2017 Biurko Gorri Rioja Joven, Spain, Rioja, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
87
Grade: 
B

Ruby in color.  The nose is dusty with cherries.  On the palate, this has cherries turning to bitter cherry on the finish.  No tannins.  Easy to drink.  Nothing complex here, but for 12 bucks, this is a food friendly wine that will work for a variety of foods that are not too light or heavy.  Great for parties or cookouts.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

2004 Fernando Remírez de Ganuza Rioja, Spain, Rioja, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Great showing for this bottle.  Purple in color.  The nose is dusty with dark cherries and tobacco.  On the palate, black cherries and the tobacco continues thru.  Good balance.  Some tannins left.  Nice finish.  Blind I would have guessed right bank Bordeaux.  Still youthful, but not a baby.  Probably needs another five years until peak.  Nice complexity as it unwinds in the glass.  Great with some hearty food.  Maybe a point or tow of upside still.  

2001 Faustino Rioja I Gran Reserva, Spain, Rioja, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

I used to drink a lot of this wine and earlier vintages back in the day.  Its been a while, but when a friend popped the cork, it was fun.  Still a great wine.  Ruby in color.  The nose is earthy with slight barnyard.  Cherries, slight dill, and slighter vanilla.  On the palate, cherry fruit with a bit of cherry cough drops.  Good acidity.  Very food friendly.  Softer texture.  Nice depth.  Seems to be drinking at or near peak but no hurry.  

2003 Bodega Numanthia Toro Termes, Spain, Toro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has a damp forest floor quality with black raspberries, and black cherries.  On the palate, this is drinking quite well and much younger than its 15 years would suggest.  It has shed most of its oak from its youth with plenty of fruit still left.  It is ripe and jammy.  Slight tannins mostly integrated at this point. Nice glycerin driven texture.  Seems at or close to peak but no hurry.  Slight warmth on the finish.  

2014 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Cune Crianza, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

My second time trying this.  The first was with my dinner in the Barcelona train station from a 375ml.  We need more trains in the US.  Ruby in color.  The nose has nice cherries.  On the palate, this has a slight amount of acid.  Cherries and slightly bitter cherries.  No real tannins.  Just a nice, little bot of fruit wine.  Drink in the next couple of years.  For under $15, this is a good value and may be the choice from time to time on a restaurant list.  

2005 Dominio Pingus Ribera del Duero Flor de Pingus, Spain, Ribera del Duero, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

Wow.  This is smoking right now.  Probably at or very close to peak but should stay there for a decade.  Ruby in color.  The nose is great with cherries, sandalwood, dust and a bit of dry earthiness.  On the palate, this has great balance.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  Complex with layers of cherries, slight dried cherries, spice and earth.  It does have a slight roasted quality but not in the fruit just a sort or arid quality (terroir?).  Absolutely great with food.  This wine is not inexpensive but worth buying 2 bottles; one to drink soon and one to lay down.  

2014 Dinastía Vivanco Rioja Crianza Selección de Familia, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This is a nice value red from the Rioja region of Spain.   It retails for around $16 which is a great price for a nice red.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is dusty with cherries.  On the palate, there are cherries and some tobacco.  Slight tannins.  Good balance.  There is some depth/complexity here but this is not a wine to be aged.  That said, if well stored it should be good for at least five more years.  Works well with a wide variety of food.  

2012 Bodegas Vinsacro Rioja, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is nice; spice, plums and cherries with a bit of dill.  Nice texture.  Slight tannins.  Tart cherries on the palate.  Nice finish.  This retails for $33.  It is drinking well now and should be good for five to ten years.  

2004 Alonso del Yerro Ribera del Duero Maria, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This is made from Tempranillo.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is dusty with black cherries.  On the palate, the black cherries carry thru.  A slight dill note.  Still firm tannins.  Nice finish.  This is still young at 14 years from vintage and certainly seems to have some upside.  It is a big, forward wine but a bit still in the shell.  If drinking now, give it a nice decant.  

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