Tempranillo

Usually, I like to let Saxum's age more, but this one is 45% Zinfandel, so we popped the cork.  Good move.  Also it has 36% Mourvedre, 12% Tempranillo and 7% Petite Sirah.  Weighs in at just under 16% ABV.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is big with black cherries, plums, black raspberries, some earthiness and spice.  On the palate, there is no heat.  Juicy black cherries, and black raspberries.  Some underlying char.  Long finish.  This is delicious but will be a tough food match.  Maybe some BBQ with spicy sauce?  It will be interesting to see how this ages.  I suspect the Zin fades and

Moro is one of the top producers in Ribera del Duero.  This is their entry level red and is made from Tinto de Toro (a clone of Tempranillo).  It spends four months in oak before being bottled.  Purple/ruby in color.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, dust and slight dill notes.  On the palate, this is very ripe fruit.  Very light tannins.  Mostly cherries, some sour cherries with some black licorice notes and spice especially on the finish.  This is made for immediate drinking and it is fine for that.  It will works with stews and foods without strong flavors.  

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is pretty with cherries, black cherries, slight dust, and spice.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Flavors of black cherries with some dill.  Light tannins.  Medium finish.  Very food friendly, this should go with a wide variety but stews and casseroles should do very well.  It is probably close to peak but should be at this level for a decade.  Available for around $15, this is a great value in traditional Rioja.  

Brought back from Spain by a neighbor after meeting with the owners.  This is drinking well now and traditional.  Ruby in color.  The nose is dusty with cherries and slight dried dill.  On the palate, this seems to be just slightly past prime but still drinking well.  Dried and fresh cherries with no tannins.  Easy drinking.  Food friendly.  A very good value although drinking in the first couple of years from vintage is a good idea.  

Deep ruby in color.  The nose is slightly dusty with black cherries.  On the palate, this has ripe black cherries.  This seemed different than earlier vintages.  LVMH bought this winery in 2008 so perhaps a bit different in philosophy.   Not as concentrated and wild.  It is a very good wine that will work with a wide variety of foods.  

An excellent bottle but not one of the better vintages of Numanthia.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has clay, dust and plenty of black cherries.  A bit thinner in body than other vintages.  Nice black cherry fruit on the palate.  Drinking fine right now.  Very food friendly for a wide range of foods.  

Of course, 2003 was an extremely hot vintage all across Spain.  Some wines were over ripe while in other cases, the vines simply shut down causing under ripe wines.  No worries here.  This wine was excellent.  Deep ruby in color if a bit flat.  The nose is interesting.  Dusty with cherries and black cherries and a hint of mint.  On the palate, this has lush black cherries.  Some initial heat but it smoothed out with a bit of air.  It is a bit riper than most vintages but not too much.  Drinking well now and for the next five to ten years.  

Dull purple in color.  The nose is nice.  Fresh and earthy with some cherries.  On the palate, this has bright cherries.  A bit lighter than other vintages.  It faded quickly in the glass.  Still quite good but this probably needs to be consumed in the next few years if this bottle was representative.  More red cherries than black cherries.  

Easily the star in a vertical of older vintages of Numanthia.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has slight coconut with ripe black cherries and some spice.  On the palate, this is lush, deep and still youthful.  Black cherry fruit.  Firm medium tannins.  Long finish.  Just a delicious wine that will doubtless last another decade and probably two as it matures.  This will need bigger food to stand up to it.  

This wine is showing its age and was a unanimous choice for last place in our vertical.  That said, it is still worth drinking if you own a bottle, just lower expectations.  Purple in color.  The nose is a bit dusty with just a bit of diluted cherry fruit left.  On the palate, this lacks fruit.  There is a bit of a root beer note that is interesting.  Slightly bitter on the finish.  It has some depth.  Of course, at age 19, bottles will vary.