Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

Coming from an exceptional vintage, the 2005 Viña Tondonia from R. Lopez de Heredia is a compelling blend of Tempranillo (75%), Garnacho (15%), Graciano and Mazuelo (10%), all sourced from their estate vineyards and aged for six years prior to bottling. This sensational wine opens with a bright bouquet of leather, cranberry, orange rind, forest floor and suggestions of black tea. Showing incredible focus and poise, this balanced Rioja is framed around flavors off leather, red cherry, teaberry, Mandarin orange and pipe tobacco that sit alongside brisk minerality, as the wine shows tremendous freshness and length through the long finish. This is an absolute stunning effort from this storied Estate and should continut to drink beautifully for years to come. Drink 2019-2035- 94 — 3 days ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.0

Wow, musty moldy cork, but it was tight. Crazy funk on the open. Meaty so far. Giving it time...

A very deep dark purple starting slightly to bend towards ruby. The nose hasn't budged from open... It's well grilled beef, with A1 sauce. Off putting but I'm curious. Other earthy musty notes. Way in the back is muddled blackberry. Gonna let it go for longer. So far the palate roughly matches the nose...

UPDATE: Came back to this the next day, corked it overnight, then reopened. It did improve, but only marginally.

Final score... 90 points — 5 days ago

Daron Watson

9.6

Pulled the cork and the juice smelled and tasted DELI$H ~ I’ve had many great wines, plenty I’ve rated higher, but the pull-n-pour instant gratification AND appropriate drinking time doesn’t happen often ~ it will age effortlessly for years but I’m not sure one “needs” to cellar more — 8 days ago

Delectable Wine

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9.0

This classic, bargain-priced red from Rioja displays intense cassis, cherry, espresso and licorice flavors, along with subtle vanilla and woodsmoke nuances. It’s still on the youthful, fruit-dominated side but it opens up quickly and picks up a spicy accent with a little bit of air. $12.00 (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, February 2019) — 10 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.6

The 2014 'La Cueva del Contador' is an utterly compelling Rioja. Immediately, you are drawn to the inky color, which is followed by highly perfumed aromatics with amazing range. Nuances of black tea, Asian spices, blackberry cobbler and milk chocolate all marvelously come together in the glass. The palate is seductive and deep, offering a generous, silky mouthfeel, which is layered with lavors of wild blackberry jam, mocha, anise, orange zest and hints of dried sage that thoroughly impress. This is a complete wine made by the talented Benjamin Romeo, which looks to have an exceedingly long life ahead. Drink 2019-2040- 96 — 3 days ago

Amy Huson

9.3

Mmmm this is a tasty one! Lovely aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackberry and pomegranate with under notes of vanilla, cinnamon, tobacco, and new-car leather. All this plus smooth as silk tannins and luscious acidity made this an incredible pairing for roasted ox-tail. Doesn’t get much better than this! — 6 days ago

Chris England

9.3

94 was a stunning year in Rioja & I’ve never had a bad one so when this cheeky €50 drop appeared on my radar from @gabymeetswine @vilaviniteca I had to get my wine gnawing choppers around this grapeylicious bottle of joy 😉 In a peak place of yummyness after 25 years 👍

📍 Viña Albina Monte Real Gran Reserva 1994

🏵 93-94 points aptly 😁

🍇 Graciano, Mazuelo & Tempranillo

🍷 Deep clear ruby w/ brick edge (scroll ⏩ for pic)

👃 Old smoked oak through a damp musty cellar filled with earthy obliterated cherry mush w/ a cocoa, balsamic, herby & leather whip - expressed in a Zalto Burg glass 👌

👄 Med body of super silky smooth cocoa & balsamic infused red cherry cream oozyness

🎯 Long red cherry linger bathed in slight dry oak, cocoa cream & balsamic splashes
— 13 days ago

Chris England

9.6

This is still my favourite Rioja & vintage at present, worth £80 😍 My 10th try & still a beauty I can’t resist 👍 I exemplifies the pure essence a high quality Rioja 👏

📍 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2001

▶️ @lariojaaltasa 🤗

🏵 96 points

🍇 95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano & 2% Mazuelo

🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Smoked oak through mashed earthy cherries covered in vanilla coconut cream, balsamic jam & double caramel choc mocha w/ red liquorice, truffle, prune, date & light spiced herbs #nosetasia

👄 Med body of rich smooth silky creamy dark & red cherry bathed in balsamic goo w/ melted mocha & earthy liquorice

🎯 Long balsamic cherry mocha berry blast w/ a balsamic linger, touch of woody oak & red berry — 5 days ago

Buddy G

9.5

Ready? Imagine pudding wrestling in vanilla. And you're about to make the pin and you realize you need a glass of red. So a fan hands you a fantastic tempranillo and as you take a sip some pudding, a drop of sweat from a burly French female ref all fall into your mouth at the same time. There ya have it. Get at it!! Yeah Suckling! — 5 days ago

with Cindy

Ken Z

9.0

Drank 2/21/19. Tasting event. Tasting pour.

Black cherry, soil, and light oak scents. Flavors of earth and black cherry. Nice balance. Medium finish

3/21/8/5/3 +50 = 90 pts. — 14 hours ago