look forward to following this down the road. I am going to be buying more for the cellar.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The first half of this bottle was decanted for an hour and terrific with dinner at Evvia in the company of a goat stew with orzo and some sort of feta-like greek cheese, with the 2nd half strong but not as good now that we are finishing it at home. The nose was fruitier and deeper pitched than expected with forest berries and plum along with peanut shells, blood-orange perfume, and lead, and was followed by a well-balanced palate of red berries and leather. Modest tannic grip extend the flavors without cinching up much in the mouth. The finish has a more simple acidic element that does prefer food. This should last many more years and was well worth $35. I'm a LdH fan. Unfortunately Tempranillo has something that triggers a very mild headache no matter how much or little of it I drink, otherwise I'd build up a bigger cache of these wines in the cellar. A superb showing tonight reminds me why I bother with Rioja at all.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful floral on the nose with bright cherry and tobacco flavors. Classic Rioja, lighter bodied but beautiful structure. Almost Burgundian. Has at least 5 years, maybe more - still improving? 91+ Points
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle absolutely soared from the glass with glorius fruit, balance, depth and finesse. Monster finish. Drinking beautifully now and should do so for many years to come. A wine with lots of soul!
Opened immediately after a '98 proved corked. This bottle was everything I expect from LdH: a beautiful nose featuring bright fruit but with the added complexity of the elevage; a dancer's grace on the tongue; a strong but lean palate with a core of red fruit.
This is drinking really nicely right now. tannins are well integrated but still present. Fruit is mellow but detectable. Nose has distinct smokey aromas. Detectable barbecue smell. Only notable complaint was the acidity which was a little sharp but not a big problem. Overall solid.
This is drinking brilliantly. The tannins have smoothed out, most primary (but not all) fruitiness has faded, the tertiary flavors and aromas have come together. Wonderful balance and it worked very well with grilled steak. This has evolved nicely over the last couple of years and is in a great drinking window.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for just short of an hour, but this really needed about two hours to really show it's beauty. At first the brightness and fresh character of this wine stood out because of it's age, but with air this started to sing. Leather, spice and fresh blue berries transformed as carmalized fruit tones came forward without ever abandoning the flat out prettiness and extraordinary balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite red in color for an 11 year old wine. Really appealing though subtle aromas--oak has integrated and developed spice-like characteristics. There's still a nice fruit component on the palate, along with more mature flavors that seem petty well developed to me. Enjoyed this very much.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice, and light on its feet. Oak present but becoming integrated. Lots of leather. Much more balanced and interesting than the vina ardanza of the same vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brought to New Years Eve dinner at Peruvian BYOB, paired with steak & lobster tail. Developing really nicely with more mature flavors getting more prominent. I'm glad I have some more bottles but wish I bought a case when I had the chance. Really nice red cherry flavors, cedar and leather.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red with some hints of orange. Nose more restrained than my first two bottles. Medium bodied with notes red cherry, tobacco and leather. Soft lingering finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Picked up this current release after trying a few excellent bottles of the 1998. Popped and poured. Started a bit slow, but steadily added density and complexity in the glass. Lovely mid-weight cherry fruit, a touch of molasses and woodsmoke, earth, baking spices, and dried herbs that build to a moderately long, graceful finish. Elegant, balanced acidity. Seems likely to be a good intermediate-term ager. Classic, even ultra-traditional in style, with no evident oak. Perhaps not quite as good as the 1998 -- the texture isn't quite as silky -- but it's really close.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
After my last bottle was corked, this one fortunately showed well. 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho, and the rest Mazuelo and Graciano. Lovely wine that I opened to go with a dinner of Spanish Cheeses, Serrano Ham, and broiled Shrimp. What makes this wine so good with cheese and Serrano ham is its amazing acidity. Dark plum and red berry fruit with tons of earth, crushed rock, and tree bark on the palate. Silky texture and long finish. Textbook Lopez de Heredia style that emphasizes finesse and elegance, but (at least in this case) does not neglect power, concentration, and laser focus of fruit. A bottle of Rioja that I could never quite own enough of. Although I don't think this is a truly intellectual wine (to drink by itself and be in awe of), I do think this wine begs to be served with food and shows its best in exactly that way.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 3 hours and consumed over a 7 hour evening. Went head-to-head against a 2001 La Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva Especial (90 pts). Where the Ardanza began to open up slightly at hour 5 - 7, this one remained tight as a clam all night long. Good flavor intensity that paired very well with grilled ribeye, but the nose is really shut down. No risk in holding, and who knows, in another 5 years this could really blossom. I won't officially score it for at least 3 years from now, but I would say it's in the 87-88 range now, with a possible future potential into the 90 - 92 range. Time will tell.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very enjoyable bottle of wine, and a lot of wine for the money. Mature and seductive, it entices the palate as well as the heart and mind. Nose of red fruit, earth, mulling spice with a touch of orange and green vegetables. Mellow, smooth dark cherry with a bit of earth, tobacco and cedar. Doesn't show a lot of fruit up front, but it is there on the mid-palate and finish. You can find flaws if you want to, but I think this provokes thought and comfort, which most wines in theis price range fail to do at this level.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened an hour ahead of time. Cherry, tobacco aromas. Light and delicate flavors of cherry and lemon, nice lemony finish. More complex than my lame description indicates, this is really good, really classic tempranillo. Great structure, beautiful flavors, still tastes like a youngster at 10 years old.
The CT drinking window at the time this note was written says to drink this by 2010. That's premature, to say the least. Not only is this going strong in 2011, it's probably still on the up slope.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A couple of my bottles have been off even though they have been stored very well. Wine seems to be losing fruit quickly. I hope this is a bottle problem and not a vintage one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very well balanced and integrated. Smooth, even fruit from beginning to end of every taste. I wholly agree with other reviewers who note lightness of touch in the winemaking. Nothing heavy handed in the flavor and still fresh and lively.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking beautifully right now with gentle, elegant red fruited flavours framed by developed leather, cedar and herbal elements. There's a sense of real finesse and a lightness of touch here, lovely balance and this is a wine I really should get some of.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Transparent ruby with lite/medium viscosity in the glass. Soft nose of black cherry, must and secondary cedar. Medium/lite bodied with soft red fruit and dusty tannin on the palate. I decided to pair it with spicy tacos where it showed an appealing acid structure and pop of cherry cola. Nice! Medium finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for one hour. Great aroma of red fruit that is very inviting. First sip introduced an odd flavor of bitter orange peel. After a bit the flavors were more tame. Nice tart fruit that was finished with a dry, tannic finish. The wine was a bit austere alone. However, with a meal of duck confit, it was ideal. The wine grew more intriguing after a few hours. Old world/Old school -- very satisfying.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Seriously nice. Earth, spice and some red/black fruit. Nice mouthfeel and density. Really like this. Will last for at least 5 more years (and possibly quite a bit more than this)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistent with previous TN. Drinking very nicely without any signs of decline. Great acidity give this a very clean, refreshing mouthfeel. Medium bodied with nice red cherry fruit, earthiness and a little spice on the finish. Great QPR. No rush to drink these as it should last a while longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Classic old style Rioja. Not much heft to it, more like Pinot weight. A reticent nose but pleasant on the palate. Not much life left in it but nice now. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have had four bottles since I purchased this in August of 2009 and each bottle is better than the previous. Last night's was outstanding. Round and delicious on the palate. Beautifully balanced and pure. Delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice. Rustic medium bodied with restrained notes red cherry, cloves, tobacco leaves toasted cedar and a hint of brett that gave it a little more old world character. Nicely balanced with a finish that lingered soft and smoothly. Paired wonderfully with Paella mixta.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tempranillo tasting (Weygandt Wines, DC): A refined nose with a nice pitch. hints of sweet spice and cherry. With more air, the sweet spice (nutmeg, cardamom) continues to flourish. Lots of lovely red fruit on the palate with a smooth and delicate finish. A high quality wine in a good drinking place.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dios, Mio, Tempranillo! (Weygandt Wines - Washington, D.C.): light ruby colored. i get nutmeg and christmas spices on the nose. very elegant. smooth and wonderfully silky. rich fruit, and some obvious oak, but the elements have come together in a smooth and balanced way. soft, lingering finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautifully aromatic, cherry, forest floor, rich oak in that good Rioja way. Light to medium body and wonderfully silky. Extremely long finish. Cherry and herbal, floral notes come and go as this changes in the glass and on the palate. Amazing experience, wonderful at this price. Why don't I have more of this? Drinking so well now, I was expecting something tasting younger but this is pretty great right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drunk at Haro. After one hour taking a breath. Cherry colour for a wonderful nose plenty of cinnamon, sandalwood, clove and, of course, vanilla aromas. Lovely meaty. Still a high acidity that is needing more time to intrigate. What a vintage! I can hardly wait for next Viña Tondonia 01. This bottle, at this point, close to perfection. Outstanding.
Bebido en Haro. Después de una hora respirando. Color cereza para una maravillosa nariz llena de aromas a canela, sandalo, clavo y, por supuesto, vainilla. Ricamente cárnico. Por su alta acidez necesita mas tiempo. Menuda añada! Casi no puedo esperar para el siguiente Viña Tondonia 01. Esta botella, en este punto, cerca de la perfección. Un señor vino.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice nose of dark cherry and a little cigar box and earthiness. Light to medium bodied with lots of sour cherries and a little cranberry. Very good acidity and minerality. Finish is medium with a little black tea and spice at the very end. Tannins were well integrated. On day 2 it had added a little weight and drank just as nicely. Very good wine which should drink nicely for several years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
One of my favorite Rioja producers, but the 2001 left a bit to be desired. A little flat, with earth tones and ripe cherries, but not the nose of some more notable vintages of this wine. Will drink again, but prefer other vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had it with dry rub grilled pork chops. Initial funk on the nose and palate. That blows off and resolved after about 1 hour. Good smokey cherries, a nice earthy component, some leather and some nice flavors of aging. Good balance to this wine and it seems like it can age for a while longer which should not be surprising since it is a gran reserve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Somber nose of dark red fruit, sweet soil, but marred by oak and a bit of heat. Tightly coiled primary flavors with more dark fruits, iron and finishing earthiness. This is young to be sure, but the oak treatment is apparent and while I would expect it to integrate further with time, this is not as much my style as the more resrved Tondonia.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
nose - sour cherry, red fruit, earth. fragrant mouth- drinking gorgeous and oh so smooth at the moment - very mellow. mostly it reminds me of visne, ie sour cherry, esp on the midpalate and finish. reminds me of my aunt's sour cherry jams. i also get coconut. good acidity, and still with considerable tannins. This is a fine wine in the sense of elegance. Not at all a blockbuster, but a terrifically balanced beverage and great accompaniment to food. I may be scoring it conservatively
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The definition of a balanced wine. Garnet color, light, almost transparent top edge. Paired with a range of appetizers - cheese, chorizo, nuts. Not flashy, just very, very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
color: garnet, especially around the rim, thin watery white miniscus, medium transparency nose: med+ intensity, very carmelized fruit nose of dried/burnt cherries, tea leaves, toffee, palate: dry, acid is lively med+ tannin soft and low, body med alc est 13 (it is 13), finish is med+ and tar, chewey toffee, dried cherries, stewed red fruit ...
This is an obvioously older wine from its color and palate ... It has finesse and a good structure despite its near decade, med+ length, good concentration of fruit and integration of elements such as acid, oak, which allowed it to age for so long Complexity of flavors, combined with its abillity to have improved with age, and its typicity, mark it as a quality wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Awesome stuff that hooks you in with its aromatics; bright cherries accented by subtle leather, smoky and floral notes. Light on its feet and very elegant with a polished, suave texture and the acidity giving the flavours a sense of incredible freshness. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
There arn't too many $25 dollar Riojas out there so I was excited to try this one. Nice brick color with a little age on the rim. Gave it a 2 hour decant. Muted nose but beautiful tart cherry, oak, sherry flavors. Perfect balance. (which always merits a high score for me.) A little on the thin side, but you have to expect that from tempranillo. Lovely wine. Served with garlic lime flank steaks. This is a great wine to stock up on as it pairs nicely with food.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Showing similarly to the 2000 Tondonia Reserva, with a little more intensity, if a bit less finesse. Fuller, rounder red fruits here, perhaps a little broader and a shade simpler. Better than my last taste of this. 92+ A little soy sauce on the nose with the round red fruits, with a little time in the glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose of red fruits, earth, dried herbs. Well-balanced and lighter on the palate than a typical rioja, with the same elements as on the nose as well as sour cream and spice. Tannins were restrained, lacking the dusty tannic finish of some Riojas. Delicious all around.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Semi-transparent brownish red in the glass. The nose reminded me of something from the Rhone - garrigue, dried herbs, earthy fruit. It was relatively light and lively on the palate, with some iron and sappier fruit. It was simply delicious from beginning to end. Fantastic, especially for the money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just as riveting as the CVNE Imperial Reserva. Lighter on its feet than the Imperial, but incredibly explosive on the palate. Perfect balance, amazing finesse, lovely elegance. Spice, red fruits, earth, dried herbs. This Rioja is simply phenomenal and will last for many more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
There's something about these wines that really appeals to me, and every time I smell and drink one I'm transported to Rioja. The classic woody nose, that's a bit tough, but delicate at the same time. The smooth feel yet slightly tart, light, and finessed taste (maybe a bit thin or glassy). To me it's got great balance, isn't over the top in concentration, or juiciness or oak, and is great by itself or with a nice meal. All that and for the price (under $30), you get a 9 year-old wine that clearly defines it's region.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Second time in a week. Nice medium intensity cherry, leather and damp cellar on the nose. On taste an intense beam of juicy cherry fruit. Nice balance with the acidity and the tannins seem well integrated. A decent finish with the flavors lingering for a long time. Great wine and a steal at the price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious LdH. Tight cherry fruit, notes of dry earth, grass, preserved lemon. Light through the middle ("transparent" said Scott), allowing access to all the flavors. Great with food or without.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Black fruit and black licorice with pine overlay. This is really dry with a lot of acid grip and tar at the back of the palate. It manages to eke out a small amount of fruit with time, but overall, the impression remains harsh and ungenerous. No charm at this point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Served at 63 degrees without decanting. Translucent dark ruby in color. Nose of red fruit and earth. Acidic. Medium weight. Restrained tannins. Tart cherry and spice. It opens up and the fruit moves more forward as the evening rolls on. Very good wine. Will buy more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light garnet. Chinese five spice, leather and sweet tomato juice on the nose, maybe a hint of va which only adds to the fine burgundian quality. Light, but round and very persistent with juicy cherry, cranberry, tobacco and a mature gaminess. Great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted a bit different from when I tasted this at the store, but nonetheless is showing very classic Lopez de Heredia profile - cigar box, exotic spice, very slight gaminess/band aid. The acidity is higher and more tangy than I remembered; to the point of being a shade harsh if sipped alone on day 1. On day 2, smoother on its own, and most of all, the acid worked well with food (coq au vin with mushrooms, mashed potatoes in this case) - cutting through nicely. As the night wore on, the spice became more aromatic. Enjoyable now if you give it some time to open, but on the whole I would recommend to cellar this - in this I can see the hints of what this will become - showed commonalities with the '76 I tasted a few months ago, at a very young stage. 90 now, up to 92ish many years down the road.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I returned this wine to K&L as corked, but the guy there said it was not. Assuming so, this wine is really as close to corked as it could get. It had a brownish red (well it is 8yr old) color, pretty light and clear though, and it had some smokiness. If it was not corked this must have been extremely wet wood taste with some lightly smoky aroma (ala port) but still the ugliest Rioja I ever had. I hope it was corked. The K&L guy gave me two different bottles as replacement, and the one I had first - $10 cheaper then this wine - was really good with nice acidity mid-heavy weight and sweet tannins. It's called Vigna Magna, crianza from Ribera del duero vintage 2002. (Editor's note: marking as flawed)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Took about 30-60 minutes to open but once it did, revealed the feminine/silky texture I've come to associate with Bosconia. Bouquet seemed more complex than the palate, but the fruit was beautiful with oak playing a supporting role at this young stage of the wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Burgundy-like acid, with distinctively Spanish woody tannin and a light palate of smoked cranberries and a green element; like curley parsley or fennel fronds.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
What can you say about this - required drinking from one of the most indispensable producers on the planet. This is showing gorgeous juicy red fruit and woodspice on both the nose and the palate; oak is showing right now making this feel more modern than you expect from Lopez de Heredia, but underneath you can taste the spice, tobacco, leather and earth that will really come out when this has age on it. A slight porty oxidative hint showed on the nose, but I'm not worried given the house style - I know this will last. Palatewise, I could completely draw the connection between this and a 1976 Bosconia Gran Reserva tasted several weeks ago. Delicious now too though, so at the price this goes for, I may just have to drink at least one every year to follow this. 92+.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slow to open on night one. It is fairly concentrated and dark for Bosconia, with a nose that remains fresh despite the oxidative wine making. Juicy dark fruit cut by piercing acidity on the palate. A lengthy finish with plenty of acid again. I bit tight / light on the palate. On night two this is much more open, the fruit is much more developed and it is clearly improved. Sappy red fruits, woodsy aromas, sweet rich penetrating palate and persistant sweet red fruit and cinnamon on the finish. If you like Bosconia, this appears to be a great vintage in the making, as would be anticipated, and should provide a long future of great drinking. I'll put away a stash and forget about them for 5-10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
After reading much about this producer, I had to experience it for myself. The promise of old world rustic wine-making is alluring to me.
Very dark hued with a hint of brown. Medium bodied … its not rich in fruit, but definitely not light. A bit acidic upon opening, but blew off a little with air.
I really like the nose of damp earth, but on the palette it felt relatively simple. There's some sweet fruit and rustic minerals, but otherwise a little boring. The balance is there, and very smooth with no tannins sticking out … I can see this gaining a burgundian elegance with age, just not sure it'll be particularly complex. Finish was a little short and a bit tart, but weighty and tasty. As far as flavour go it is right up my alley with its mix of tobacco, cedar and spices, but I feel the acidity needs to tone down a bit and for more subtle flavours to reveal themselves to be outstanding. 88
Day 2 - Acidity became integrated and the finish has become smoother while retaining the nice animal earth and spice notes. Excellent. 90
Day 3 - Still going strong, but less elegant and brawny tannins seem to be taking over.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bareled for 6 years in old oak which is much longer than the regulation required in Rioja (which is three years maturation of which one year must be in cask). It is pale brick red in colour. Have soft strawberry flavour. With its low acidity and low tannins, this is an easy drinking wine. However, if you like wine which is full-bodied or having more complex flavour, then this wine probably wouldn't fit you!
More details for comparing traditional style Rioja and modern style Rioja in below URLs.
The nose seems a little advanced but with Plum, beef stock, Caramel, vanilla and a bit of charred wood. On the palate it shows cranberry fruit with rose petals and minerally earth. A medium bodied wine that seems really tight right now with a lot of acidity. It seems to shut down your palate a bit and didn't go very well with the food on this night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
España Tasting (Wine Exchange. Orange, CA): Translucent ruby/orange color. Lots of aged wood on the nose. Not as thin as the previous wine (Heredia Vina Cubillo Crianza 2003)--more extracted. Tastes a little like pickled fruits with some woodiness. Would be very complementary to a meal. Good length, finesse and classic old-world Rioja style. Could use a little more punch and extraction, but for $30 it seems like a good QPR if you want to learn about this region. (This is the current release--2001 in 2009).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Much better showing than my last bottle. The flavor is still simple and a little stripped, but the suavity of the texture alone makes it something compelling enough to keep coming back to.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted but drank immediately. Soft cherry and sweet spice with a nice blend of dusty earth and leather on the nose. This carries over onto the palate with sauteed mushrooms and a touch of molasses out of the finish. Still holding a nice acidic zip to it, but not enough that I would feel comfortable sitting on this for more than another couple of years. While it did improve with air on night one, I left half of it in the bottle for the next day and it had fallen apart quite a bit (however it was warm that day and so sitting on the counter in an 80-85 degree house probably was the culprit here). Interesting to me how I found a lot of the same characteristics in this wine that the previous tasters did, but found it to be utterly feminine, elegant, flavorful and enjoyable. Great QPR and I will definitely buy again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Maybe I've been spoiled by too many Gran Reservas, but I found this bottle a disappointment. It has the elegant, streamlined texture I love about Bosconia, but it didn't offer much else beyond that. In the GRs that texture serves as the feminine veneer to something rich and evocative underneath, but here there just isn't much there, just soft apply fruit. Probably that would not have bothered me so much if it didn't also taste slightly oxidized and tainted by volatile acidity. I will give my other bottles a few months to rest and hope they show better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Soft flowery nose. A spicy wine with pretty strong cherries, oak and more subtle cloves on the tongue. I am getting a slightly sour bite mid-palate. This is an interesting wine. Could be a 90 pointer, but a bit disjointed. I would like to try another bottle before scoring this one. Maybe others can comment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/14/2024 - Keith Levenberg Likes this wine: 90 Points
I would say this feels like it hasn't budged much since release, except that I actually did have it on release and it is much better now. Still with an evolved, tertiary profile but the fruit is redder and fuller so in that sense it actually feels fresher than it did on release. It's a comfort wine, like sinking into your favorite easy chair. Suave, rounded, and near-weightless.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/24/2021 - short and confused wrote:
2nd to last of a case. I have loved the previous 10 bottles. This one felt very tired but Isuspect it was an off bottle. My previous bottle in 2020 was delicious.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2020 - CADomer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Enjoyed over two days. Youthful notes of oak faded into fruitcake and leather. Overall this is a wine about balance, complexity, and class. Definitely more evolved than my last bottle, but plenty of life ahead for this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2019 - maxima wrote: 90 Points
Maison Mythique...for sure.
Nez sur le tabac et les cigares avec des fruits rouges.
En bouche, le boisé se fait encore présent mais pas trop, chocolat
et épices avec des tanins assez fins, belle souplesse et
finale longue. Bien aimé mais a encore un beau potentiel.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2019 - diggydan wrote: 95 Points
All is right when LdH is on. Beautiful, soft cherry notes emanating from an old oak box.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2017 - diggydan wrote: flawed
Modest TCA muffled a core of sweet cherry, singing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2017 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
After three unexciting bottles over the past two years the wine has finally reawakened. Gorgeous earthy bouquet with superb balance and complexity. Focused mid palate and a lengthy and elegant finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2016 - short and confused wrote: 93 Points
Ditto on my last note from November 2014. What a winery! "Dusky deep red with a little brick at the rim. Smokey vanilla on the nose with some finely etched blue and black berry fruits. One the palate there, there is the smokey vanilla oak as well as these restrained black/blue fruit flavors that are complicated by leather, orange liquor and rich gamey notes. This wine seems distinctly rioja. It has sweet restrained ripe fruit married to animal (leather, game, earth) tones. This is some great stuff. What a fantastic value. Clearly improving when I look back to my first note. Look forward to following this down the road. I am going to be buying more for the cellar."
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2016 - yipen Likes this wine:
the wine still have lots of fruitiness, and no sediment. Ready to drink
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2015 - cos82 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mature pale Ruby in color. Fabulous nose with strong floral elements combined with black fruits, cedar, cinnamon and lead pencil. Soft palate of black fruits, earth, crushed stones and cedar. No tannin, balanced and nice finish. Although this should last for while, I would drink up before the fruit disappears.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2014 - short and confused wrote: 93 Points
Dusky deep red with a little brick at the rim. Smokey vanilla on the nose with some finely etched blue and black berry fruits. One the palate there, there is the smokey vanilla oak as well as these restrained black/blue fruit flavors that are complicated by leather, orange liquor and rich gamey notes. This wine seems distinctly rioja. It has sweet restrained ripe fruit married to animal (leather, game, earth) tones. This is some great stuff. What a fantastic value. Clearly improving when I look back to my first note. Look forward to following this down the road. I am going to be buying more for the cellar.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2014 - silton Likes this wine: 92 Points
The first half of this bottle was decanted for an hour and terrific with dinner at Evvia in the company of a goat stew with orzo and some sort of feta-like greek cheese, with the 2nd half strong but not as good now that we are finishing it at home. The nose was fruitier and deeper pitched than expected with forest berries and plum along with peanut shells, blood-orange perfume, and lead, and was followed by a well-balanced palate of red berries and leather. Modest tannic grip extend the flavors without cinching up much in the mouth. The finish has a more simple acidic element that does prefer food. This should last many more years and was well worth $35. I'm a LdH fan. Unfortunately Tempranillo has something that triggers a very mild headache no matter how much or little of it I drink, otherwise I'd build up a bigger cache of these wines in the cellar. A superb showing tonight reminds me why I bother with Rioja at all.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2014 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still bright fruit on the palate and starting to get some depth. Very well balanced.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2014 - sastewart wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful floral on the nose with bright cherry and tobacco flavors. Classic Rioja, lighter bodied but beautiful structure. Almost Burgundian. Has at least 5 years, maybe more - still improving? 91+ Points
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2014 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
This bottle absolutely soared from the glass with glorius fruit, balance, depth and finesse. Monster finish. Drinking beautifully now and should do so for many years to come. A wine with lots of soul!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/29/2013 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Same notes as last time... bright cherry, pepper, spice and earth flavors, medium to lighter style. very tasty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2013 - diggydan wrote: 93 Points
Opened immediately after a '98 proved corked. This bottle was everything I expect from LdH: a beautiful nose featuring bright fruit but with the added complexity of the elevage; a dancer's grace on the tongue; a strong but lean palate with a core of red fruit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/3/2013 - Chateau du Fey 1994 wrote: 91 Points
This is drinking really nicely right now. tannins are well integrated but still present. Fruit is mellow but detectable. Nose has distinct smokey aromas. Detectable barbecue smell. Only notable complaint was the acidity which was a little sharp but not a big problem. Overall solid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/20/2013 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Very good as usual, with bright cherry, pepper, spice and earth flavors, medium to lighter style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2012 - gfish wrote: 92 Points
This is drinking brilliantly. The tannins have smoothed out, most primary (but not all) fruitiness has faded, the tertiary flavors and aromas have come together. Wonderful balance and it worked very well with grilled steak. This has evolved nicely over the last couple of years and is in a great drinking window.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2012 - CADomer wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for just short of an hour, but this really needed about two hours to really show it's beauty. At first the brightness and fresh character of this wine stood out because of it's age, but with air this started to sing. Leather, spice and fresh blue berries transformed as carmalized fruit tones came forward without ever abandoning the flat out prettiness and extraordinary balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2012 - slanum wrote:
Quite red in color for an 11 year old wine. Really appealing though subtle aromas--oak has integrated and developed spice-like characteristics. There's still a nice fruit component on the palate, along with more mature flavors that seem petty well developed to me. Enjoyed this very much.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2012 - redwhiteandrich wrote: 90 Points
Infanticide. Musty nose of sweet strawberries and leather.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2012 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
My first bottle in a year and a half. Wonderful purity and balance on the palate. A great wine in the making. Should last for antother 20 - 30 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2012 - Enfant sauvage wrote: 91 Points
Very nice, and light on its feet. Oak present but becoming integrated. Lots of leather. Much more balanced and interesting than the vina ardanza of the same vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2011 - gfish wrote: 91 Points
Brought to New Years Eve dinner at Peruvian BYOB, paired with steak & lobster tail.
Developing really nicely with more mature flavors getting more prominent. I'm glad I have some more bottles but wish I bought a case when I had the chance. Really nice red cherry flavors, cedar and leather.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2011 - short and confused wrote: 90 Points
Dark red with some hints of orange. Nose more restrained than my first two bottles. Medium bodied with notes red cherry, tobacco and leather. Soft lingering finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2011 - Siggy wrote: 90 Points
Picked up this current release after trying a few excellent bottles of the 1998. Popped and poured. Started a bit slow, but steadily added density and complexity in the glass. Lovely mid-weight cherry fruit, a touch of molasses and woodsmoke, earth, baking spices, and dried herbs that build to a moderately long, graceful finish. Elegant, balanced acidity. Seems likely to be a good intermediate-term ager. Classic, even ultra-traditional in style, with no evident oak. Perhaps not quite as good as the 1998 -- the texture isn't quite as silky -- but it's really close.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2011 - steffenpelz wrote:
After my last bottle was corked, this one fortunately showed well. 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho, and the rest Mazuelo and Graciano. Lovely wine that I opened to go with a dinner of Spanish Cheeses, Serrano Ham, and broiled Shrimp. What makes this wine so good with cheese and Serrano ham is its amazing acidity. Dark plum and red berry fruit with tons of earth, crushed rock, and tree bark on the palate. Silky texture and long finish. Textbook Lopez de Heredia style that emphasizes finesse and elegance, but (at least in this case) does not neglect power, concentration, and laser focus of fruit. A bottle of Rioja that I could never quite own enough of. Although I don't think this is a truly intellectual wine (to drink by itself and be in awe of), I do think this wine begs to be served with food and shows its best in exactly that way.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2011 - EMichels wrote: 87 Points
Nice licorice nose; Medium body; Solid
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2011 - pinothoarder wrote:
Decanted 3 hours and consumed over a 7 hour evening. Went head-to-head against a 2001 La Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva Especial (90 pts). Where the Ardanza began to open up slightly at hour 5 - 7, this one remained tight as a clam all night long. Good flavor intensity that paired very well with grilled ribeye, but the nose is really shut down. No risk in holding, and who knows, in another 5 years this could really blossom. I won't officially score it for at least 3 years from now, but I would say it's in the 87-88 range now, with a possible future potential into the 90 - 92 range. Time will tell.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2011 - tdelorme wrote:
A very enjoyable bottle of wine, and a lot of wine for the money. Mature and seductive, it entices the palate as well as the heart and mind. Nose of red fruit, earth, mulling spice with a touch of orange and green vegetables. Mellow, smooth dark cherry with a bit of earth, tobacco and cedar. Doesn't show a lot of fruit up front, but it is there on the mid-palate and finish. You can find flaws if you want to, but I think this provokes thought and comfort, which most wines in theis price range fail to do at this level.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2011 - wineshlub wrote: 91 Points
Opened an hour ahead of time. Cherry, tobacco aromas. Light and delicate flavors of cherry and lemon, nice lemony finish. More complex than my lame description indicates, this is really good, really classic tempranillo. Great structure, beautiful flavors, still tastes like a youngster at 10 years old.
The CT drinking window at the time this note was written says to drink this by 2010. That's premature, to say the least. Not only is this going strong in 2011, it's probably still on the up slope.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2011 - pepeelvis wrote:
A couple of my bottles have been off even though they have been stored very well. Wine seems to be losing fruit quickly. I hope this is a bottle problem and not a vintage one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2011 - DoubleMagnum wrote: 90 Points
Mature, complex, masculine. This is a wine to think about.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2011 - Garver32 wrote: 62 Points
Skunked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2011 - up4wine wrote: 89 Points
Very well balanced and integrated. Smooth, even fruit from beginning to end of every taste. I wholly agree with other reviewers who note lightness of touch in the winemaking. Nothing heavy handed in the flavor and still fresh and lively.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2011 - salil wrote: 91 Points
Drinking beautifully right now with gentle, elegant red fruited flavours framed by developed leather, cedar and herbal elements. There's a sense of real finesse and a lightness of touch here, lovely balance and this is a wine I really should get some of.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2011 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Delicious as usual, well balanced, lighter style rioja, perfect with appetizers at Mixteco.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2011 - christophee Likes this wine: 89 Points
Transparent ruby with lite/medium viscosity in the glass. Soft nose of black cherry, must and secondary cedar. Medium/lite bodied with soft red fruit and dusty tannin on the palate. I decided to pair it with spicy tacos where it showed an appealing acid structure and pop of cherry cola. Nice! Medium finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2011 - BullseyeOregon wrote:
Decanted for one hour. Great aroma of red fruit that is very inviting. First sip introduced an odd flavor of bitter orange peel. After a bit the flavors were more tame. Nice tart fruit that was finished with a dry, tannic finish. The wine was a bit austere alone. However, with a meal of duck confit, it was ideal. The wine grew more intriguing after a few hours. Old world/Old school -- very satisfying.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2011 - herberto wrote: 92 Points
This is just so tasty. Fresh and light on its feet, really transporting in its sense of place.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2011 - don_quichotte wrote: 90 Points
Seriously nice. Earth, spice and some red/black fruit. Nice mouthfeel and density. Really like this. Will last for at least 5 more years (and possibly quite a bit more than this)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2011 - Foster wrote: flawed
CORKED. Disappointing as I think this would have been very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2010 - RKatzDO wrote: flawed
Corked. Very inconsistent bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2010 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Delicious ripe cherry, pepper, spice flavors. Nicely paired with chicken and white bean chile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2010 - Yamadori wrote: 88 Points
Consistent with previous TN. Drinking very nicely without any signs of decline. Great acidity give this a very clean, refreshing mouthfeel. Medium bodied with nice red cherry fruit, earthiness and a little spice on the finish. Great QPR. No rush to drink these as it should last a while longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2010 - rojoloco wrote: 90 Points
Classic old style Rioja. Not much heft to it, more like Pinot weight. A reticent nose but pleasant on the palate. Not much life left in it but nice now. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2010 - tantotinto wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with previous note.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2010 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
I have had four bottles since I purchased this in August of 2009 and each bottle is better than the previous. Last night's was outstanding. Round and delicious on the palate. Beautifully balanced and pure. Delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2010 - johnnyo wrote: 90 Points
Very nice. Rustic medium bodied with restrained notes red cherry, cloves, tobacco leaves toasted cedar and a hint of brett that gave it a little more old world character. Nicely balanced with a finish that lingered soft and smoothly. Paired wonderfully with Paella mixta.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2010 - tantotinto wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with previous note. Our first bottle in eight months.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2010 - Faryan wrote: 91 Points
Tempranillo tasting (Weygandt Wines, DC): A refined nose with a nice pitch. hints of sweet spice and cherry. With more air, the sweet spice (nutmeg, cardamom) continues to flourish. Lots of lovely red fruit on the palate with a smooth and delicate finish. A high quality wine in a good drinking place.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2010 - manonthemoon wrote: 89 Points
Nose of cherry, funk, spices. Palate of sour red cherry, red raspberry, funk.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2010 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 90 Points
Dios, Mio, Tempranillo! (Weygandt Wines - Washington, D.C.): light ruby colored. i get nutmeg and christmas spices on the nose. very elegant. smooth and wonderfully silky. rich fruit, and some obvious oak, but the elements have come together in a smooth and balanced way. soft, lingering finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2010 - kenito799 wrote: 91 Points
Beautifully aromatic, cherry, forest floor, rich oak in that good Rioja way. Light to medium body and wonderfully silky. Extremely long finish. Cherry and herbal, floral notes come and go as this changes in the glass and on the palate. Amazing experience, wonderful at this price. Why don't I have more of this? Drinking so well now, I was expecting something tasting younger but this is pretty great right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2010 - VinoPKM wrote: 92 Points
So good and tasty- such a great ~$30 bottle of wine. Highly recommend- great with or without food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2010 - Harley1199 Likes this wine:
Drunk at Haro. After one hour taking a breath. Cherry colour for a wonderful nose plenty of cinnamon, sandalwood, clove and, of course, vanilla aromas. Lovely meaty. Still a high acidity that is needing more time to intrigate. What a vintage! I can hardly wait for next Viña Tondonia 01. This bottle, at this point, close to perfection. Outstanding.
Bebido en Haro. Después de una hora respirando. Color cereza para una maravillosa nariz llena de aromas a canela, sandalo, clavo y, por supuesto, vainilla. Ricamente cárnico. Por su alta acidez necesita mas tiempo. Menuda añada! Casi no puedo esperar para el siguiente Viña Tondonia 01. Esta botella, en este punto, cerca de la perfección. Un señor vino.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2010 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
We really like this rioja, and it is very drinkable now. Lots of cherry fruit, some earth, in an old world style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2010 - Yamadori wrote: 89 Points
Nice nose of dark cherry and a little cigar box and earthiness. Light to medium bodied with lots of sour cherries and a little cranberry. Very good acidity and minerality. Finish is medium with a little black tea and spice at the very end. Tannins were well integrated. On day 2 it had added a little weight and drank just as nicely. Very good wine which should drink nicely for several years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2010 - Cheryl wrote:
TWERPS World Cup Blind Tasting (La Cave a Fromage, London): Sherried nose, shoe polish. No.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/12/2010 - baerie wrote: 88 Points
One of my favorite Rioja producers, but the 2001 left a bit to be desired. A little flat, with earth tones and ripe cherries, but not the nose of some more notable vintages of this wine. Will drink again, but prefer other vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2010 - gfish wrote: 90 Points
Had it with dry rub grilled pork chops.
Initial funk on the nose and palate. That blows off and resolved after about 1 hour. Good smokey cherries, a nice earthy component, some leather and some nice flavors of aging. Good balance to this wine and it seems like it can age for a while longer which should not be surprising since it is a gran reserve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2010 - joshbryer wrote:
Somber nose of dark red fruit, sweet soil, but marred by oak and a bit of heat. Tightly coiled primary flavors with more dark fruits, iron and finishing earthiness. This is young to be sure, but the oak treatment is apparent and while I would expect it to integrate further with time, this is not as much my style as the more resrved Tondonia.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2010 - soyhead wrote: 92 Points
nose - sour cherry, red fruit, earth. fragrant
mouth- drinking gorgeous and oh so smooth at the moment - very mellow. mostly it reminds me of visne, ie sour cherry, esp on the midpalate and finish. reminds me of my aunt's sour cherry jams. i also get coconut. good acidity, and still with considerable tannins. This is a fine wine in the sense of elegance. Not at all a blockbuster, but a terrifically balanced beverage and great accompaniment to food. I may be scoring it conservatively
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2010 - aischill wrote:
Mother's Day 2010
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2010 - hkoben wrote: 90 Points
The definition of a balanced wine. Garnet color, light, almost transparent top edge. Paired with a range of appetizers - cheese, chorizo, nuts. Not flashy, just very, very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2010 - pepeelvis wrote:
beautiful medium body classic rioja. Drinking well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2010 - awinestory wrote: 90 Points
color: garnet, especially around the rim, thin watery white miniscus, medium transparency
nose: med+ intensity, very carmelized fruit nose of dried/burnt cherries, tea leaves, toffee,
palate: dry, acid is lively med+ tannin soft and low, body med alc est 13 (it is 13), finish is med+ and tar, chewey toffee, dried cherries, stewed red fruit ...
This is an obvioously older wine from its color and palate ... It has finesse and a good structure despite its near decade, med+ length, good concentration of fruit and integration of elements such as acid, oak, which allowed it to age for so long Complexity of flavors, combined with its abillity to have improved with age, and its typicity, mark it as a quality wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2010 - salil wrote: 91 Points
Awesome stuff that hooks you in with its aromatics; bright cherries accented by subtle leather, smoky and floral notes. Light on its feet and very elegant with a polished, suave texture and the acidity giving the flavours a sense of incredible freshness. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2010 - brian przyzycki wrote: 91 Points
There arn't too many $25 dollar Riojas out there so I was excited to try this one. Nice brick color with a little age on the rim. Gave it a 2 hour decant. Muted nose but beautiful tart cherry, oak, sherry flavors. Perfect balance. (which always merits a high score for me.) A little on the thin side, but you have to expect that from tempranillo. Lovely wine. Served with garlic lime flank steaks. This is a great wine to stock up on as it pairs nicely with food.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2010 - zinhead wrote:
This was cool. Floral, herbal with red fruit. Very pronounced nose. Full bodied with long length. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2010 - JJKinch wrote: 92 Points
Slightly light brownish red. Some cherry, spice, earth, slight tobacco - really well balanced and well integrated - really enjoyable. Great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2010 - amateurwino wrote:
Showing similarly to the 2000 Tondonia Reserva, with a little more intensity, if a bit less finesse. Fuller, rounder red fruits here, perhaps a little broader and a shade simpler. Better than my last taste of this. 92+ A little soy sauce on the nose with the round red fruits, with a little time in the glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2010 - ezsobre wrote: 92 Points
Nose of red fruits, earth, dried herbs. Well-balanced and lighter on the palate than a typical rioja, with the same elements as on the nose as well as sour cream and spice. Tannins were restrained, lacking the dusty tannic finish of some Riojas. Delicious all around.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2010 - rhit wrote: 92 Points
Semi-transparent brownish red in the glass. The nose reminded me of something from the Rhone - garrigue, dried herbs, earthy fruit. It was relatively light and lively on the palate, with some iron and sappier fruit. It was simply delicious from beginning to end. Fantastic, especially for the money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2010 - steffenpelz wrote:
Just as riveting as the CVNE Imperial Reserva. Lighter on its feet than the Imperial, but incredibly explosive on the palate. Perfect balance, amazing finesse, lovely elegance. Spice, red fruits, earth, dried herbs. This Rioja is simply phenomenal and will last for many more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2010 - djdaqm wrote: 91 Points
There's something about these wines that really appeals to me, and every time I smell and drink one I'm transported to Rioja. The classic woody nose, that's a bit tough, but delicate at the same time. The smooth feel yet slightly tart, light, and finessed taste (maybe a bit thin or glassy). To me it's got great balance, isn't over the top in concentration, or juiciness or oak, and is great by itself or with a nice meal. All that and for the price (under $30), you get a 9 year-old wine that clearly defines it's region.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2010 - ashegedyn Likes this wine: 90 Points
Second time in a week. Nice medium intensity cherry, leather and damp cellar on the nose. On taste an intense beam of juicy cherry fruit. Nice balance with the acidity and the tannins seem well integrated. A decent finish with the flavors lingering for a long time. Great wine and a steal at the price point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2010 - BailliSacks wrote: 90 Points
Delicious LdH. Tight cherry fruit, notes of dry earth, grass, preserved lemon. Light through the middle ("transparent" said Scott), allowing access to all the flavors. Great with food or without.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2010 - drwine2001 wrote:
Black fruit and black licorice with pine overlay. This is really dry with a lot of acid grip and tar at the back of the palate. It manages to eke out a small amount of fruit with time, but overall, the impression remains harsh and ungenerous. No charm at this point.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2010 - rbishop wrote: 88 Points
This one was not as good as the others I have had. More fruit, less complexity - a bit linear. Still pleasant though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2010 - tantotinto wrote: 89 Points
Served at 63 degrees without decanting. Translucent dark ruby in color. Nose of red fruit and earth. Acidic. Medium weight. Restrained tannins. Tart cherry and spice. It opens up and the fruit moves more forward as the evening rolls on. Very good wine. Will buy more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2010 - Biggsy wrote: 92 Points
Light garnet. Chinese five spice, leather and sweet tomato juice on the nose, maybe a hint of va which only adds to the fine burgundian quality. Light, but round and very persistent with juicy cherry, cranberry, tobacco and a mature gaminess. Great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2010 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 91 Points
Plummy on the nose, deep and rich, slightly nutty, minerals; fullish, dry but rounded, rich, well-structured, tannins slightly drying; good length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2009 - amateurwino wrote: 90 Points
Tasted a bit different from when I tasted this at the store, but nonetheless is showing very classic Lopez de Heredia profile - cigar box, exotic spice, very slight gaminess/band aid. The acidity is higher and more tangy than I remembered; to the point of being a shade harsh if sipped alone on day 1. On day 2, smoother on its own, and most of all, the acid worked well with food (coq au vin with mushrooms, mashed potatoes in this case) - cutting through nicely. As the night wore on, the spice became more aromatic. Enjoyable now if you give it some time to open, but on the whole I would recommend to cellar this - in this I can see the hints of what this will become - showed commonalities with the '76 I tasted a few months ago, at a very young stage. 90 now, up to 92ish many years down the road.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2009 - dejanp wrote: flawed
I returned this wine to K&L as corked, but the guy there said it was not. Assuming so, this wine is really as close to corked as it could get. It had a brownish red (well it is 8yr old) color, pretty light and clear though, and it had some smokiness. If it was not corked this must have been extremely wet wood taste with some lightly smoky aroma (ala port) but still the ugliest Rioja I ever had. I hope it was corked. The K&L guy gave me two different bottles as replacement, and the one I had first - $10 cheaper then this wine - was really good with nice acidity mid-heavy weight and sweet tannins. It's called Vigna Magna, crianza from Ribera del duero vintage 2002. (Editor's note: marking as flawed)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2009 - slippytoad wrote: 84 Points
Found it hard to drink: acidic and bright with sickly almost barnyardy fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2009 - spacewrangler wrote: 90 Points
Took about 30-60 minutes to open but once it did, revealed the feminine/silky texture I've come to associate with Bosconia. Bouquet seemed more complex than the palate, but the fruit was beautiful with oak playing a supporting role at this young stage of the wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2009 - VinoPKM wrote: 92 Points
Killer wine. Highly recommend- went great with Turkey and Ham on Thanksgiving.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2009 - Rupert wrote: 85 Points
An evening of López de Heredia wines (Islington, London): Round, fresh, but indistinct boiled sweet red fruit nose, tired and sickly, I thought
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2009 - ekenneth wrote: 90 Points
Burgundy-like acid, with distinctively Spanish woody tannin and a light palate of smoked cranberries and a green element; like curley parsley or fennel fronds.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2009 - amateurwino wrote: 92 Points
What can you say about this - required drinking from one of the most indispensable producers on the planet. This is showing gorgeous juicy red fruit and woodspice on both the nose and the palate; oak is showing right now making this feel more modern than you expect from Lopez de Heredia, but underneath you can taste the spice, tobacco, leather and earth that will really come out when this has age on it. A slight porty oxidative hint showed on the nose, but I'm not worried given the house style - I know this will last. Palatewise, I could completely draw the connection between this and a 1976 Bosconia Gran Reserva tasted several weeks ago. Delicious now too though, so at the price this goes for, I may just have to drink at least one every year to follow this. 92+.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2009 - Aiko165 wrote: 92 Points
Delicious. Drank with Beef stew and comped with Conterno '97 and Croix de Beucailliuy '05.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2009 - pbjosh wrote: 90 Points
Slow to open on night one. It is fairly concentrated and dark for Bosconia, with a nose that remains fresh despite the oxidative wine making. Juicy dark fruit cut by piercing acidity on the palate. A lengthy finish with plenty of acid again. I bit tight / light on the palate. On night two this is much more open, the fruit is much more developed and it is clearly improved. Sappy red fruits, woodsy aromas, sweet rich penetrating palate and persistant sweet red fruit and cinnamon on the finish. If you like Bosconia, this appears to be a great vintage in the making, as would be anticipated, and should provide a long future of great drinking. I'll put away a stash and forget about them for 5-10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2009 - Hazeo wrote: 90 Points
After reading much about this producer, I had to experience it for myself. The promise of old world rustic wine-making is alluring to me.
Very dark hued with a hint of brown. Medium bodied … its not rich in fruit, but definitely not light. A bit acidic upon opening, but blew off a little with air.
I really like the nose of damp earth, but on the palette it felt relatively simple. There's some sweet fruit and rustic minerals, but otherwise a little boring. The balance is there, and very smooth with no tannins sticking out … I can see this gaining a burgundian elegance with age, just not sure it'll be particularly complex. Finish was a little short and a bit tart, but weighty and tasty. As far as flavour go it is right up my alley with its mix of tobacco, cedar and spices, but I feel the acidity needs to tone down a bit and for more subtle flavours to reveal themselves to be outstanding. 88
Day 2 - Acidity became integrated and the finish has become smoother while retaining the nice animal earth and spice notes. Excellent. 90
Day 3 - Still going strong, but less elegant and brawny tannins seem to be taking over.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2009 - Manus wrote: 87 Points
Bareled for 6 years in old oak which is much longer than the regulation required in Rioja (which is three years maturation of which one year must be in cask). It is pale brick red in colour. Have soft strawberry flavour. With its low acidity and low tannins, this is an easy drinking wine. However, if you like wine which is full-bodied or having more complex flavour, then this wine probably wouldn't fit you!
More details for comparing traditional style Rioja and modern style Rioja in below URLs.
http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/hkwine-blog/article?mid=1
http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/hkwine-blog/article?mid=5
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2009 - baroloboy55 wrote: 91 Points
Excellent bottle. dusty, mature nose, sweet core of fruit. Very fine botte
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2009 - Joe_Montana wrote: 88 Points
Bien con la aireación.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2009 - Eric Guido wrote: 89 Points
The nose seems a little advanced but with Plum, beef stock, Caramel, vanilla and a bit of charred wood. On the palate it shows cranberry fruit with rose petals and minerally earth. A medium bodied wine that seems really tight right now with a lot of acidity. It seems to shut down your palate a bit and didn't go very well with the food on this night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2009 - djdaqm wrote: 90 Points
España Tasting (Wine Exchange. Orange, CA): Translucent ruby/orange color. Lots of aged wood on the nose. Not as thin as the previous wine (Heredia Vina Cubillo Crianza 2003)--more extracted. Tastes a little like pickled fruits with some woodiness. Would be very complementary to a meal. Good length, finesse and classic old-world Rioja style. Could use a little more punch and extraction, but for $30 it seems like a good QPR if you want to learn about this region. (This is the current release--2001 in 2009).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2009 - cenberra21 wrote: 83 Points
Rather disappointing. Weak nose and even weaker taste. Just not my style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2009 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 89 Points
Much better showing than my last bottle. The flavor is still simple and a little stripped, but the suavity of the texture alone makes it something compelling enough to keep coming back to.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2009 - jhannah27 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted but drank immediately. Soft cherry and sweet spice with a nice blend of dusty earth and leather on the nose. This carries over onto the palate with sauteed mushrooms and a touch of molasses out of the finish. Still holding a nice acidic zip to it, but not enough that I would feel comfortable sitting on this for more than another couple of years. While it did improve with air on night one, I left half of it in the bottle for the next day and it had fallen apart quite a bit (however it was warm that day and so sitting on the counter in an 80-85 degree house probably was the culprit here). Interesting to me how I found a lot of the same characteristics in this wine that the previous tasters did, but found it to be utterly feminine, elegant, flavorful and enjoyable. Great QPR and I will definitely buy again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2009 - Joe_Montana wrote: 84 Points
Algo falto de persistencia por eso penaliza.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2009 - Yagil wrote: 92 Points
Even better. Similar to an old classic Barolo.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2009 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 82 Points
Maybe I've been spoiled by too many Gran Reservas, but I found this bottle a disappointment. It has the elegant, streamlined texture I love about Bosconia, but it didn't offer much else beyond that. In the GRs that texture serves as the feminine veneer to something rich and evocative underneath, but here there just isn't much there, just soft apply fruit. Probably that would not have bothered me so much if it didn't also taste slightly oxidized and tainted by volatile acidity. I will give my other bottles a few months to rest and hope they show better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2009 - admid wrote: 89 Points
Red brownish color
Horse, stable and autumn fruit on the nose
Taste: strong acidity, animalic and ripe fruits
Pretty lingering
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2009 - rbazinet wrote:
Soft flowery nose. A spicy wine with pretty strong cherries, oak and more subtle cloves on the tongue. I am getting a slightly sour bite mid-palate. This is an interesting wine. Could be a 90 pointer, but a bit disjointed. I would like to try another bottle before scoring this one. Maybe others can comment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2008 - Double-A Likes this wine: 88 Points
Cherry, nut, leather, earth, mineral and cinnamon nose. Medium-bodied with good acidity and very good flavour replays to finish.
3.5/5
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment