Rioja Night (Chicago, IL): A bit leaner in style, and reasonably consistent with my last bottle. Fading a touch, in that the remnants of oak and a lighter body out-compete the red fruit hints that are left.
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Rioja dinner at Phil's (Chicago, IL): Re-reading my note from a bottle last year, I'd say that this showed reasonably consistently. This has a ton of acidity and American oak, but it is integrated fairly well. Compared to the 1978, I found this a bit thinner and more acidic, and the fruit showed a little sour and emaciated here, but all in all, this is a solid bottle; it's probably time to drink up.
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Forefront sour cherry and characteristic dill notes. Gained weight over the few hours it was open, as well as a touch of sweetness while rounding out in body. Certainly fully mature and well-resolved, but somewhat surprisingly not only held but improved with time. Very nice.
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HDH auction tasting at Tru; 6/24/2016-6/25/2016 (Chicago, IL): Classic Rioja. Lots of oak on the nose, as well as just a touch of brown spice and coffee. The palate is very, very acidic, but there's lots to enjoy here. Huge amount of oak, as there should be, but there's some brown sugar and a touch of dried brown fruit. I wish it was a touch sweeter and more fruit-forward, but it's hard to argue this isn't exactly what it should be.
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5/11/2017 - psmith wrote: 91 Points
Rioja Night (Chicago, IL): A bit leaner in style, and reasonably consistent with my last bottle. Fading a touch, in that the remnants of oak and a lighter body out-compete the red fruit hints that are left.
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5/11/2017 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Rioja dinner at Phil's (Chicago, IL): Re-reading my note from a bottle last year, I'd say that this showed reasonably consistently. This has a ton of acidity and American oak, but it is integrated fairly well. Compared to the 1978, I found this a bit thinner and more acidic, and the fruit showed a little sour and emaciated here, but all in all, this is a solid bottle; it's probably time to drink up.
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6/25/2016 - psmith wrote: 92 Points
Forefront sour cherry and characteristic dill notes. Gained weight over the few hours it was open, as well as a touch of sweetness while rounding out in body. Certainly fully mature and well-resolved, but somewhat surprisingly not only held but improved with time. Very nice.
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6/25/2016 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
HDH auction tasting at Tru; 6/24/2016-6/25/2016 (Chicago, IL): Classic Rioja. Lots of oak on the nose, as well as just a touch of brown spice and coffee. The palate is very, very acidic, but there's lots to enjoy here. Huge amount of oak, as there should be, but there's some brown sugar and a touch of dried brown fruit. I wish it was a touch sweeter and more fruit-forward, but it's hard to argue this isn't exactly what it should be.
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