Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend

Still so young and fresh. Gorgeous!

So good. These old Riojas are speaking to me these days. Vegetable garden, cigar, dried fruit. Young and old at the same time, which I saw as another review. So good. A fantastic solo dining companion.

Cigar box and dead leaves for days. Youthful yet old at the same time. Beautiful.

A good wine from an outstanding vintage. There is still lively cherry fruit with the typical Gran Reserva leather and cocoa, but this particular bottle exhibited some oxidation with a cork that disintegrated at the back half. Medium tannin, high alcohol, and high acid. It might be time to drink this vintage up.

Amazing. In a lovely place with still beautiful fruit but so elegant and balanced. Wow!

Nice nose, very balanced

Crudo italiano $160 needs time to decant. Solid rioja, Ned to long finish

Finally opening to tertiary notes of yeast, cranberry and caramel

Still drinking young and fresh. Bright cherry nose with a hint of char and barnyard funk. On the palate cherry, cranberry, and red fruit starts with spice, black tea, cocoa, tobacco, and leather kicking in mid-palate supported by a mineral backbone. Strong acid builds through the finish. A fabulous medium bodied red with the roundness and smoothness of age that still retains the brilliance of a young crianza.

Still drinking young and fresh. Lovely balance of tannins and acid.