1997 Barón de Oña Rioja Reserva

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 92 points

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  1/2/2021 - StefanAkiko Likes this wine: 93 Points

  From the get-go, a stunner!
  Opened for CT New Year Festivities with one glass imbibed (5 am here after some serious previous deep dives). Properly tasted and enjoyed today, two days later. With cheese :-)
  
  Beautiful dark red with clear bricking.
  Nose is huge and inviting. Dark berries, rich earthy and leather, moderate barrels, very mature cherries, kaffir, whiff of sous bois and the tiniest leaves of dill. Quite refined and very, very attractive. It has that typical "Bdx earth" as well, together with a touch of beautiful Brett.
  
  In the mouth this is an elegant, rich Rioja that I'm not sure I'd have picked in a blind tasting. There is a clear citrus streak here. Just before going down the hatch, red fruit pops up in a beautiful way. The style/power is much more like Castilla y Leon. I don't mind :-) Structurally, this is definitely not a Bdx as the acidity and tannic profile don't fit. Deep, balanced and complex - this is a fantastic wine!
  
  Early stage maturity and has a lot more to give and evolve. Wish I had more!

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  12/5/2010 - mmh wrote: 91 Points

  Really nice! Fresh acidity on the palate.

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  12/3/2010 - Solde wrote:

  Dill, pencil shavings, ceder wood, maybe vanilla nose. Palate much better - good body and nice acidity. Good length. Pretty good.

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  12/3/2010 - avp wrote:

  A rather big nose dominated by (mostly oaky) secondary and tertiary aromas: peashoots, beans, cappucino, dill, chocolate truffels, butter and gingerbread.
  What a lovely transition from nose to palate. Medium bodied and mouth-coveringly chewy still kept well in check by the refreshing acidity. Dark-toned and mature with the fruit perhaps hidden in the structure, but no way lost.
  Altogether a very positive surprise. Good QPR.

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  8/2/2009 - dbastug wrote: flawed

  This is well past its time. It was brownish in color, not much flavor. This was cellered but still the cork was dry and crumbly. (rated as 75 but changed to flawed)

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