Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; consumed over two days. Consistent both days. The 2017 Marqués de Riscal “Reserva” pours a deep ruby with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with dark cherries, ripe bruised strawberries, baked apple, hibiscus, toasted coconut, vanilla, new leather and some baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Medium+ alcohol. A lovely pairing with my sort of modern riff on paella for a quick Tuesday evening meal. More please!

Having enjoyed vintages going back to the early 1980’s, I think Marqués de Riscal “Reserva” is one of the last few, true bargains in the wine world. They are classic in the sense that they are unmistakably Rioja and they have the ability to age for decades. It’s very hard for me to think of another wine that is widely available for under $30 that can drink this well and cellar that long. Let’s enjoy the disparity while we can! — 2 years ago

Austin Blackwell

8.9

Lighter bodied than even some of their Pinots but has decent balance. — 5 years ago

with Angelina

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Had this 6 mos ago at Tasting, liked it, bought several bottles for cellar. Blend of Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot & Malbec, made by 30 year Chappellet winemaker Phillip Titus. Deep Ruby, purple edges, youthful aromas of black fruit, spices and flinty notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry and black cherry with some vanilla and tobacco and herbal floral notes. Vivid acidity & firm tight tannins with long finish ending with a youthful character, aging well should benefit from bottle aging. — 6 years ago

JUAN LOPEZ

10

Besos de los dioses — 6 years ago

with Adriana

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The start of watching NFL Football 🏈 in the backyard for the dog days of summer. Reason enough to break out the BSR. Still my favorite N/V Rosé Champagne. Really refreshing on a hot day for our neck of the woods, 83 degrees and 90 plus in the sun.

Happy Friday & weekend all! Cheers 🍾🥂! — 6 years ago

Clément Poisson

8.9

Was a dumbo and didn't realize I had bought Sherry?
Very light golden yellow. Smells of candied nuts but tastes of proscuitto a little bit (salty). — 8 years ago

Sam Friedland

9.0

Lemon, pears and minerals. Went very well with Chilean sea bass! — 4 years ago

Steven Richardson

9.1

Vanilla is known as ‘the salt of the baking world’ and this wine embodies that. Velvety smooth vanilla, maybe black cherry or Concord grape, peppercorn, tea leaf. I was skeptical at first finding an 11 year old wine in 2021 that had bottle gimmicks like fake gold wire, but is worth the 30$CAD if you can find it! — 4 years ago

Mike R

9.5

Wine Nerd herd virtual tasting of various vintages from 90s, 00s and 10s - mine was the 2013 - 88% CS, 8% PV, 3% merlot and 1% CF from various vineyards in the valley floor region - four hour decant - this is less fruit than you would expect but certainly an amazing wine - Napa finest at a modernist style Bordeaux blend - nose was rich with tobacco leather cocoa and forest floor - heavy to medium body yet the wine was soft because the fruit was muffled - mid palette with black blue and red fruits - orange peel cinnamon and sweet silky tannins integrated nicely - this could easily go 30 more years but not sure it will get better so if willing to decant and maybe even double decant for an afternoon this wine is ready for being paired with a cowboy bone in rib eye steak and will not let you down - truly an enjoyable experience as was all vintages tasted last night - HUGE SMILES — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Label based on Little Prisoner etching, by Francisco de Goya. Deep Ruby with red fruit aromas and hints of woody spice. Aged 30% on new oak, combo of French/American barrels, blend of Zin, Cab Sauv, Petite Sirah, Syrah & Charbono. Palate shows flavors of sweet cherry, blueberry & raspberry, zesty spice lively acidity, good balance. Fine tannins, long finish ending with cacao & oaky character. — 6 years ago

Susan Sangiacomo

9.2

Yummy. This is my dessert. Nutty. Caramel. — 7 years ago

Eric Burtner-Abt

9.1

Spice, leather, blackberry, vanilla nose. Lush blackberry, tobacco and, mineral, hint of raisin in the finish. — 7 years ago

Joe Gillies

9.2

Still young and needs time or a good decant.

30 min decant. Aromas are still somewhat muted. Subtle soft blackberry aromas.
Blackberry, Blueberry, subtle smoke, and leather flavors.

Always a solid wine especially around the $50 price point. — 8 years ago

Lars Kirstein

9.4

40 years old but still in a very good shape, typical green pepper nose, medium body but stays for more than 30 seconds — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.7

Blend of 61% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot, 8% Cab Franc & 1% Petit Verdot. Deep Ruby with aromas of berry fruit aromas & herb notes. On the palate black raspberry & blackberry, currant-like, with tobacco, cacao and smoky oak notes. Fine polished tannins, long finish ending with fruit and earthy mineral tones, just starting to drink well but will last for the next decade+. Tasting Sample! — 4 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.3

Complex, earthy cigar box tannins right from the start transitioning in a vibrant dark fruit on the mid palet and a nice grippy finish. At its peak after about 30-60 minutes, flatting out after two hours. If it had more staying power I would have rated it in the upper echelon. — 6 years ago

with Tammy

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Tried 6mos ago. Began 1916, Juan Gil Giménez, great-grandfather of present generation, built winery in heart of Jumilla. Blue label spent 18 months in new oak (wine formally known as 18 mos representing time in bottle, now “Blue Label.” Monastrell, Cab Sauv & Syrah blend (60/30/10), low yield, aromas of red berry and toasty oak. Palate shows flavors of dark berry fruits, espresso, cacao and hints of sweet spice. Big dusty tannins, well integrated with oak, lingering, well balanced. Aged well, still going! — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

The 1989 Pichon-Baron repeats its performance from the vertical tasting in May 2018. It storms from the glass, bearing copious blackberry, cedar and perhaps a little more mint than I noticed on the previous bottle. There is so much youthful zeal to this harmonious, refined Pauillac that you would barely guess it is 30 years old. Long and tender with a graphite-infused finish, this bottle might be even better than the ex-château example. Tasted at the 1989 Bordeaux dinner at Hatched in London. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2019) — 6 years ago

Michael Greene

9.0

Very honeyed and less mellow than the 40 year. Still mighty complex — 7 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.3

Notes of luscious caramel syrup with hazelnuts and raisins — 8 years ago