Rioja

This is mostly Tempranillo but also has 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo (according to the label).  This is everything one wants in a Gran Reserva including a reasonable price!  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight sour cherries, balsamic vinegar, vanilla and forest floor.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this has a nice complexity and depth.  Flavors of cherries, black cherries, wild herbs, spice and slight tobacco notes.  Long finish.  Mature but plenty of life left.  Drink over the next fifteen years.  This  is great on its

This is a blend of 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, and 5% Mazuelo from Rioja in Spain.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, vanilla, spice, and tea leaves.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, cherries, slight charred cherries, spice and forest floor notes.  Some complexity and depth.  This shows some maturity but there is room for further development.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  This is nice on its own and has an introspective quality but also will work well with food.  A nice wine with stews or

Great producer in the very HOT vintage of 2003.  Again it shows producer over vintage.  At age 21, this wine is showing nicely.

Deep garnet in color with some lighter ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight cedar, dill and dust.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is complex with tight layers.  Flavors of cherries, some black cherries, spice and slight char.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  It will work well with roasted duck or chicken.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

Wow, this is a tannic beast. At age 19/20 this is young and difficult if excellent.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, cigar box, and slight spice.  Full bodied.  Very firm tannins.  On the palate it is complex and layered.  Layers of cherries, dill and vanilla.  Long black cherry finish.  Great balance.  It seems like it could easily go another twenty years.  Will the fruit  outlast the tannins though?  In any event, very enjoyable on its own and will work better with food.  A Mushroom Risotto would be great.  

Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose  has cherries, dust, and slight cigar.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, black cherries with anise.  Some depth.  Long finish.  Overall, a nice wine that will go well with stews or Chili. Drink over the next five years.  

This is a lighter, but traditional, Rioja.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose is a bit earthy with fresh cherries and a whiff of tobacco.  Light to medium bodied.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, flavors of cherries with a bit of char.  Anise on the finish.  This drinks easily and should for the next five to seven years.  Nice on its own, this would be a great mid week meatloaf or pizza wine.  

This is a Rosé from Spain that is a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha.  It is Salmon pink/copper in color, clear and bright.  The nose is interesting with a slight orange/citrus note along with cherries, strawberries and a very slight vanilla note.  (As an aside, both this and the Blanco had a vanilla note, but it does not appear the wines so oak, so where does it come from?).  Medium bodied with a slightly oily texture.  On the palate, lots of fresh cherries, some cranberries and slight red currants.  A bitter almond note on the finish.  This is refreshing and a lovely wine to serv

This is a blend of 93% Viura, 4% Sauvignon Blanc, and 3% Verdejo grapes from the Rioja region of Spain.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with sea air/salinity, Limes, and slight vanilla note.  Light bodied with a slightly viscous texture.  12% abv.  On the palate, this is very refreshing.  Limes with underlying minerality.  Good acidity.  This will work well with lighter foods.  Tuna or Chicken salad would work well.  drink over the next couple of years.  Great Value!

This was the second time tasting this wine this month.  Lucky me!  It is classic old style Rioja impeccably produced.   Truly a great value in traditional Rioja.  The wine is fermented in 144 year old oak vats before being stored for five years in used American oak barrels and five more in bottles.  It is a blend of Tempranillo (80%), Garnacho (15%), Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano (5%) from estate vineyards. Ruby in color with some purple swirls and maybe just a hint of orange.  The nose is great with cherries, spice, cedar, dust and slight herbal note.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.