Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Leather, violets and earth on the nose. Dark cherry, tobacco and mushroom on the pallet. Soft tannins and long finish. Better the second day. Great QPR ($30), especially for a Gran Reserva Rioja and an over ten year old vintage. Just picked this one up a few weeks ago. — 7 days ago

E & K G

9.0

Always a pleasure to drink a Lopez De Heredia! Dried flowers galore with a solid core of dark red berries. Dusty tannins that really give the wine some character. Plenary more ahead for this one! — 5 days ago

Richard Hylton

9.3

What a beautiful wine at 77 years! 21st anniversary dinner. Started with a ‘96 Louis Latour Chevalier Montrachet that was impeccable then this 1942 Gran Reserva that was just released from the cellars of Bodegas Riojanas: gorgeously integrated fruit with secondary flavors and a surprising freshness as well as a suave texture. A great treat! — 15 days ago

Peter Sultan

9.0

Surprise Rioja, in that Rioja Alta & Lopez fans( CVNE, Monte Real, & Sierra Cantabria also rate) such as me think solipsistically—nothing else exists. This does. — 18 days ago

with Owen

Evan Bienstock

9.4

Amazing 94. Soft, clear, elegant and complex. The fruit here is is in perfect harmony with the alcohol and the tannin. Well done. — 8 days ago

John McDermott

9.1

Fruit, tobacco, leather, and slate on the nose. Chewy, ripe red fruit with a bit of prune. The tannins are still strong but not overly so. — 6 days ago

Steve Pollack

9.3

Dried cherries, Forest floor, good acidity. Fully resolved and mature, elegant Rioja. Won’t improve from here. Drink up. — 4 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.6

In a word “Elegant,” 100% organically farmed Tempranillo from village of Laguardia, aged in barrels for nine months limiting the oak influence. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruit and subtle light spice. Palate, clean and fresh fruit flavors of cherry and sweet blackberry, very smooth with super fine velvet tannins. Long finish, complex ending bringing everything together. Outstanding about 1000 cases made. Don’t hesitate if you see a bottle. — 8 days ago

Roger Ray

9.0

"aromas of ripe blackberries, strawberries, cloves and vanilla lead to a smooth round palate with concentrated spicy black fruit flavors and a touch of mocha on the long finish." — 4 days ago

Iwan

9.2

Beautiful wine, perfectly balanced. Big red and black fruit, with excellent freshness and acidity. — 3 days ago