ESF

8.5

Had the 2021 and this 2022 is a completely different wine. Significantly more reserved - Maconnaise style, lean, dare I say thin. Citrus, minerals and flowers on palate, prominent acidity, med - body and modest finish. They jacked up price & under-delivered — a day ago

ESF

9.3

What a gem! Rich ruby w/mild bricking at edge: gorgeous nose of dusty red & black fruit and tons of secondary notes - anywhere from coffee, tobacco, cassis, licorice & cocoa to dried herbs & minerals, very finely delineated red berried fruit at times, vein of minerality cutting through nose & palate. You can smell & taste the Tempranillo & Merlot individually. Med bodied w/finely grained tannins, regal bearing, integrated acidity and lingering finish. Going back to buy whatever they have left. Bump for QPR. Great chance to taste mature wine in the pocket — 7 days ago

ESF

8.8

Another inflated score (94): this was OK, entry level New World style Rioja, all cherries & vanilla. Decent acidity, med weight and modest finish. Solid QPR - Costco find — 18 days ago

ESF

8.8

Pretty wild stuff: nose was all over the place with some white flowers & orchard fruit, then full of minerals, then quite shy & reductive. Zingy & zippy on palate, sharp edges & angular, reserved more mineral driven on palate. Didn’t work as aperitif but did well w/salad course. — 4 days ago

ESF

8.7

Pale straw, greenish hued, shy nose of minerals, faint lime, musky, nutty - all austere & angular. When it warms, mouthfeel softens up nicely, some orchard fruit flavors, paired well w/salad of smoked fish & briny bits - firm acidic backbone w/decent length on finish. — 11 days ago

ESF

9.3

First bottle was unimpressive but this was a stunner - everything @Lyle Fass wrote about… wish I had a 6 pack of this - although I don’t know this has a particularly long window but it’s fire now — 16 days ago

ESF

9.2

Really solid, deep dark inky dense wafting red/black fruit, so much bramble, peppery, herbaceous - a throwback nose, this made me fall in love w/Sonoma County Zin in the early 90s. Med + body, full rich suave, gobs of brambly fruit - maybe bordering on being too fruit driven, but well structured not flabby or jammy and just balanced & generous. — 4 days ago

ESF

8.6

Costco find that wish I overlooked, hard to believe Decanter gave this 96… uninspiring, black fruit & soil, licorice, nothing wrong just lacking polish one expects — 11 days ago

ESF

8.9

New vintage same quality - see my previous note, fun wine from Kansas: very complex & engaging, well made. This vintage had a bit more acidity & heat thru finish — 13 days ago

ESF

8.6

Dark ruby, semi-opaque, aromas of spiced red fruit, earthy - green overtones, med bodied on palate, juicy pliable, rustic w/modest fruit & spice leading to decent finish. TX mid week quaffer — 18 days ago