1998 Abadia Retuerta Selección Especial Sardon de Duero

Community Tasting Notes (6) Avg Score: 89 points

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  11/30/2017 - kfk Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Really amazing! All tertiary notes. Bought recently from winery so perfect storage. Wish I bought more

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  9/18/2016 - Wine Ratings wrote:

  I took a flier on this bottle out of curiousity, more than anything, particularly since most reviews I could find were nearly 10 years old and already indicating that it was well past its prime. For a long while after opening, even that description was generous – it wasn’t just passed over, but seemingly undrinkable. I left it in the decanter and moved on to something else; however, upon returning to it many hours later (6, to be exact - assuming I’d be pouring it out) I was surprised to find a dramatic turnaround. Don’t get me wrong, the wine was still intensely tertiary, and what slight fruit notes did appear were of the stewed/dried variety, but it was still amazing to witness the transition from a vinegar-like substance to something that was reasonably enjoyable to drink. It covered all of the savoury notes you’d expect with age (leather, wet leaves, meat/game, vegetal, nuttiness) but threw in a host of other intriguing hints as well (tomatoes, charcoal, smoke, tar, paprika, and caramel). Quite the spectrum, to say the least. It even had an interesting chili-chocolate sense on the finish. Overall, the strongest notion I had was that it resembled a strong, spicy tomato sauce. It’s tough to give the bottle a rating, since I didn’t have a taste in its youth and at this point it’s hard to determine the nature of the wine itself. Still, despite those reviews indicating otherwise, it managed to hold up to a certain extent and provide a worthwhile opportunity to experience what age will provide you if you're willing to take a chance!

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  5/12/2014 - Ben Christiansen wrote:

  It was solid, but mostly passed over. I would be nice to explore it more, although I wonder if the passing evaluation is the kindest.

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  10/31/2008 - calgarywino wrote: 86 Points

  Hadn't had a bottle in a few years and was surprised. Thought this wine would still have something but fairly dead. Bottle off?

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  8/3/2008 - Maestro wrote: 90 Points

  Probably at its very peak right now, this wine reveals red fruit, cedar, licorice, pencil lead, and roasted meat. The palate is medium-bodied and very generous, with tons of fruit well integrated with the oak, and with enough acidity to make it taste fresh and yet balanced. This is an outstanding effort and delivers very good value. Drink from now until 2010.

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