My wife enjoyed this, indeed she reckoned that Rioja is her favourite red wine. Why? Well this was certainly a very typical easy drinking (13 degrees alcohol) example with smoky red fruits and a hint of vanilla on the nose carrying through to the palate. Another reason is the value of this wine which ages so well, this had no hint of over maturity and at less than £15 a bottle (in a sale) it really is excellent value.
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Easy drinking bottle of wine for sure, but nothing stands out in this first bottle of 3 in my cellar. Dark cherry nose, a little cola, some spice, and very similar on the palate. Nice and dry, a touch of tea. A bit thinner than I’d prefer but very good nonetheless. Just not remarkable. Have with food because there are more quaffable wines to sip by themselves. 86-87 pts.
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WSET Level 3; 11/3/2019-2/3/2020 (San Diego, CA): Second time having this wine and notes consistent as before. Served double blind. Guessed as a 2011/12 Chianti Classico Riserva (a reasonable guess in my opinion).
Fully developed nose of cherries, plums, stewed fruit, tomato leaf, liquorice, cloves, leather and tobacco. Medium+ acidity, smooth tannins, and medium weight body provide good balance to the flavors dried cherry and plums, meat, white pepper, smoke, cloves and black currant leaf. Very good.
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WSET Level 2; 8/20/2019-10/15/2019 (Leoness Cellars, Temecula, CA): Deep ruby with expressive aromas of kirsch, chocolate, anise, black cherries and wet leaves. Extended aging has smoothed out tannins to reveal dried cherries, leather, tar, chalk, minerals and vanilla. A lively, medium plus acidity provides some length to the finish. Drink
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8/14/2023 - belfast taxman wrote: 90 Points
My wife enjoyed this, indeed she reckoned that Rioja is her favourite red wine. Why? Well this was certainly a very typical easy drinking (13 degrees alcohol) example with smoky red fruits and a hint of vanilla on the nose carrying through to the palate. Another reason is the value of this wine which ages so well, this had no hint of over maturity and at less than £15 a bottle (in a sale) it really is excellent value.
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9/8/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote: 86 Points
Easy drinking bottle of wine for sure, but nothing stands out in this first bottle of 3 in my cellar. Dark cherry nose, a little cola, some spice, and very similar on the palate. Nice and dry, a touch of tea. A bit thinner than I’d prefer but very good nonetheless. Just not remarkable. Have with food because there are more quaffable wines to sip by themselves. 86-87 pts.
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12/8/2019 - R2-D2 wrote: 90 Points
WSET Level 3; 11/3/2019-2/3/2020 (San Diego, CA): Third time having this wine in a WSET class (someone must love it) and third time with consistent notes.
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11/10/2019 - R2-D2 wrote: 90 Points
WSET Level 3; 11/3/2019-2/3/2020 (San Diego, CA): Second time having this wine and notes consistent as before. Served double blind. Guessed as a 2011/12 Chianti Classico Riserva (a reasonable guess in my opinion).
Fully developed nose of cherries, plums, stewed fruit, tomato leaf, liquorice, cloves, leather and tobacco. Medium+ acidity, smooth tannins, and medium weight body provide good balance to the flavors dried cherry and plums, meat, white pepper, smoke, cloves and black currant leaf. Very good.
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9/10/2019 - R2-D2 wrote: 89 Points
WSET Level 2; 8/20/2019-10/15/2019 (Leoness Cellars, Temecula, CA): Deep ruby with expressive aromas of kirsch, chocolate, anise, black cherries and wet leaves. Extended aging has smoothed out tannins to reveal dried cherries, leather, tar, chalk, minerals and vanilla. A lively, medium plus acidity provides some length to the finish. Drink
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