Chris England

9.5

This is a super hard Rioja to get your hands on (think Rocking Horse 💩) & is Mugas top wine only produced in top vintages so I was quite happy to find this & some 2015 as only around 5,600 bottles 😮 it’s not cheap at £120-£155 but I’ve been chasing for ages! Having had the amazing Prado Enea & Torre Muga in 09 I couldn’t wait 😊 The verdict? It’s a monster 😈 but will benefit 5-10 years more age 😉

📍 Bodegas Muga - Aro 2009

🏵 95 points w/ 96-98+ potential 👀

🍇 70% Tempranillo & 30% Graciano

💥 14.5% ABV

💨 4hrs+ or 15 mins in #vSpin

🍷 Deep opaque blackened ruby

👃 Double shot mocha through more coffee, black cherry & blackcurrant w/ blueberry, liquorice, dark red roses, violet & drowned red fruits w/ a touch of balsamic & vanilla cream

👄 Med++ intense loaded dark fruit body of black cherry, blackcurrant & blueberry bathed in cocoa mocha cream w/ a hint of balsamic & liquorice in fine slight dry tannins & mineral

🎯 Long deep dark fruit annihilation w/ a red fruit undertone & big mocha liquorice slight dry mineral kiss — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

It's Friday and I'm ready for my Cabernet fix. This week it's one from Washington State.

Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim.


Fruity nose with blackberries, blueberries, cherries, raisins, figs, vanilla, licorice, oak, spices, earth, leather, green tea and black pepper.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, vegetables, leather, earth, chocolates, peppercorn and pencil lead.

Medium plus on the finish with firm tannins and tangy cranberries.

This Washington Cabernet is drinking very nicely now. Well balanced with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel. Showing a nice structure with ample black fruits and a touch of earthiness.

Last time I had it, it needed an hour to open up properly. I used the #VSpin this time, for 10 minutes, and it did the trick, and brought in tannins and complexity.

Will be good in the next couple of years. Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a cheese plate, nuts and crackers.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$17. — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

8.8

Tomorrow is international Grenache day, so let's open one to celebrate.

Ruby in color with a wide dirty reddish rim.

On the nose blueberries, cherries, raspberries, black currants, earth, wood, vanilla, vegetables, spices, licorice, eucalyptus, graphite, black pepper, dark coffee and alcohol.

Medium-bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, raspberries, strawberries, red currants, bell pepper, green vegetables, bitter herbs, wet leaves, peppercorn, oak, licorice, spices, coffee, cola, pencil lead and earth.

Medium plus on the finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice Grenache blend from the Rhône Valley. Not fully balanced anymore, but drinking nicely even by itself.

Showing nice earthy notes with a little bit of fruit. Soft and spicy mouthfeel with nice complexity.
A good food wine. Was probably better a year or two ago. Should be served lighty chilled.

I opened it up with the #Vspin for 7 minutes and it seemed to do the trick.

I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

A blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah.

14% alcohol by volume.

87 Points.

$15. — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Dark ruby in color with a wide rim and medium intensity.


Fruity nose with black currants, blueberries, plums, earth, bing cherries, vanilla, graphite, vegetables, barnyard, herbs, spices, black pepper, wet leaves and celery.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and fruity, with cherries, strawberries, red candy, blackcurrants, earth, barnyard, bitter vegetables, oak, cloves, spices, herbs, graphite, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates and peppercorn.

Nice finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast. Well balanced and enjoyable by itself or with food. Good right out of the bottle, but better as it opens up and gets more complexity and tannins. I used the #Vspin to open it up for 10 minutes.

Showing a great nose and an enjoyable mouthfeel. I really enjoyed just smelling on it for a long while.

Spicy and enjoyable now, but will be enjoyable in the next five years as well. Rich and very tasty, with a soft mouthfeel.

I had the 2014 vintage as well, and this was better than the 2014, as it was still young.

Aged in 40% new French Oak barrels for 22 months.

I paired it with Parmesan cheese, olives and crackers.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$75. — 6 years ago