Not fruit forward, strong tannins, hints of plum, cocoa, tobacco, and espresso. Beautiful brick color, with the bestest soon to be husband. — 4 years ago
This is still my favourite Rioja & vintage at present, worth £80 😍 My 10th try & still a beauty I can’t resist 👍 I exemplifies the pure essence a high quality Rioja 👏
📍 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2001
▶️ @lariojaaltasa 🤗
🏵 96 points
🍇 95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano & 2% Mazuelo
🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge
👃 Smoked oak through mashed earthy cherries covered in vanilla coconut cream, balsamic jam & double caramel choc mocha w/ red liquorice, truffle, prune, date & light spiced herbs #nosetasia
👄 Med body of rich smooth silky creamy dark & red cherry bathed in balsamic goo w/ melted mocha & earthy liquorice
🎯 Long balsamic cherry mocha berry blast w/ a balsamic linger, touch of woody oak & red berry — 7 years ago
(aged in American oak barrels for nine years and then in bottle for a minimum of eight more years) Faded brick-red. Aromas of red berries, dried rose, cedar and tobacco show outstanding delineation and pick up woodsmoke and herb nuances as the wine opens up. Sweet and seamless in texture, offering mineral-accented red currant, cherry and blood orange flavors that spread out steadily on the back half. The extremely long, tannin-free finish shows compelling sweetness, lingering florality and an echo of smoky oak. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, May 2017) — 8 years ago
Vibrant, expressive, feminine. Superior biodynamic quality of fruit, not masked by oak. — 8 years ago
Feb 2023. Slightly brick red color, more than last year. Palate slightly less candy sweet. Carefully decanted. A week later, very fine sediment on bottom of decanter. Recommend long decant. A month later, still drinks smooth and sweet. — 3 years ago
Just gets better. Light to medium. Some grit. Some sweet tart. Yum. — 8 years ago
I usually tend toward Pinot Noir, but when I want something just a bit bolder, Gamay hits the spot. I have really been enjoying this 2015 vintage. — 8 years ago
Birth year bottle for our first born daughter, Haley. Celebrating her graduation from Iowa State this weekend and her achieving gainful employment one week from tomorrow. The cork was stubborn but eventually cooperated, and we decanted and filtered the wine. Tart cherry the first sip, wondering if we needed a backup. Beautifully brick coloring and the sharp edges are rounding out and now we’re getting a smooth mid palate of dark berries and spice leading to a bright finish. And a bright future! 👍🏻🍷👩🎓. Cheers! — 8 years ago
Ruby red delicious! — 4 years ago
A good brick red plenty of tannic strength holding it together — 5 years ago
My favourite Pomerol in a great year 🏆 now sells @ £250-£285 😱 On its 6th try & it’s now much better integrated & drinking lovely but will age more 😉 A New Year’s Eve delight 😍 enjoyed with Lasagne 🍝
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📍 Vieux Chateau Certan 1998 Pomerol
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🏵 98 points for 1998 😁 & should improve
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🍇 90% Merlot & 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
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🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge
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👃 Nasal Nookie Gang Bang of creamy dark spiced damson plum in soft smoked oak & light cedar w/ soggy earth, wet leaves, liquorice, rock minerals, cracked pencil lead, dirty gravel, cocoa, black berry fruits, charred soot embers, mint & herbs - nasaltastic baby 😍
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👄 Med earthy body of silky smooth ripe dark plum & black berry fruits w/ red cherry, raspberry liquorice & choc mocha in slight dry rock minerals
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🎯 Long deep plum & dark berry earthy soft liquorice mocha choca cherry & a light dry mineral oaky seductive smack in your chops — 7 years ago
Cherry pie with homemade whip and cinnamon. Red plums. — 8 years ago
Aroma of dusty raspberries. A hint of sweetness with a big raspberry strawberry dryness in the middle. — 8 years ago
Jonathan Wall
Rocked the salmon! — 3 years ago