2008 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Gran Reserva, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

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.  

2004 Bodegas Muga Rioja Selección Especial, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$125.00USD

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.  

2017 Bodegas del Medievo Rioja Reserva, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

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.  

2019 Bodegas El Coto Rioja Crianza, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$17.00USD

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.  

2021 Bodegas El Coto Rioja Rosado, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

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

2022 Bodegas El Coto Rioja Blanco Spain, Wine review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$12.00USD

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!

2011 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Bosconia, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

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.

2011 Bodegas Muga Rioja Gran Reserva Prado Enea, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

Another classic Rioja albeit a slightly more modern style.  This is a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha.  Ruby in color with a purple core, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, cedar, black cherries, forest floor, dust and chocolate.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black cherries, tobacco and spice with some underlying char.  Some chocolate comes out on the long finish.  This is still young but already great.  A couple more years in the cellar will be rewarded but this is fantastic drinking now.  Drink over th

2016 Bodegas El Coto Rioja Coto de Imaz Reserva, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

My first time trying this wine and it was quite enjoyable.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, spice and slight chocolate notes.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this drinks easy but there is also some depth.  Cherries, with a slight char and the chocolate note comes thru as well.  Nice finish.  This drinks nicely on its own but should be very food friendly at the table.  A nice match would be grilled sausages.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  A very nice value.

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