Not sure there is a more elegant Rioja Gran Reserva than these. The latest of many vintages. It is comparable only to itself. Grand indeed. In its own way. A Zurbarán still life / naturaleza muerta in a glass.
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Pronounced nose of dark plum, red plum. Quite primary on day one but on day two the developing tertiary aromas merged of tobacco, leather, mushroom. Medium bodied on the palate, medium + acid. Less concentration of flavor on the palate than on the nose - perhaps medium +. Medium + tanning and medium + finish. A little hard to conclude on this. There are a lot of interesting components in a restrained package, but feel like it lacks some balance and concentration. It will certainly last longer but not sure it will necessarily improve from here.
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Simply amazing wine! Best so far (and unfortunately last :( ). Text book example of what good classic Rioja can be. Wish I had more. No smell of barn in my bottle :)
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Watching wild card games. Mold on cork and came out pretty easy with no pop and cork pushed in slightly. Bad signs but wine okay with light bouquet. Flavor and fruit was slight but over two hours got a lot better. My last bottle was last year, and then I said astringent, but not today. Very nice and also pretty in glass. Will try tomorrow and see if it held up. Does not drink like a 18 year old wine. Other reviewers say it can go another 10-15 years but its real nice now. Didn't detect prominent tannins like other reviewers have. Next day and wine is still good with no strange or off flavors. Fruit too has jumped forward slightly. I would have this now. This feels like a different wine than I had last year. Don't know if it improved or 2022 bottle off.
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2005 Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja Cellared since purchase on release in 2010 Drank on Oct 21, 2020 Double decanted for 90 minutes
Purple in the glass with very slight lightening at the rim. Nose of cherry fruit, tobacco, and leather. The wine was medium to full body, with cherry fruit of purity and depth with a definite youthful quality in the mouth. There was oak and tannin conferring structure, excellent balance and freshness, along with a 20+ second finish.
This is a young Gran Reserva Rioja just developing secondary characteristics. I believe it has a 15-20 year drinking window ahead as ascends through its maturity Cellared since purchase on release in 2010 .
93 Points now; and potential for –95 points with age
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Cork almost pushed down into bottle but i was able to extract it. It was slightly soft and narrow but pop was solid, and wine was just fine. Now, there was next to nothing in fruit, and wine was astringent, so I should have disliked this...but I didn't. Was soft but very smooth. Astringent taste came upon initial sip but faded into background and wasn't detracting. Very balanced and totally food friendly. Fruit now showing up after half hour in glass. Nice soft acidity with this. Can understand why some would consider past prime and on decline, but this was a soft (but not flabby) and balanced wine. Now one hour later. Nice brightness, tart flavor. Sour cherry? Piccolopaulo nailed garnet with tawny rim description. While finish is short the brightness persists for just under five minutes. If you have any I would drink up now, as I'm not sure where this will be within next five years.
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Really nice. Never had I guessed if drank blind that this is 17 years old wine. Has many many years still ahead. Will drink my last bottle in 2024 or 2025.
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Acker Auction BYO (Craft NYC): From 3.0L. Brutally young and primary in this format. Aromas are all cherry vanilla. Ripe, bright, pure and primary fruit but just not at all nuanced yet and with harsh structure. Needs a few decades in this format.
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Enjoyed this wine once again, with 7 yrs more age this time! Decanted for 2-3 hrs. Color of garnet with a tawny rim. Nose full of complexity: initially black Licorice, graphite and clove. Then came lots of dried fig, some briar, chocolate, and oregano, all wrapped with fresh red cherries. Medium body & acidity with chewy tannins and a lengthy finish. This wine has superb balance and is drinking very well now. Likely at peak for another few yrs. Fruit is already quite a bit less concentrated than 7 yrs ago...secondary notes take center stage. Cheers!
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One hour decant. Rubber, leather, kirsch, cherry, vanilla, sandlewood and clove. Smooth and well integrated tannins. Firm acidity. Short finish. The 2005 Imperial appears to be at or near its peak, but is structured such that it will hold for another decade or so. Drink or hold.
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Noticeably fresher and younger than the 2005 Prado Enea I drank last night. Nice acidity and pretty firm but fine-grained tannins. Roses and currants with some chocolate and black tea.
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Excellent and still very primary with a healthy dose of tannins and acidity. Not smooth and sensual like some traditional riojas, this is a very formal and masculine wine that is delicious in its own right. Needs more time to my taste.
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Strawberry on the nose; on the palate, currant, cherry, and plum, with notes of leather and tobacco, with light to moderate tannins and strong acidity on the medium to long finish. This is early in its drinking window, and should improve for several years. This was a good value at a little under $60.
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From Mag- popped and poured, although I would have preferred a long decant, this was immediately drinkable, full bodied, rounded well balanced fruit with no weak spots and a nice finish. Certainly a crowd pleaser that isn’t even in its prime and will last two decades easily. If you have a few, no need to wait. Quite enjoyable now.
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Nice fully matured (ruby with lighter edges) and rounded. At first, it seems somewhat simple with aromas of red cherry and hints of herbs and taste of ripe cherry. But changes/improves in the glass developing notes of "black" fruits like plumb and fig.
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SAQ N° 13004158 79$ Avec paella. Robe rubis aux reflets ocres. Bouquet toujours aussi invitant de boite à cigare, badiane, girofle léger, 4 épice. Bouche encore bien ample, tannins fins, acidité faible, jolis amers, un peu mocka. Encore bon pour un bon 10-20 ans. Celle-ci sortait peut-être plus moderne et boisée que mes précédentes. ***1/2
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With family at dinner in Washington DC after my uncle's unveiling. This was one of his wines. Storage in an apartment in a high rise in a closet without temperature control, but we have no idea when he bought it. There was a MacArthur Sale sticker on the back. Popped, decanted and poured. Followed for not too long because there were lots of us sharing it.
I really liked this wine. There was roasted meat with some smokiness and great breadth. Dark brooding red fruit. No real sign of age yet. Not a baby but hardly mature. I had a 45 year old one a few years ago that was perfect, so this has plenty of time left in it.
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First 2 hours, very light, thin and not much fruit but a beautiful crimson color. Tannic. But knew it would open up and it did. Gained weight. Muddled roses, barely ripe strawberries, leather. Earthy. Now cherries are coming in and then....it passed! Strong cherries for about 5 minutes and passed. Wow. Now back to leather. Softer and getting rounded. A bit of sourness. Bouquet of rose water. Minerality. very nice.
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Plenty of life in it yet black centre, damson rim. Not much nose, blackcurrant when it emerges. Still tannic and dry, medium weight, clear blackcurrant finish. Great with hard cheeses. Not fully mature yet. Worked well with lamb. Not yet subtle. Delicious, but more straightforward than expected.
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Judging by the notes of others this is a polarizing potion. By how I would define my likes generally, I would be on the anti side here, but I am not. It is oaky; it does have a raisiny character on the finish; but there is also a bright cherry that is really appealing and throttles down the vanilla and dried fruit pieces. It hangs together well, and I am happy to have a few bottles to enjoy.
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Dark centre, deep red translucent edges. Muted nose, hints of oak and leather. Disappointingly disjointed. Still quite young. Tannin still dominant, lacks the expected smoothness and richness of a mature Gran Reserva.
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From double magnum. Good old school, rustic Rioja. Strong red fruit. Will probably benefit from further bottle age and will wait until 2020+ before drinking anymore.
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Following a 2-hour decant, this wine showed good balance and excellent scope for improvement. The balance of cherry, leather and hints of oak were good but the secondary and tertiary notes were not present. This wine should benefit greatly from another three years of cellaring.
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Encore rebu en comparatif avec le superbe 2004...y`a pas photo, le 2004 est de loin plus complexe et satisfaisant que ce 2005. Nez timide sur les fruits noirs. En bouche, ample et dense mais beaucoup de chauffe. Un petit côté poivron qui nous dérange. Pourra t`il s`améliorer? Pas certain mais le 2004 lui, est un coup sur et il se bonfira pendant plusieurs années!
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This wine was similar in many ways to a previous bottle, although it had a bit more of a spicy oak component and came across a bit more juicy. I still maintain that this is a bit too dark in style for me though.
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Pour fête du beau-père, avec filet de lapin aux framboises. Notes similaires à la verticale du printemps dernier. Au début de son plateau, sur des notes de marmelade d'orange, d'anis et d'épices douces. D'un boisé bien identifiable mais discret, comme une musique de fond. S'est bue en un claquement de doigt. Super. ****
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Verticale CVNE SAQ 2016 Pluie hivernale, été sec. Millésime excellent. Plutôt méditerranéen. Toujours peu de signe de vieillissement au visuel. Au nez, là on jase: marmelade d'orange, réglisse, fin côté vanillé, épices douces, clou de girofle, fumée douce. Tannins structurants, bouche sur les pruneaux, belle longueur et profondeur. Clairement le meilleur vin de la soirée. À son zénith entre le fruit et le vieillissement. ****
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After drinking a fair bit of LRA wines lately I may be a bit too hard on this wine but I just found it to be too modern and clunky in style. The fruit is really dark in character and lacks that fresh juicy punch - it is also a bit too heavy, lacking a sense of charm and making some of the complexities of Reserva Rioja feel covered up. The classic Rioja notes are there if you listen hard and perhaps this wine will find its legs and soften up in the course of time
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Bouteille rapportée du vieux continent par un ami. Beaucoup plus sur un style moderne que le 2004 et même le 2007, nous est apparue simple et un brin lourd. Nez racolleur sur le bois, la réglisse et les fruits rouges. En bouche, ample et gras avec un boisé bien senti et des tannins fermes, impression de sucrosité, long et gommant. Constat mitigé en ce moment.
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Even after more than 10 years of aging, this wine had the structure to age even longer before reaching its prime. After two hours, this wine was hitting its peak, with rich black berries and dark plums up front. A mid-palate of cedar shavings and hints of vanilla gave way to softening tannins on the finish.
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A private tasting (Restaurant De Gieser Wildeman *, Noordeloos, Netherlands): Youthful colour, medium depth, hardly any browning; bright cherry fruit, hint of the stalks, fresh, good intensity, oak; youthful, ripe fruit, slightly lactic, firm tannins, modern, liquorice root, sweet, spices, good length. Does not live up to its billing.
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Black cherry, leather, vanilla, and earthy. Medium body. Excellent food wine. Paired well with Bob's barbecued chicken. Not decanted. Drinking well now.
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Bright ruby color turning violet at the rim with a nose of red and black fruits, vanilla, smoke and cola. The palate is bold, dry, full-bodied with a silky texture. Flavors of red cherry, currant, tobacco, dark chocolate and licorice form the core that's sharply intense and shoots through with a long, sustained finish adding hints of grilled meat, dried herbs, and sweet tannins. This is traditional Rioja at its best. Drink now with 30 minutes decant until 2030.
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Agree with previous notes. This wine was wonderful, but could be kept much longer. Rich, dark aromas of dark fruit, vanilla, leather and hint of spice to balance all wrapped up in a layered complex bouquet and palate.
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Friends brought this to a 10/4/14 Tempranillo tasting. It had a deep, complex and musty bouquet of black cherry, char, mocha, vanilla, herb and spice aromas. The palate was rich, powerful, layered and dry with flavors of black cherry, mocha, rose hip tea, vanilla, herb, and spice. Our group’s average score was 90.33...mine 91+
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Red rim, dark centre Little sediment. Classic nose, still quite tannic, so still maturing. Very popular amongst other drinkers. Full blackcurrant aftertaste. Good for at least five years.
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Upon opening the nose slowly comes to the surface. Deep rich ruby intense dark cherry flavors, toasted oak. Still showing some tannins and drinking beautifully.
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Deep ruby in colour. Dusty nose with elegantly managed oak followed by lively mixed berries and layered with spice, leather, tobacco and cured meat. Nicely concentrated with intriguing fruit and a velvety mouth-feel.
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before i proceed,let me emphasis tat wine bttl sip from different enviroment n different wine glass peform differently.pop n pour.soft structure.intense rich concentrated fruits.beautiful texture.focus.nice depth n complexity.sligthly over evident oak presence.aicidity cn b better here.tis bttl remind me flacianello 07.rather similiar style.(energy in fruits yet with elegance).conclusion:i reali njoy tis bttl.if with slightly less oak presence to my liking,wil score 1 more point here.
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A serious White Night, and some Reds thrown in for good measure (Extra Space): Pop and poured. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Long legs. Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with toasted vanilla oak and plums. Developing. On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium+ alcohol, high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of creamy vanilla oak and sweet red plums. Nice mouth-feel. Medium+ finish. Very good quality. Will improve with further ageing. Give it another 5-8 years before re-exploring.
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Cor rubi/ roxa escura. Nariz com aromas ainda focados na fruta, que remetem a amoras azedinhas, groselha e framboesa, boa nota terrosa, sutil traço de fina madeira, toque defumado e alguma mineralidade.. Encorpado e notavelmente equilibrado, tendo excelente acidez, fruta elegante e bela estrutura com taninos muito finos.. Já bem integrado e agradável, mas ainda isento de terciários. Outra só após 2017.. (91+)
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Friday Night Double Blind Tasting $40+ (Bin 75): Dark fruit, lots of vanilla, green quality; good texture with medium plus body, darker fruit on the palate, seemingly corked...on day two this was much better, open and expressive; good.
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Got oak and some toasty hints on the nose. The Tannins were quite young and danced around on my first taste but settled down and was a lot smoother towards the end.
Color was deep red/blackberry and I got a lot of dark berries oak and vanilla.
This wine will be even better in a few years so getting one to keep.
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A nose of lifted complexity, showing black cherries, stewed berries and figs, fennel, dill, mocha and a note of damp earth. Gorgeous and intoxicating. The palate is very lively. Signature Tempranillo tartness and perky acidity give this a really fresh beat. The tanins are still quite juvenile - all blustery and a bit showy. The structure is excellent but tanins are still a touch drying at this stage. Overall, this is fantastic grape juice, still in its youth and with enough pedigry and stuffing to become something quite special in middle age.
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Aussie Shiraz Tasting & Friday wine night at UE Straits (1855 and UE Straits Wine): Tasted blind. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Nose is clean and pronounced with oak dominated aroma. Medium acidity, lots of drying tannins, and a full body, with lots of flavours of primary red fruit, and creamy vanilla oak. Medium finish. With more air, sweet plum flavours emerged. I guessed a relatively young Rioja Gran Reserva. This will need a few more years to integrate.
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pop n pour.bttl decant 1 hr.nice structure n texture.cherry,plum,spice,slight earthy.traces of mineral n oak presence.elegance with power.nice balance.ting i dont like:slightly dry n rather short finish.tis bttl seriously nd time.another bttl deserve to collect.
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Stunning wine. Decanted for 2 hours and then savored over 2-3 hours. Beautiful dark ruby colour. Bouquet full of some of the greatest purity of fruit I have ever tasted. Herbaceous notes of oregano and thyme as well. More subtle notes on the bouquet include cedar box and saddle leather, likely to emerge over time. Palate is loaded with 70% cocoa, blackberry, dark cherry and red currant bringing a medium acidity and tannins that are a little grippy as this wine is still young. Overall, this is one of the most balanced wines I have had in a long time. No wonder this producer just won the Wine of the Year for 2013 from WS. The 2005 impresses from start to finish. Can't wait to see what 5-7 years does to it in the cellar!
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This was fabulous. Showing amazing grace, finesse, and elegance while maintaining good power and concentration on the palate. The nose was beautiful as well. Finish was medium+. IMO, this will be every bit as good as the 2001 and 2004. This was drinking beautifully, but is still so young in its development.
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Donkerpaars. In de geur specerijen, donker fruit, eikenhout, vanille, tabak. Goede concentratie, romig rijp fruit en een mooie frisheid. Stevige, geïntegreerde tannines, mediumlang tot lang aanhoudend.
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dark colour, purple n - initially very oaky, left overnight becomes tobacco & leather t - rich, a little impenetrable at 1st but opens up over night lots of supple tannins, long oaky finish, meaty and leather lots here, really needs time & def. food we ate it with slow roast shoulder of lamb and it went well give it 5-10 years
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85% Tempranillo with 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo from over 20 year old vines all grown in Rioja Alta around Villalba and Haro. Aged for 36 months in 70% French and 30% American oak. Dark, inky ruby in colour. A mix of dark black fruit and damson leading the way to pronounced scents of leather, tobacco, tar and wet leaves. Dense and bold yet accessable and exuberant despite the high concentration. Rich tannins are far away from being aggressive. Long lasting and has a very good potential to age.
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Having dinner with Puri. If compared with last Bordon GR 05, this had a darker colour, a mineral nose, a tannic palate. Overall this is a bottle for the patient, for those that have time to let it develop in ten years or so. Funny those low scores...
Cenando con Puri. Comparado con el último Bordon GR 05, tenía un color más oscuro, una nariz mineral, una boca tánica. Sobretodo esta es una botella para los pacientes, para aquellos que tienen tiempo para dejarla evolucionar en diez años o así. Divertidas esas bajas puntuaciones...
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4/12/2024 - Carlo Sarto wrote:
Not sure there is a more elegant Rioja Gran Reserva than these. The latest of many vintages. It is comparable only to itself. Grand indeed. In its own way. A Zurbarán still life / naturaleza muerta in a glass.
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3/31/2024 - OmiyaDrinker wrote: 91 Points
Pronounced nose of dark plum, red plum. Quite primary on day one but on day two the developing tertiary aromas merged of tobacco, leather, mushroom. Medium bodied on the palate, medium + acid. Less concentration of flavor on the palate than on the nose - perhaps medium +. Medium + tanning and medium + finish. A little hard to conclude on this. There are a lot of interesting components in a restrained package, but feel like it lacks some balance and concentration. It will certainly last longer but not sure it will necessarily improve from here.
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3/2/2024 - ProfByron Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice bright colour, very good for 19 years.
Baffling aromas. Yes American Oak in a classic Rioja acid style (not coconut) but different from La Rioja Alta.
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2/3/2024 - Lemmy-W Likes this wine: 96 Points
Simply amazing wine! Best so far (and unfortunately last :( ). Text book example of what good classic Rioja can be. Wish I had more. No smell of barn in my bottle :)
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3/4/2023 - Cmellison Likes this wine: 95 Points
Delicious with earth and old barn taste. Not as elegant as the 2001 vintage but a unique wine from a fantastic producer.
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1/15/2023 - pmarlo wrote:
Watching wild card games. Mold on cork and came out pretty easy with no pop and cork pushed in slightly. Bad signs but wine okay with light bouquet. Flavor and fruit was slight but over two hours got a lot better. My last bottle was last year, and then I said astringent, but not today. Very nice and also pretty in glass. Will try tomorrow and see if it held up. Does not drink like a 18 year old wine. Other reviewers say it can go another 10-15 years but its real nice now. Didn't detect prominent tannins like other reviewers have.
Next day and wine is still good with no strange or off flavors. Fruit too has jumped forward slightly. I would have this now. This feels like a different wine than I had last year. Don't know if it improved or 2022 bottle off.
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10/21/2022 - PITT Wine Guy Likes this wine: 93 Points
2005 Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja
Cellared since purchase on release in 2010
Drank on Oct 21, 2020
Double decanted for 90 minutes
Purple in the glass with very slight lightening at the rim. Nose of cherry fruit, tobacco, and leather.
The wine was medium to full body, with cherry fruit of purity and depth with a definite youthful quality in the mouth. There was oak and tannin conferring structure, excellent balance and freshness, along with a 20+ second finish.
This is a young Gran Reserva Rioja just developing secondary characteristics. I believe it has a 15-20 year drinking window ahead as ascends through its maturity Cellared since purchase on release in 2010
.
93 Points now; and potential for –95 points with age
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10/21/2022 - F_&_M wrote: 91 Points
Delicious now but could age more. Too bad it was my last bottle.
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5/11/2022 - pmarlo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cork almost pushed down into bottle but i was able to extract it. It was slightly soft and narrow but pop was solid, and wine was just fine. Now, there was next to nothing in fruit, and wine was astringent, so I should have disliked this...but I didn't. Was soft but very smooth. Astringent taste came upon initial sip but faded into background and wasn't detracting. Very balanced and totally food friendly. Fruit now showing up after half hour in glass. Nice soft acidity with this. Can understand why some would consider past prime and on decline, but this was a soft (but not flabby) and balanced wine.
Now one hour later. Nice brightness, tart flavor. Sour cherry? Piccolopaulo nailed garnet with tawny rim description. While finish is short the brightness persists for just under five minutes. If you have any I would drink up now, as I'm not sure where this will be within next five years.
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3/11/2022 - Lemmy-W wrote: 92 Points
Really nice. Never had I guessed if drank blind that this is 17 years old wine. Has many many years still ahead. Will drink my last bottle in 2024 or 2025.
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9/10/2021 - Nanda wrote:
Acker Auction BYO (Craft NYC): From 3.0L. Brutally young and primary in this format. Aromas are all cherry vanilla. Ripe, bright, pure and primary fruit but just not at all nuanced yet and with harsh structure. Needs a few decades in this format.
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9/10/2021 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Acker's COVID-Vaccinated BYO Dinner and Auction Simulcast (Craft - New York NY): Small glass, brief note. Decanted, but not for enough time. Lots here and very powerful, but also more tannic than I could enjoy.
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1/30/2021 - Piccolopaulo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Enjoyed this wine once again, with 7 yrs more age this time! Decanted for 2-3 hrs. Color of garnet with a tawny rim. Nose full of complexity: initially black Licorice, graphite and clove. Then came lots of dried fig, some briar, chocolate, and oregano, all wrapped with fresh red cherries. Medium body & acidity with chewy tannins and a lengthy finish. This wine has superb balance and is drinking very well now. Likely at peak for another few yrs. Fruit is already quite a bit less concentrated than 7 yrs ago...secondary notes take center stage. Cheers!
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11/14/2020 - Winefeld wrote: 92 Points
One hour decant. Rubber, leather, kirsch, cherry, vanilla, sandlewood and clove. Smooth and well integrated tannins. Firm acidity. Short finish. The 2005 Imperial appears to be at or near its peak, but is structured such that it will hold for another decade or so. Drink or hold.
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7/31/2020 - nywine68 wrote: 93 Points
Noticeably fresher and younger than the 2005 Prado Enea I drank last night. Nice acidity and pretty firm but fine-grained tannins. Roses and currants with some chocolate and black tea.
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11/18/2019 - BillBell73 Likes this wine:
Excellent and still very primary with a healthy dose of tannins and acidity. Not smooth and sensual like some traditional riojas, this is a very formal and masculine wine that is delicious in its own right. Needs more time to my taste.
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7/15/2019 - RichardP wrote: 92 Points
Strawberry on the nose; on the palate, currant, cherry, and plum, with notes of leather and tobacco, with light to moderate tannins and strong acidity on the medium to long finish. This is early in its drinking window, and should improve for several years. This was a good value at a little under $60.
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4/1/2019 - Lemmy-W wrote: 93 Points
beautiful traditional Rioja. Despite of drinking nicely already, has plenty of drinking window left.
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12/14/2018 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 93 Points
From Mag- popped and poured, although I would have preferred a long decant, this was immediately drinkable, full bodied, rounded well balanced fruit with no weak spots and a nice finish. Certainly a crowd pleaser that isn’t even in its prime and will last two decades easily. If you have a few, no need to wait. Quite enjoyable now.
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12/2/2018 - npettit wrote: 90 Points
Drinking now
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11/25/2018 - martin_e wrote: 92 Points
Nice fully matured (ruby with lighter edges) and rounded. At first, it seems somewhat simple with aromas of red cherry and hints of herbs and taste of ripe cherry. But changes/improves in the glass developing notes of "black" fruits like plumb and fig.
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11/12/2018 - npettit wrote: 90 Points
Tastes like an old Bordeaux but was lacking some excitement
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11/3/2018 - Avicenne Likes this wine: 92 Points
SAQ N° 13004158 79$
Avec paella.
Robe rubis aux reflets ocres.
Bouquet toujours aussi invitant de boite à cigare, badiane, girofle léger, 4 épice.
Bouche encore bien ample, tannins fins, acidité faible, jolis amers, un peu mocka.
Encore bon pour un bon 10-20 ans.
Celle-ci sortait peut-être plus moderne et boisée que mes précédentes.
***1/2
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8/12/2018 - ELH wrote: 92 Points
Paired well with ancho chili pork shoulder
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6/22/2018 - J @ y H @ c k Likes this wine: 92 Points
With family at dinner in Washington DC after my uncle's unveiling. This was one of his wines. Storage in an apartment in a high rise in a closet without temperature control, but we have no idea when he bought it. There was a MacArthur Sale sticker on the back. Popped, decanted and poured. Followed for not too long because there were lots of us sharing it.
I really liked this wine. There was roasted meat with some smokiness and great breadth. Dark brooding red fruit. No real sign of age yet. Not a baby but hardly mature. I had a 45 year old one a few years ago that was perfect, so this has plenty of time left in it.
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4/15/2018 - happytom Likes this wine: 90 Points
First 2 hours, very light, thin and not much fruit but a beautiful crimson color. Tannic. But knew it would open up and it did. Gained weight. Muddled roses, barely ripe strawberries, leather. Earthy. Now cherries are coming in and then....it passed! Strong cherries for about 5 minutes and passed. Wow. Now back to leather. Softer and getting rounded. A bit of sourness. Bouquet of rose water. Minerality. very nice.
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4/7/2018 - rupertg Likes this wine:
Plenty of life in it yet black centre, damson rim. Not much nose, blackcurrant when it emerges. Still tannic and dry, medium weight, clear blackcurrant finish. Great with hard cheeses. Not fully mature yet. Worked well with lamb. Not yet subtle. Delicious, but more straightforward than expected.
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10/18/2017 - Fftjr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still relatively young. Tasty. Plenty of fruit, very light, but balanced tannins. Drinking well.
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10/11/2017 - bhouk wrote:
Judging by the notes of others this is a polarizing potion. By how I would define my likes generally, I would be on the anti side here, but I am not. It is oaky; it does have a raisiny character on the finish; but there is also a bright cherry that is really appealing and throttles down the vanilla and dried fruit pieces. It hangs together well, and I am happy to have a few bottles to enjoy.
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4/16/2017 - rupertg Likes this wine: 81 Points
Dark centre, deep red translucent edges. Muted nose, hints of oak and leather. Disappointingly disjointed. Still quite young. Tannin still dominant, lacks the expected smoothness and richness of a mature Gran Reserva.
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1/1/2017 - jamie24 Likes this wine: 90 Points
From double magnum. Good old school, rustic Rioja. Strong red fruit. Will probably benefit from further bottle age and will wait until 2020+ before drinking anymore.
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11/11/2016 - amwynn Likes this wine: 90 Points
Following a 2-hour decant, this wine showed good balance and excellent scope for improvement. The balance of cherry, leather and hints of oak were good but the secondary and tertiary notes were not present. This wine should benefit greatly from another three years of cellaring.
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9/2/2016 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine:
From a double magnum, coravin, only a taste so not going to rate it, tight on the nose, lovely mouth feel
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8/14/2016 - maxima wrote: 86 Points
Encore rebu en comparatif avec le superbe 2004...y`a pas photo, le 2004 est de loin plus complexe et satisfaisant que ce 2005.
Nez timide sur les fruits noirs.
En bouche, ample et dense mais beaucoup de chauffe. Un petit côté poivron qui nous dérange.
Pourra t`il s`améliorer? Pas certain mais le 2004 lui, est un coup sur et il se bonfira pendant plusieurs années!
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7/26/2016 - James Bornn wrote: 89 Points
This wine was similar in many ways to a previous bottle, although it had a bit more of a spicy oak component and came across a bit more juicy. I still maintain that this is a bit too dark in style for me though.
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7/24/2016 - Avicenne Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pour fête du beau-père, avec filet de lapin aux framboises.
Notes similaires à la verticale du printemps dernier.
Au début de son plateau, sur des notes de marmelade d'orange, d'anis et d'épices douces.
D'un boisé bien identifiable mais discret, comme une musique de fond.
S'est bue en un claquement de doigt.
Super.
****
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7/3/2016 - Avicenne Likes this wine: 93 Points
Verticale CVNE SAQ 2016
Pluie hivernale, été sec. Millésime excellent. Plutôt méditerranéen.
Toujours peu de signe de vieillissement au visuel.
Au nez, là on jase: marmelade d'orange, réglisse, fin côté vanillé, épices douces, clou de girofle, fumée douce.
Tannins structurants, bouche sur les pruneaux, belle longueur et profondeur.
Clairement le meilleur vin de la soirée. À son zénith entre le fruit et le vieillissement.
****
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5/20/2016 - James Bornn wrote: 87 Points
After drinking a fair bit of LRA wines lately I may be a bit too hard on this wine but I just found it to be too modern and clunky in style. The fruit is really dark in character and lacks that fresh juicy punch - it is also a bit too heavy, lacking a sense of charm and making some of the complexities of Reserva Rioja feel covered up. The classic Rioja notes are there if you listen hard and perhaps this wine will find its legs and soften up in the course of time
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5/14/2016 - maxima wrote: 87 Points
Bouteille rapportée du vieux continent par un ami.
Beaucoup plus sur un style moderne que le 2004 et même le 2007, nous est apparue simple et un brin lourd.
Nez racolleur sur le bois, la réglisse et les fruits rouges.
En bouche, ample et gras avec un boisé bien senti et des tannins fermes, impression de sucrosité, long et gommant.
Constat mitigé en ce moment.
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1/1/2016 - Coopcnr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Even after more than 10 years of aging, this wine had the structure to age even longer before reaching its prime. After two hours, this wine was hitting its peak, with rich black berries and dark plums up front. A mid-palate of cedar shavings and hints of vanilla gave way to softening tannins on the finish.
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11/21/2015 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
HWS Game dinner 2015: No formal notes. Beautiful and elegant wine with red fruits and a pleasant dose of oak. Early maturity stage now. 89 – 90+
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6/1/2015 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 88 Points
A private tasting (Restaurant De Gieser Wildeman *, Noordeloos, Netherlands): Youthful colour, medium depth, hardly any browning; bright cherry fruit, hint of the stalks, fresh, good intensity, oak; youthful, ripe fruit, slightly lactic, firm tannins, modern, liquorice root, sweet, spices, good length. Does not live up to its billing.
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5/19/2015 - ELH wrote: 92 Points
Black cherry, leather, vanilla, and earthy. Medium body. Excellent food wine. Paired well with Bob's barbecued chicken. Not decanted. Drinking well now.
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4/25/2015 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bright ruby color turning violet at the rim with a nose of red and black fruits, vanilla, smoke and cola. The palate is bold, dry, full-bodied with a silky texture. Flavors of red cherry, currant, tobacco, dark chocolate and licorice form the core that's sharply intense and shoots through with a long, sustained finish adding hints of grilled meat, dried herbs, and sweet tannins. This is traditional Rioja at its best. Drink now with 30 minutes decant until 2030.
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2/28/2015 - MidLifeVices wrote: 92 Points
Agree with previous notes. This wine was wonderful, but could be kept much longer. Rich, dark aromas of dark fruit, vanilla, leather and hint of spice to balance all wrapped up in a layered complex bouquet and palate.
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2/22/2015 - wpiers wrote: 92 Points
Still has legs for another 5 yrs
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2/18/2015 - garambler Likes this wine: 92 Points
Friends brought this to a 10/4/14 Tempranillo tasting. It had a deep, complex and musty bouquet of black cherry, char, mocha, vanilla, herb and spice aromas. The palate was rich, powerful, layered and dry with flavors of black cherry, mocha, rose hip tea, vanilla, herb, and spice. Our group’s average score was 90.33...mine 91+
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12/25/2014 - JDani Likes this wine: 91 Points
Spice, leather, oak. Medium finish. Very enjoyable. Paired well with enchiladas.
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12/19/2014 - rupertg Likes this wine: 92 Points
Red rim, dark centre Little sediment. Classic nose, still quite tannic, so still maturing. Very popular amongst other drinkers. Full blackcurrant aftertaste. Good for at least five years.
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8/9/2014 - djinc01 wrote: 92 Points
Upon opening the nose slowly comes to the surface. Deep rich ruby intense dark cherry flavors, toasted oak. Still showing some tannins and drinking beautifully.
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7/4/2014 - Umay Ceviker wrote: 94 Points
Deep ruby in colour. Dusty nose with elegantly managed oak followed by lively mixed berries and layered with spice, leather, tobacco and cured meat. Nicely concentrated with intriguing fruit and a velvety mouth-feel.
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5/28/2014 - clairenclarence wrote: 94 Points
before i proceed,let me emphasis tat wine bttl sip from different enviroment n different wine glass peform differently.pop n pour.soft structure.intense rich concentrated fruits.beautiful texture.focus.nice depth n complexity.sligthly over evident oak presence.aicidity cn b better here.tis bttl remind me flacianello 07.rather similiar style.(energy in fruits yet with elegance).conclusion:i reali njoy tis bttl.if with slightly less oak presence to my liking,wil score 1 more point here.
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5/28/2014 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 91 Points
A serious White Night, and some Reds thrown in for good measure (Extra Space): Pop and poured.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Long legs.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with toasted vanilla oak and plums. Developing.
On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium+ alcohol, high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of creamy vanilla oak and sweet red plums. Nice mouth-feel. Medium+ finish.
Very good quality. Will improve with further ageing. Give it another 5-8 years before re-exploring.
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5/18/2014 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
Maybe 93. This was so elegant and wonderful.
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5/17/2014 - mschede Likes this wine: 91 Points
Cor rubi/ roxa escura. Nariz com aromas ainda focados na fruta, que remetem a amoras azedinhas, groselha e framboesa, boa nota terrosa, sutil traço de fina madeira, toque defumado e alguma mineralidade.. Encorpado e notavelmente equilibrado, tendo excelente acidez, fruta elegante e bela estrutura com taninos muito finos.. Já bem integrado e agradável, mas ainda isento de terciários. Outra só após 2017.. (91+)
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5/9/2014 - Rezy13 wrote:
Friday Night Double Blind Tasting $40+ (Bin 75): Dark fruit, lots of vanilla, green quality; good texture with medium plus body, darker fruit on the palate, seemingly corked...on day two this was much better, open and expressive; good.
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5/4/2014 - nygr22 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Hints of coffee, Chocolate, vanilla, and oak on the nose. Strawberry and black pepper come through first on the palate with a medium long finish.
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4/25/2014 - mobuk1969 wrote: 91 Points
Got oak and some toasty hints on the nose. The Tannins were quite young and danced around on my first taste but settled down and was a lot smoother towards the end.
Color was deep red/blackberry and I got a lot of dark berries oak and vanilla.
This wine will be even better in a few years so getting one to keep.
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3/15/2014 - Phenol73 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A nose of lifted complexity, showing black cherries, stewed berries and figs, fennel, dill, mocha and a note of damp earth. Gorgeous and intoxicating. The palate is very lively. Signature Tempranillo tartness and perky acidity give this a really fresh beat. The tanins are still quite juvenile - all blustery and a bit showy. The structure is excellent but tanins are still a touch drying at this stage. Overall, this is fantastic grape juice, still in its youth and with enough pedigry and stuffing to become something quite special in middle age.
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2/21/2014 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 90 Points
Aussie Shiraz Tasting & Friday wine night at UE Straits (1855 and UE Straits Wine): Tasted blind.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour.
Nose is clean and pronounced with oak dominated aroma.
Medium acidity, lots of drying tannins, and a full body, with lots of flavours of primary red fruit, and creamy vanilla oak. Medium finish. With more air, sweet plum flavours emerged.
I guessed a relatively young Rioja Gran Reserva.
This will need a few more years to integrate.
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2/21/2014 - clairenclarence wrote: 92 Points
pop n pour.bttl decant 1 hr.nice structure n texture.cherry,plum,spice,slight earthy.traces of mineral n oak presence.elegance with power.nice balance.ting i dont like:slightly dry n rather short finish.tis bttl seriously nd time.another bttl deserve to collect.
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1/30/2014 - Piccolopaulo wrote: 93 Points
Stunning wine. Decanted for 2 hours and then savored over 2-3 hours. Beautiful dark ruby colour. Bouquet full of some of the greatest purity of fruit I have ever tasted. Herbaceous notes of oregano and thyme as well. More subtle notes on the bouquet include cedar box and saddle leather, likely to emerge over time. Palate is loaded with 70% cocoa, blackberry, dark cherry and red currant bringing a medium acidity and tannins that are a little grippy as this wine is still young. Overall, this is one of the most balanced wines I have had in a long time. No wonder this producer just won the Wine of the Year for 2013 from WS. The 2005 impresses from start to finish. Can't wait to see what 5-7 years does to it in the cellar!
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1/4/2014 - jonanator wrote: 91 Points
This was fabulous. Showing amazing grace, finesse, and elegance while maintaining good power and concentration on the palate. The nose was beautiful as well. Finish was medium+. IMO, this will be every bit as good as the 2001 and 2004. This was drinking beautifully, but is still so young in its development.
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12/13/2013 - Strikermax wrote: 94 Points
Donkerpaars. In de geur specerijen, donker fruit, eikenhout, vanille, tabak. Goede concentratie, romig rijp fruit en een mooie frisheid. Stevige, geïntegreerde tannines, mediumlang tot lang aanhoudend.
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12/13/2013 - henrygjeffreys wrote:
dark colour, purple
n - initially very oaky, left overnight becomes tobacco & leather
t - rich, a little impenetrable at 1st but opens up over night
lots of supple tannins, long oaky finish, meaty and leather
lots here, really needs time & def. food
we ate it with slow roast shoulder of lamb and it went well
give it 5-10 years
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10/23/2013 - Umay Ceviker wrote: 93 Points
85% Tempranillo with 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo from over 20 year old vines all grown in Rioja Alta around Villalba and Haro. Aged for 36 months in 70% French and 30% American oak.
Dark, inky ruby in colour. A mix of dark black fruit and damson leading the way to pronounced scents of leather, tobacco, tar and wet leaves. Dense and bold yet accessable and exuberant despite the high concentration. Rich tannins are far away from being aggressive. Long lasting and has a very good potential to age.
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9/7/2013 - Harley1199 Likes this wine:
Having dinner with Puri.
If compared with last Bordon GR 05, this had a darker colour, a mineral nose, a tannic palate.
Overall this is a bottle for the patient, for those that have time to let it develop in ten years or so.
Funny those low scores...
Cenando con Puri.
Comparado con el último Bordon GR 05, tenía un color más oscuro, una nariz mineral, una boca tánica.
Sobretodo esta es una botella para los pacientes, para aquellos que tienen tiempo para dejarla evolucionar en diez años o así.
Divertidas esas bajas puntuaciones...
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