Lovely with Thanksgiving repast. Classic Rioja notes still. Dill is softer and perhaps a bit past prime? Still, quite drinkable. Note similar to earlier. Will last but probably not improve. So, reservas can go 20 years, in case anyone is asking. :-)
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My last bottle, and on what I think is a long drinking plateau. Very, very good. Perhaps fruitier than most other "traditional" Rioja, commendable balance, well-integrated but appropriately present American oak. I never tasted the 2001 Gran Reserva but can't imagine it's better than this.
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Seemed a little subdued and thin- perhaps in a grumpy, shut down phase- but scads of tertiary leather and leafiness suggest this is just an advanced bottle.
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Maturing color but still lots of structure, and fruit expands as it opens up after time in decanter and glass. Traditional Rioja. May get better.Good match with a paella mixto.
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A great traditional Rioja without the excessive oak that seems to be gaining favor with some of the traditional producers like LRA. This is still very youthful and should continue to drink well for years.
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I've had better bottles than this, so perhaps bottle variation. this one was well-rounded, fruity still, nice acidity, but pretty much one dimensional without sufficient structure to suggest it would evolve further. Judging from this alone, I'd say the wine has fully evolved and will not improve. a telltale significant amount of sediment, so decant the next bottle.
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2001 Rioja (Maryland): Pale ruby color. I get a nice mix of wild red berries, dusty earth, wet leaves. Fresh acidity on the palate, this has a tart approach (complemented by tangy red berry fruit), but the wine shows plenty of dusty tannins. An interesting blend of earth, tobacco and pickling spices, a crisp and refreshing finish. Expressive, refreshing, showing nicely but some cellar potential for sure.
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I wager that if this wine were given blind to most oenophiles they would say it's 3-4 yrs old max. Seeing it might change their minds a bit because while impressively dark, there is a tiny band of brown that reveals part of the truth. Such is the vitality and freshness of this classic, old school Rioja, however, that Imdare say it easily has another 15-20 years of good health. It is certainly unjust to criticize the old school as being over-Oaked and under-fruited. The American oak is certainly perceptible -- especially on the nose, which is fragrantly oaky. What I especially like about this wine is that it is well structured without being austere. The tannins are still quite pronounced, and I'm sure that in 5 years they'll be less pronounced and interesting tertiary flavor a will emerge. Alas, it is my only bottle. I am tempted to buy another half dozen bottles for,the cellar to see how it develops.
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Nose of red fruit, caramel, and herbs. This wine has a decent amount of life left. Tannins still present. Cherry on the palate, moving toward some earthiness and acidity, ending with some spicy caramel.
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Wines That Don't Suck (WTDS) Offline (Joan's in the Park, St. Paul, MN): Very dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over 60 minutes plus. Very nice Rioja nose with lots of fresh dill, vanilla, dark red fruits, kirsch, caramelized, nutty. The palate is medium full bodied, dill, cherry, black cherry, mineral, good acid and nice tannins, somewhat port like, medium plus finish. Still youthful and just hitting its window, give this an hour or two and you'll be nicely rewarded. 91+ to 92pts.
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Certainly a traditional Rioja and our first foray into this maker. Good QPR. Some length but not extraordinary. Earthy fruit is a good call. A bit of alcohol there, so has some time left in it although I wouldn't say more than 5 years. Going to leave the other bottles for a few years and see what happens. Well liked by our party.
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Dang, this was delightful - with appealing layered complexity and delicacy that makes more modern Rioja reds (i.e. most of 'em) seem like oafish fruit-monsters. Disappointed to see the 2001 risen around 50% in the 10 months since I bought this bottle; guess I'll pick up the 2005 next time around, and more than a single bottle this time.
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Very good traditional Rioja in the classical Spanish style...Pecina is serially underrated in favor of Heredia Lopez and La Rioja Alta. This wine is drinking wonderfully now, but has many strong years ahead...
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Forgot to write notes down. But I recall this being a good traditional rioja that was enjoyed by all. Somewhat muted nose, medium to light-bodied, cherry and red fruits. Leather.
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A wonderful wine courtesy of K&L. This paired well with many things tonight: a beet salad, vegan carrot salad, Duck confit with cous-cous, and finally some hard cheese. Soft perfumed nose with just a faint whiff of smoke; medium body of dark fruit, some cherry, earth, food friendly acidity. Good to the last drop (no sediment at all).
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Every time I drink a 2001 Rioja, it reminds me of the magic of this vintage. This wine is maturing wonderfully. Lean but complex with that rustic touch that defines this region. Tobacco, leather and cigar box with red fruits combined with a silky texture and persistent finish make this a winner.
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This bottle is beautiful in the old style. Musty, a little smoky, but strong excellent fruit. The bottles consumed over a couple of years have been a bit uneven, but this one was great. I recollect that the previous bottle was not so bright and not having enough fruit to balance the rest of the funkiness.
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I'd forgotten how wonderful this wine is. I really need to get more. There is some cleverly hidden structure here so I can't imagine this is going to start slipping anytime soon. In fact it was the structure that bowled me over right from the gate, as it had a sophisticated, satiny tannic grip that brought to mind fancy turf in Burgundy moreso than Rioja. The fruit quickly came to the foreground and covered up the tannins, and indeed it was surprisingly rich and primary given the age and style; this still has some inky concentration and primary gloss. But it is still such a smooth and sophisticated drink.
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Mocno wyczuwalna beczka i wanilia w nosie. W ustach bardzo delikatny, z powtórzonymi aramatami z nosa. Może trochę za mało cieliste, ale naprawdę fajne wino
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Dusty cherry and old barrel with some lilac and muddy earth. Nice aged character but it has also retained some freshness. Aromatic, good acidity and balance, tasty wine.
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Leathery, musty, the kind of Rioja that let's you sit back and ponder meaning while inhaling a wide range of complex flavors. The fruit is still strong, but not as bright as the Vina Ardanza 2001. The style of the Pecina is similar to the more highly rated Ardanza, but a little more funky and not quite as well balanced. Both are great wines from a great vintage.
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Bricking medium dark red violet color; appealing, maturing, tart plum, tart berry, dried berry, dried cranberry nose; tasty, mature, tart plum, ripe red currant, tart berry, dried berry, licorice palate; medium-plus finish 92+ points
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A bit on the woddy side for now and a bit closed, probably needs a few more years. A mix of classic and modern rioja with notes of tar and soy intermingled with oak and fruit.
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Medium body, ready to drink. Very nice balance of fruit, tannin and acid. Dark fruits and earthiness with a bit of cedar/clove spice. Excellent wine for the price. Could pay twice as much for a Bordeaux of similar quality.
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Dried cherry, strawberry fruited, with all kind of gamey and leathery nuances. Done in a very traditional oxidative style. Palate is firmly tannic with good acid. With air time the fruit revealed itself to be raisiny and pruney which I didn't particularly care for. Not really worth $30 to me.
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Medium garnet colour. Aromatic and complex mushroom, milk chocolate, dried cherries, withered roses, cedar, cranberry and red apple nose. Great flavours with a bright acidity and rounding tannins; long, evolved, leathery finish. 5/5
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Simply marvelous!! Bright, fresh fruit. Great balance with acid to keep pace with the food and tannins that provided nuance and that lifted the fruit on new pathways on the long finish.
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I'm beginning to think around 10 yeas is my sweet spot for these mid-level Rioja. Ruby with slight garnet around the edges. Classic, yet subdued aromas of American oak & crushed red berries. Slightly sweet fruit on the palate, with vanilla & leather in support. Smooth, supple tannic strcture. A little more acidity would have kept this lingering a little longer. I like the balance of sweet & tart fruit with some character from age rounding things out. Very nice.
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Dark red, clear. No fruit smell. Some alcohol smell. Initially much smoother than I expected. Had a glass the second day and it was surprisingly more tannic. Taste a very slight wildness in the yeast which is pleasant here. Lasting mouthfeel. Can't smell any of the wild yeast. Dry. Some tartness in flavor. Cam't pick out specific fruits, blackberry?
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Restaurant purchase. Redolent nose of plum, stewed fruits, leather and oak. On the palate, plum, burnt cherry and port. Nice balance and great with tapas. Probably overpriced at the restaurant, but will look for additional bottles.
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3hr decant. Among the better traditionally-styled '01 Reservas I've drunk, and probably the best value. Quite fruit forward still, with a big hit of sweet, dark cherry leading the way. American oak is very present, but in balance, adding spice and a tangy dill-tarragon element. Mellow leather and some secondary elements just beginning to emerge. Finishes with dusky, tea-like tannins and a surprisingly energetic acidic lift. Fun and gulpable, pins a smile to your face.
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Wednesday Night Blind Tasting in KW (Dave's House): Popped and poured, served blind. A slick bricking at the rim of the glass. Beautiful nose of roasted plums, cherries, balsamic reduction, florals, with a touch of leather, non-descript wood; quite savoury. On the palate, dark fruits, black cherries, leather. Fairly low tannin and high acidity frame the moderate length finish. To me, this is a touch out of balance, with the acid taking over. A particular rowdy crowd this evening, as one of the tasters is called out for not assisting in finishing the bottle.
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Got lucky and after original LCBO purchase (along with recommendation from my vintages consultant) was able to get total of 15 ... Every one so far has been consistent and loved .... Alas only have 4 left
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2hr decant. Semi-translucent garnet lightening at rim. Rich, full nose of dill, cedar, cinnamon, leather, black tea, and cherry pie. The palate is soft velvet with mellow notes of toffee, tobacco, tea, some secondary sous-bois, and cherry pie. A seamless, finish recalls the American oak elements, very savory, spicy, long and satisfying. Unabashedly traditional Rioja and damn delicious.
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Unmistakable profile of old school Rioja. Leather, cherry, tarragon and dill. Savoury, lean and structured. Long with dusty tannin. Excellent and should improve.
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This is my new favorite Rioja producer. I'm a long time fan of old school Rioja ala Lopez de Heredia & La Rioja Alta. I first tasted the Pecina lineup in 2009 and was blown away by the purity and unmanipulated style. I quickly became a fan and sought out older bottles (not easy to come by as they have not been imported into the states with regularity. Now that JPS has them, things are coming in at a steady rate. This Reserva is already showing tertiary characteristics of savory, spice and forest floor. The texture is like velvet with a great streak of acidity along the spine. This is both a sipping wine and a food wine. By sipping, I don't mean a cocktail wine. Rather, it's a Burg lovers Rioja with a changing array of aromas. The flavors are similar to the nose with a lovely length on the finish. Highly recommended and readily available.
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Color - garnet, med+ intensity, turning brown at edges - this was a clue to its age (guessed appropriately) nose: med+ intensity, sweet old leather, sweet droed prune (not too dried), a jammy quality (prune, fig together), a very pronounced caramel flavor body: med+ alc 13.5 finish med+
Style note: Sweet leather and caramel on the nose evolves into some muted tart cherry and tobacco on the palate, spiked with cinammonand other spices. Very long smooth finish.
Can be confused with: Dolcetto, Barbara ... it automatically seemed like a 2001 b/c color and terciary aromas, from the north b/c acidity, yeet an area with sun b/c ripeness of grapes. Rioja would have been an excellent place to start. Portugal was a thought b/c of the touriga national quality of the grapes.
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I wish I knew more about Rioja - problem is that Lopez de Heredia was the first I ever tried, which gave me minimal incentive to explore beyond. But this bottle was a Chambers Street selection and well-priced - seemed like a safe bet. It's pretty much the traditional Rioja profile I expected - already tertiary though a bit richer and denser than the '01 Lopezes. This is the kind of wine that's useful to have a few around for those occasions when you're really craving something with a more aged profile that you don't need to think twice about opening.
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Having loved the '99 of this wine, I was excited to see the '01 on the shelf. It had a nose of leather, cherry, and a floral component. Really special nose. I picked up a lot of that on the palate too, there was a bit less fruit than I expected. Well integrated and balanced with some roundness. I'd have to say I prefer the 1999 at this point although that wine is a bit more rustic.
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11/23/2023 - SARED wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyable. Best at cellar temp.
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11/11/2023 - SARED wrote: 91 Points
Prominent acids. Sour cherry. Rounded texture. Not especially complex at this stage.
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10/8/2023 - jdporter3 Likes this wine:
Still drinking nicely but at the end of its window. Last of a case. Quite serviceable.
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11/26/2020 - jdporter3 Likes this wine:
Lovely with Thanksgiving repast. Classic Rioja notes still. Dill is softer and perhaps a bit past prime? Still, quite drinkable. Note similar to earlier. Will last but probably not improve. So, reservas can go 20 years, in case anyone is asking. :-)
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10/24/2020 - cweiss Likes this wine:
My last bottle, and on what I think is a long drinking plateau. Very, very good. Perhaps fruitier than most other "traditional" Rioja, commendable balance, well-integrated but appropriately present American oak. I never tasted the 2001 Gran Reserva but can't imagine it's better than this.
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4/9/2020 - BillBell73 wrote:
Seemed a little subdued and thin- perhaps in a grumpy, shut down phase- but scads of tertiary leather and leafiness suggest this is just an advanced bottle.
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11/16/2019 - Oldworlddrinker wrote: flawed
Unfortunately the cork was flawed, the wine was musty, the fruit completely faded, yielding a short finish with a somewhat watery note. So sad!
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11/19/2017 - cweiss wrote:
Again a really good match with paella mixto. Still plenty ofAmerican oak andlots of fruit. Drinking well but will for a least a few years.
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10/1/2017 - cweiss Likes this wine:
Maturing color but still lots of structure, and fruit expands as it opens up after time in decanter and glass. Traditional Rioja. May get better.Good match with a paella mixto.
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3/20/2017 - BillBell73 Likes this wine:
A great traditional Rioja without the excessive oak that seems to be gaining favor with some of the traditional producers like LRA. This is still very youthful and should continue to drink well for years.
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1/19/2016 - bags wrote:
this one's great.....
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11/2/2015 - bags wrote:
I've had better bottles than this, so perhaps bottle variation. this one was well-rounded, fruity still, nice acidity, but pretty much one dimensional without sufficient structure to suggest it would evolve further. Judging from this alone, I'd say the wine has fully evolved and will not improve. a telltale significant amount of sediment, so decant the next bottle.
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10/10/2015 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 88 Points
2001 Rioja (Maryland): Pale ruby color. I get a nice mix of wild red berries, dusty earth, wet leaves. Fresh acidity on the palate, this has a tart approach (complemented by tangy red berry fruit), but the wine shows plenty of dusty tannins. An interesting blend of earth, tobacco and pickling spices, a crisp and refreshing finish. Expressive, refreshing, showing nicely but some cellar potential for sure.
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6/19/2015 - niloc36 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I wager that if this wine were given blind to most oenophiles they would say it's 3-4 yrs old max. Seeing it might change their minds a bit because while impressively dark, there is a tiny band of brown that reveals part of the truth. Such is the vitality and freshness of this classic, old school Rioja, however, that Imdare say it easily has another 15-20 years of good health. It is certainly unjust to criticize the old school as being over-Oaked and under-fruited. The American oak is certainly perceptible -- especially on the nose, which is fragrantly oaky. What I especially like about this wine is that it is well structured without being austere. The tannins are still quite pronounced, and I'm sure that in 5 years they'll be less pronounced and interesting tertiary flavor a will emerge. Alas, it is my only bottle. I am tempted to buy another half dozen bottles for,the cellar to see how it develops.
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4/23/2015 - TC16 wrote: 91 Points
Nose of red fruit, caramel, and herbs. This wine has a decent amount of life left. Tannins still present. Cherry on the palate, moving toward some earthiness and acidity, ending with some spicy caramel.
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2/3/2015 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Wines That Don't Suck (WTDS) Offline (Joan's in the Park, St. Paul, MN): Very dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over 60 minutes plus. Very nice Rioja nose with lots of fresh dill, vanilla, dark red fruits, kirsch, caramelized, nutty. The palate is medium full bodied, dill, cherry, black cherry, mineral, good acid and nice tannins, somewhat port like, medium plus finish. Still youthful and just hitting its window, give this an hour or two and you'll be nicely rewarded. 91+ to 92pts.
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1/3/2015 - jdporter3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Certainly a traditional Rioja and our first foray into this maker. Good QPR. Some length but not extraordinary. Earthy fruit is a good call. A bit of alcohol there, so has some time left in it although I wouldn't say more than 5 years. Going to leave the other bottles for a few years and see what happens. Well liked by our party.
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11/23/2014 - cweiss Likes this wine:
Traditionally made but lots of fruit. Drinking well but still not very evolved and will go some years.
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7/28/2014 - Charlie Pendejo Likes this wine:
Dang, this was delightful - with appealing layered complexity and delicacy that makes more modern Rioja reds (i.e. most of 'em) seem like oafish fruit-monsters. Disappointed to see the 2001 risen around 50% in the 10 months since I bought this bottle; guess I'll pick up the 2005 next time around, and more than a single bottle this time.
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5/26/2014 - mcbrown76 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very good traditional Rioja in the classical Spanish style...Pecina is serially underrated in favor of Heredia Lopez and La Rioja Alta. This wine is drinking wonderfully now, but has many strong years ahead...
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3/8/2014 - Rob MacKay wrote: 86 Points
Not too bad. Good balance with some dill notes on the palate mixed with earthy red fruits. I preferred their 05 Crianza over this 01 Reserva.
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2/23/2014 - pa81 Likes this wine:
Forgot to write notes down. But I recall this being a good traditional rioja that was enjoyed by all. Somewhat muted nose, medium to light-bodied, cherry and red fruits. Leather.
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2/22/2014 - Racer117 Likes this wine: 91 Points
A wonderful wine courtesy of K&L. This paired well with many things tonight: a beet salad, vegan carrot salad, Duck confit with cous-cous, and finally some hard cheese. Soft perfumed nose with just a faint whiff of smoke; medium body of dark fruit, some cherry, earth, food friendly acidity. Good to the last drop (no sediment at all).
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1/18/2014 - DoubleMagnum wrote: 90 Points
Every time I drink a 2001 Rioja, it reminds me of the magic of this vintage. This wine is maturing wonderfully. Lean but complex with that rustic touch that defines this region. Tobacco, leather and cigar box with red fruits combined with a silky texture and persistent finish make this a winner.
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11/14/2013 - joraesque wrote: 88 Points
K&L Rioja Tasting #2 (K&L San Francisco): Drinking well now.
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10/4/2013 - bags wrote:
it's singing
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9/29/2013 - gordoyflaca wrote: 91 Points
Very Rioja, with leather and cedar over black cherry.
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9/29/2013 - Matches Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fans of traditional Rioja, rejoice!
This wine is everything you want from tempranillo.
Deep, decayed fruit, cedar and spice, excellent acids, dusty tannins.
Drink now and over the next 10 years
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8/3/2013 - up4wine wrote: 91 Points
This bottle is beautiful in the old style. Musty, a little smoky, but strong excellent fruit. The bottles consumed over a couple of years have been a bit uneven, but this one was great. I recollect that the previous bottle was not so bright and not having enough fruit to balance the rest of the funkiness.
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5/21/2013 - Keith Levenberg Likes this wine: 93 Points
I'd forgotten how wonderful this wine is. I really need to get more. There is some cleverly hidden structure here so I can't imagine this is going to start slipping anytime soon. In fact it was the structure that bowled me over right from the gate, as it had a sophisticated, satiny tannic grip that brought to mind fancy turf in Burgundy moreso than Rioja. The fruit quickly came to the foreground and covered up the tannins, and indeed it was surprisingly rich and primary given the age and style; this still has some inky concentration and primary gloss. But it is still such a smooth and sophisticated drink.
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4/14/2013 - mikacz wrote: 91 Points
Mocno wyczuwalna beczka i wanilia w nosie. W ustach bardzo delikatny, z powtórzonymi aramatami z nosa. Może trochę za mało cieliste, ale naprawdę fajne wino
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2/15/2013 - tocksme wrote: 90 Points
Grape (oddly enough) and a scent of maraschino cherry. Sweet start finishes with pleasant sour and tannins. Benefits from a few hours of decanting.
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2/15/2013 - Beerzebub Likes this wine:
Dusty cherry and old barrel with some lilac and muddy earth. Nice aged character but it has also retained some freshness. Aromatic, good acidity and balance, tasty wine.
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2/1/2013 - up4wine wrote: 90 Points
Leathery, musty, the kind of Rioja that let's you sit back and ponder meaning while inhaling a wide range of complex flavors. The fruit is still strong, but not as bright as the Vina Ardanza 2001. The style of the Pecina is similar to the more highly rated Ardanza, but a little more funky and not quite as well balanced. Both are great wines from a great vintage.
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1/27/2013 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Bricking medium dark red violet color; appealing, maturing, tart plum, tart berry, dried berry, dried cranberry nose; tasty, mature, tart plum, ripe red currant, tart berry, dried berry, licorice palate; medium-plus finish 92+ points
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1/27/2013 - europat55 wrote: 89 Points
Euro-Themed Lunch - Spanish Riojas (Donato Enoteca, Redwood City, CA): Gorgeous nose that started to fade away after ~30 minutes in the glass. A little bit of heat. Some sweetness. Soft palate. Plums, cherries.
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1/12/2013 - angryphoton wrote: 90 Points
A bit on the woddy side for now and a bit closed, probably needs a few more years. A mix of classic and modern rioja with notes of tar and soy intermingled with oak and fruit.
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12/15/2012 - Enfant sauvage wrote:
Quite nice. Lacked a bit of the nuance of the 2001 Vina Ardanza, but it made up for that in lovely fruit and greater drinkability at this point.
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12/12/2012 - djarcara Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium body, ready to drink. Very nice balance of fruit, tannin and acid. Dark fruits and earthiness with a bit of cedar/clove spice. Excellent wine for the price. Could pay twice as much for a Bordeaux of similar quality.
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11/27/2012 - Wine Canuck Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dried cherry, strawberry fruited, with all kind of gamey and leathery nuances. Done in a very traditional oxidative style. Palate is firmly tannic with good acid. With air time the fruit revealed itself to be raisiny and pruney which I didn't particularly care for. Not really worth $30 to me.
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11/13/2012 - Double-A Likes this wine: 95 Points
Medium garnet colour. Aromatic and complex mushroom, milk chocolate, dried cherries, withered roses, cedar, cranberry and red apple nose. Great flavours with a bright acidity and rounding tannins; long, evolved, leathery finish.
5/5
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10/14/2012 - cweiss wrote:
Typical American oak very much in evidence. Plenty of fruit and structure, and will drink well now and for some years.
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9/22/2012 - kronfeld wrote: 89 Points
Classic Rioja. Dusty and austere with a hint of vanilla. Nicely balanced. A pleasure to drink with food.
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8/26/2012 - wrrntl wrote:
Old school style that I like. Balanced fruit and starting to show solid secondary notes
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7/24/2012 - up4wine wrote: 93 Points
Simply marvelous!! Bright, fresh fruit. Great balance with acid to keep pace with the food and tannins that provided nuance and that lifted the fruit on new pathways on the long finish.
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7/20/2012 - Dandiophile wrote: 90 Points
I'm beginning to think around 10 yeas is my sweet spot for these mid-level Rioja. Ruby with slight garnet around the edges. Classic, yet subdued aromas of American oak & crushed red berries. Slightly sweet fruit on the palate, with vanilla & leather in support. Smooth, supple tannic strcture. A little more acidity would have kept this lingering a little longer. I like the balance of sweet & tart fruit with some character from age rounding things out. Very nice.
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6/27/2012 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 91 Points
Visit to Bodegas Hermanos Peciņa (San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Rioja, Spain): Bricking medium dark red violet color; tobacco, leather, dried plum, tart plum nose; tasty, tight, tart plum, tobacco, mineral palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish 91+ points
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4/27/2012 - lumpyelbow wrote:
Didn't take notes. This was just ok. I don't feel the need to rush out and get more. 87-88.
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4/22/2012 - Joelind wrote: 90 Points
Dark red, clear. No fruit smell. Some alcohol smell. Initially much smoother than I expected. Had a glass the second day and it was surprisingly more tannic. Taste a very slight wildness in the yeast which is pleasant here. Lasting mouthfeel. Can't smell any of the wild yeast. Dry. Some tartness in flavor. Cam't pick out specific fruits, blackberry?
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3/27/2012 - vino_per_tutti wrote: 88 Points
Restaurant purchase. Redolent nose of plum, stewed fruits, leather and oak. On the palate, plum, burnt cherry and port. Nice balance and great with tapas. Probably overpriced at the restaurant, but will look for additional bottles.
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3/14/2012 - oenophilip wrote: 89 Points
Sexy nose of mixed berries, leather, American oak, and tawny port. Grainy tannins and M+ acid with a lengthy finish.
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1/31/2012 - Riccardo Malocchio wrote: 91 Points
3hr decant. Among the better traditionally-styled '01 Reservas I've drunk, and probably the best value. Quite fruit forward still, with a big hit of sweet, dark cherry leading the way. American oak is very present, but in balance, adding spice and a tangy dill-tarragon element. Mellow leather and some secondary elements just beginning to emerge. Finishes with dusky, tea-like tannins and a surprisingly energetic acidic lift. Fun and gulpable, pins a smile to your face.
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1/12/2012 - alittle wrote: 89 Points
Wednesday Night Blind Tasting in KW (Dave's House): Popped and poured, served blind. A slick bricking at the rim of the glass. Beautiful nose of roasted plums, cherries, balsamic reduction, florals, with a touch of leather, non-descript wood; quite savoury. On the palate, dark fruits, black cherries, leather. Fairly low tannin and high acidity frame the moderate length finish. To me, this is a touch out of balance, with the acid taking over. A particular rowdy crowd this evening, as one of the tasters is called out for not assisting in finishing the bottle.
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12/27/2011 - GregGH wrote: 91 Points
Got lucky and after original LCBO purchase (along with recommendation from my vintages consultant) was able to get total of 15 ... Every one so far has been consistent and loved .... Alas only have 4 left
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12/22/2011 - Riccardo Malocchio wrote: 91 Points
2hr decant. Semi-translucent garnet lightening at rim. Rich, full nose of dill, cedar, cinnamon, leather, black tea, and cherry pie. The palate is soft velvet with mellow notes of toffee, tobacco, tea, some secondary sous-bois, and cherry pie. A seamless, finish recalls the American oak elements, very savory, spicy, long and satisfying. Unabashedly traditional Rioja and damn delicious.
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11/13/2011 - acheng wrote: 87 Points
Unmistakable profile of old school Rioja. Leather, cherry, tarragon and dill. Savoury, lean and structured. Long with dusty tannin. Excellent and should improve.
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9/25/2011 - cweiss wrote:
Very nice traditional style Rioja. Fragrant American oak, impeccable balance. Opened up considerably over the course of dinner. Will buy more.
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9/18/2011 - ssimpsonjr wrote: 89 Points
Medium bodied with cherry and some vanilla. A very little heat finishes off the smooth tannins.
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7/17/2011 - bmarshall wrote: 88 Points
Solid Rioja...
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6/19/2011 - cpsmith33 wrote: 91 Points
one of best value of the night and very old school which i loved. nice cherry flavor, spice, toffee / caramel. this is really nice.
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5/25/2011 - gregg g wrote:
This is my new favorite Rioja producer. I'm a long time fan of old school Rioja ala Lopez de Heredia & La Rioja Alta. I first tasted the Pecina lineup in 2009 and was blown away by the purity and unmanipulated style. I quickly became a fan and sought out older bottles (not easy to come by as they have not been imported into the states with regularity. Now that JPS has them, things are coming in at a steady rate. This Reserva is already showing tertiary characteristics of savory, spice and forest floor. The texture is like velvet with a great streak of acidity along the spine. This is both a sipping wine and a food wine. By sipping, I don't mean a cocktail wine. Rather, it's a Burg lovers Rioja with a changing array of aromas. The flavors are similar to the nose with a lovely length on the finish. Highly recommended and readily available.
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3/26/2011 - awinestory wrote: 87 Points
tasted blind - very challenging!
Color - garnet, med+ intensity, turning brown at edges - this was a clue to its age (guessed appropriately)
nose: med+ intensity, sweet old leather, sweet droed prune (not too dried), a jammy quality (prune, fig together), a very pronounced caramel flavor
body: med+ alc 13.5 finish med+
Style note: Sweet leather and caramel on the nose evolves into some muted tart cherry and tobacco on the palate, spiked with cinammonand other spices. Very long smooth finish.
Can be confused with: Dolcetto, Barbara ... it automatically seemed like a 2001 b/c color and terciary aromas, from the north b/c acidity, yeet an area with sun b/c ripeness of grapes. Rioja would have been an excellent place to start. Portugal was a thought b/c of the touriga national quality of the grapes.
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3/14/2011 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 90 Points
I wish I knew more about Rioja - problem is that Lopez de Heredia was the first I ever tried, which gave me minimal incentive to explore beyond. But this bottle was a Chambers Street selection and well-priced - seemed like a safe bet. It's pretty much the traditional Rioja profile I expected - already tertiary though a bit richer and denser than the '01 Lopezes. This is the kind of wine that's useful to have a few around for those occasions when you're really craving something with a more aged profile that you don't need to think twice about opening.
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12/30/2010 - suthersm wrote: 88 Points
Having loved the '99 of this wine, I was excited to see the '01 on the shelf. It had a nose of leather, cherry, and a floral component. Really special nose. I picked up a lot of that on the palate too, there was a bit less fruit than I expected. Well integrated and balanced with some roundness. I'd have to say I prefer the 1999 at this point although that wine is a bit more rustic.
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