100% 40+ year old Tempranillo planted on clay and limestone soil at 500-600 m. 2 years in American oak barrels (new the first year and 4th used the second year). The nose shows dark and red fruit and creamy, vanilla oak. The palate is elegant in feel and light on its feet with more dark fruit than red, medium-low acid, some spice and oak notes. Tannins are already soft and easy and smooth to drink now. No sense of the 14.5% alcohol. More akin to good cru bourgeois Left Bank Bordeaux compared to other Reserva Rioja which are bigger, darker and oakier.
https://winediplomats.com/
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Solid tannins not overwhelming. Notes of plum Cherry and smoke. Pleasant to pair with light meat. After a day the tannins had mostly dissipated and but the wine retained fruit
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Open bottle for 30 minutes, then decanted for 1 hour. Dark ruby color, nose on cedar, dill, parsley, vanilla. Robust mouth, well structured, floral taste, good quality for the price. Paired with grilled beef and the menthol notes were refreshing : the contrast with the meat was a great feeling. I prefer the Gran Reserva style, but this was close to it.
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Weather getting cooler so decided to fire up the BBQ and drink some Spanish wines! Simple 2016 horizontal for some Rioja and Ribera del Duero wines. All of the wines were breathed in bottle for 1.5 hours and decanted for around 1 hour before serving.
2016 La Rioja Alta Rioja Vina Alberdi Reserva- (90pt) Excellent QPR, I thought this one was extremely vanilla flavored compared to the others. Slightly less structured. It was also slightly sweeter, perhaps strawberry Jam. Full-bodied, inky, smooth, and concentrated. Although this is perhaps the most budget of the wines, a healthy portion of guests really liked this wine paired with BBQ. Personally, it relatively lacked finesse and elegance. (100% Tempranillo)
2016 Benjamin Rothschild & Vega Sicilia Macan- (92pt) My WOTN. Very elegant. This wine was beautifully structured and balanced. Perhaps not the best with BBQ but it had excellent structure and depth. Fresh, tobacco, blackberry, polished tannins, with aromatic oak. Medium+ body. (100% Tempranillo)
2016 Muga Rioja Seleccion Especial- (90pt) Compared to the others this wine stood out for smokey, meat, and gamey notes. Long and lively, I thought this wine was a bit grippy and tannic (in a good way). I thought it had good structure and focused. Dark berry, cherry cola, and leather. Med+ Body. I thought it was a bit restrained and lacking a bit of vibrancy compared to the other wines. (75% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano).
2016 Vina Vilano Ribera del Duero La Baraja- (90pt) Dark Cherry, black fruits, good balance, juicy, vanilla, dried violet, modern style RdD, good QPR, very approachable. Relatively lacking in complexity, depth, and structure. Excellent with BBQ. (75% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot)
2016 Aster Finca El Otero Ribera del Duero- (90pt) Relatively acidic and tart compared to the other wines. Smooth, peppery, cedar, balsamic, complex, black fruits, and currants. Elegant tannins and powerful mouthfeel. Well made wine but probably the least favorite amongst guests of the evening. (100% Tempranillo)
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4/16/2024 - Wine Diplomats Likes this wine: 90 Points
100% 40+ year old Tempranillo planted on clay and limestone soil at 500-600 m. 2 years in American oak barrels (new the first year and 4th used the second year). The nose shows dark and red fruit and creamy, vanilla oak. The palate is elegant in feel and light on its feet with more dark fruit than red, medium-low acid, some spice and oak notes. Tannins are already soft and easy and smooth to drink now. No sense of the 14.5% alcohol. More akin to good cru bourgeois Left Bank Bordeaux compared to other Reserva Rioja which are bigger, darker and oakier.
https://winediplomats.com/
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3/15/2024 - Retired Pat wrote: 90 Points
Solid tannins not overwhelming. Notes of plum Cherry and smoke. Pleasant to pair with light meat. After a day the tannins had mostly dissipated and but the wine retained fruit
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2/19/2024 - Sergio Carneiro Filho Likes this wine: 90 Points
Rubi M
Limpo M
Frutas Vermelhas
Equilibrado
Corp M
Típico Tempranillo
Pronto para beber
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1/20/2024 - Veni_Bibi_Vici Likes this wine: 90 Points
Open bottle for 30 minutes, then decanted for 1 hour. Dark ruby color, nose on cedar, dill, parsley, vanilla. Robust mouth, well structured, floral taste, good quality for the price. Paired with grilled beef and the menthol notes were refreshing : the contrast with the meat was a great feeling. I prefer the Gran Reserva style, but this was close to it.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2023 - crumblemore Likes this wine: 90 Points
Weather getting cooler so decided to fire up the BBQ and drink some Spanish wines! Simple 2016 horizontal for some Rioja and Ribera del Duero wines. All of the wines were breathed in bottle for 1.5 hours and decanted for around 1 hour before serving.
2016 La Rioja Alta Rioja Vina Alberdi Reserva- (90pt) Excellent QPR, I thought this one was extremely vanilla flavored compared to the others. Slightly less structured. It was also slightly sweeter, perhaps strawberry Jam. Full-bodied, inky, smooth, and concentrated. Although this is perhaps the most budget of the wines, a healthy portion of guests really liked this wine paired with BBQ. Personally, it relatively lacked finesse and elegance. (100% Tempranillo)
2016 Benjamin Rothschild & Vega Sicilia Macan- (92pt) My WOTN. Very elegant. This wine was beautifully structured and balanced. Perhaps not the best with BBQ but it had excellent structure and depth. Fresh, tobacco, blackberry, polished tannins, with aromatic oak. Medium+ body. (100% Tempranillo)
2016 Muga Rioja Seleccion Especial- (90pt) Compared to the others this wine stood out for smokey, meat, and gamey notes. Long and lively, I thought this wine was a bit grippy and tannic (in a good way). I thought it had good structure and focused. Dark berry, cherry cola, and leather. Med+ Body. I thought it was a bit restrained and lacking a bit of vibrancy compared to the other wines. (75% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano).
2016 Vina Vilano Ribera del Duero La Baraja- (90pt) Dark Cherry, black fruits, good balance, juicy, vanilla, dried violet, modern style RdD, good QPR, very approachable. Relatively lacking in complexity, depth, and structure. Excellent with BBQ. (75% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot)
2016 Aster Finca El Otero Ribera del Duero- (90pt) Relatively acidic and tart compared to the other wines. Smooth, peppery, cedar, balsamic, complex, black fruits, and currants. Elegant tannins and powerful mouthfeel. Well made wine but probably the least favorite amongst guests of the evening. (100% Tempranillo)
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment