Jay Kline

9.2

This is the Gran Reserva “Edición Limitada”.

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a garnet color with a transparent core and some significant rim variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated red and black fruits: cherries and raspberries with some red plum, old leather, old cedar chest, a mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory.

Initial conclusions: this could be Sangiovese, Aglianico, or Cabernet Sauvignon (and based blends) from Italy, France or the United States. With the fruits and non-fruits presenting the way they were, the use of some new small format oak, throupled with the significant structure despite what was obvious age (I was thinking 40+ years), I went with Sangiovese from Italy, from Tuscany, from Chianti Classico, Riserva level from a modern leaning producer like Antinori, 1985. Damn…Tempranillo didn’t even cross my mind. I didn’t think the color was dark enough and I didn’t really get American oak the way I would expect with Rioja…but here we are. Now that I think about it, Antinori may not have using barrique back then. Perhaps I was trying to be too be too clever; I’ll learn from this. Regardless, I thought this was freaking delicious and showing really well! Fully mature but should enjoy this stage for the next ten years. Drink now through 2033. — 11 days ago

Ericsson

9.0

This is ultra interesting. It’s got this incredible oxidation note with hazelnut, almond, and apple cider and pairs exceptionally well with Jamón Serrano. Pairing is so much greater than the sum of its parts. Semisweet white Rioja Magnum with a decade plus age on it. Absolutely no doubt every bottle has its day… For Mamalma! Cheers. — 2 years ago

Gemma Sanchez

10

Brutal!
Stunning!!
19 anys després... wow! — 4 years ago

Eliot Hamerman

9.1

Beautiful finish. Drinking great. — 3 months ago

Roberto Carli

9.7

what an outstanding experience and without question one of the best wines of the year for me. This is a world class business card of what American oak can do at its best. It starts with a powerful yet elegant knows of dusty cherry, old licorice but mostly gives way to inebriating feeling of grandma‘s old spice cabinet. Something in the nose already tells you that fine fine tans are waiting for you, but the palate is overwhelmingly silky smoothness, possibly the highest combination of intense-yet-silky tannins you can find anywhere, with bright acidity and medium to light body that makes the whole thing dance. I decided to check the producer website and they recommend pairing it with cod with sauce. Luck would have it that I randomly was eating pasta filled with salt cod and tomato sauce. The pairing works well as it further rejuvenates the wine, but I would say it shines at its brightest just by itself, letting those tannins tell the story without any need to curb them down. I’m drinking from Coravin meaning I cannot decant the wine, but even the sediment tastes good. Just like those people who brag about buying burgundy in the 70s, I feel like once the ebbs and flows of trends will shift I will be bragging about buying a 26-year-old monte real gran reserva, kept 24 years at the winery, for 60 bucks, which in San Francisco wouldn’t even pay for the cost of storage  — 9 months ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Dried apricot and cherry. A hint of cola but very old. Soft and gorgeous. Long and pretty. — 3 years ago

with BOT, Matt and 1 other

Bridget Meagher

9.0

Josh Gran Riserva Tempranillo blended with Mazuelo and Graciano ( boosts acidity) 2016 — 8 months ago

Manuel Seman

9.3

Drunk at Meat Bazaar — 10 months ago

Larry Kooper

8.9

Dry, good for hot weather, slightly acidic — 10 months ago

Ethan Clark

9.1

Perfect for a dnd game where my players got arrested 😂 — 4 years ago