2004 Bodegas Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero, Spain, Ribera del Duero, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is drinking well and seems to be at or possibly just pack peak.  It is a pretty modern take on Tempranillo but with some bottle age it shows traditionally.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, cedar and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cherries with spice and slight smoke.  Nice finish.  This is ageing gracefully and doesn't seem almost twenty years old.  That said, these should be drunk up at this point.  Nice on its own but better with food.  It would work well

Dominio Fournier 2019

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$29.99USD

Made from Tinta del Pais, this offers a lovely combination of huckleberry, green tea, blueberry, plum, light vanilla and charred wood notes. It was aged for a year in both French and some American oak. There is a lovely integration with the oak (vanilla) and the black fruit compote. The tannins support the structure of the wine and the acidity, though mild, reinforces the overall harmony. This is a very lovely wine, nothing dominates, but is seamlessly balanced. ORIGIN: Ribera del Duero, Spain. ALCOHOL: 14.5%

2001 Bodegas AAlto PS, Spain, Ribera del Duero, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$275.00USD

Bought on release and well stored.  On release, this was a very modern take on Tempranillo.  At age 22, it still drinks that way although it has calmed down and matured quite a bit since then.  Still drinking youthfully.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries with an earthy notes.  With air, more barnyard emerges (Brettanomyces) although not strong.  Full bodied.  Tannins are resolved.  On the palate, raspberries with black cherries and some kirsch.  A bit of char as well.  Long, slightly drying finish.  Complex and deep, this won't get better but shou

2018 Roger Goulart Cava Gran Reserva Extra Brut, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This cava is a blend of 35% Chardonnay, 35% Xarel·lo, 15% Macabeo, and 15% Parellada.  Light golden in color, clear and bright with a nice mousse of medium sized bubbles.  The nose has seltzer, slight diesel notes (which blew off with air), almonds and green apples.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has  a nice complexity to it.  Lemons, grapefruit, yeast and slight minerals.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Hard to beat this for value in sparkling wine.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  Paella would be an obvious choice.  Drink over the next few 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!

2020 Bodegas El Nido Clio, Spain, Jumilla, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$36.00USD

This is the big, modern style of Spanish wine.  It is a blend of 70% Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is intense with black cherries, black raspberries, blueberries along with char and spices.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Juicy, velvety texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black cherries and cassis notes with spice and underlying char.  Enough acidity to handle the fruit.  Long finish.  Of course, this is young and will develop and mellow a bit as the tannins and fruit integrate, but this is not a shy wine not will it be in twent

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.

2021 Bodegas La Cana Albariño, Spain, Rias Baixis, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$14.00USD

This is a crisp white wine from northwest Spain.  It is made from 100% Albarino grapes.  It sees 35% Large used oak barrels and the rest stainless steel.  Pale yellow gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has lemon/lime but also a slight papaya note with lots of minerality.  A touch of salinity on the nose.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, crisp acidity with a lovely texture.  Limes with a slight herbal note (chervil?) and mineral undertones.  Long finish.  This is a seriously great value in whites.  While I do like the California Albarino's, its hard to justify paying for them when Spa

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