Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Barón de Ley – Varietales Tempranillo – 2014
Rioja DOCa – Spain 🇪🇸

Overview
A 100% Tempranillo from Rioja’s esteemed Barón de Ley Varietales Collection, crafted to highlight the noble face of the region’s flagship grape. Although structured in a crianza style with a projected drinking window of 10–12 years, opening it in 2025 revealed the wine perched right on the twilight edge of maturity. This is bottle #04400, now showing the soulful evolution that Rioja Tempranillo is famed for.

Aromas & Flavors
Initially faint cherry fruit, now firmly in the tertiary spectrum: leather satchel, dried rosemary, forest floor, and faint cigar box. Gentle hints of balsamic and dried fig linger in the background.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with softened, polymerized tannins. Acidity remains fresh enough to carry the wine, but fruit presence has largely faded, leaving savory and earthy notes to dominate.

Food Pairings
A fine match for aged Manchego cheese, braised lamb shank, mushroom-stuffed peppers, or even a rustic stew where earthy and herbal notes harmonize.

Verdict
This Tempranillo no longer plays its youthful cherry trumpet but rather resonates like the old violin sound of Rioja—mellow, textured, and contemplative. A fascinating study in maturity, best enjoyed with reflection rather than exuberance.

Did You Know?
Rioja wines are often classified not just by grape but by aging designations (Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva). This bottle leaned into crianza timing, showing beautifully at first but demonstrating how Tempranillo gracefully transitions from fruit-driven vibrancy to complex tertiary elegance. — 10 days ago

Samuel Wong

10

Excellent wine for social with friends — 3 years ago

Heidrun Hauksdottir

9.1

Fínt með fiskibllu — 4 years ago

Jan A

9.3

All time favorite! Huge qpr crusher — 2 months ago

Sagee Aran

9.3

A big Rioja. Surprisingly ready to drink, tanins have softened, still powerful. Dark garnet color, aromatic nose of earth and herbs. Round Palate balanced and tasty. Recommended. Great VfM. — 6 months ago

Jess

9.0

Deep ruby color.
Aromas of mulled black cherry, spice, leather, tobacco, cocoa.
Dry. Flavors of ripe black cherry, peppercorn, spice, leather, cocoa, subtle tobacco. Rich, chewy tannins!

Intensity: 5/5
Complexity: 4/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — a year ago

Will Stanley

9.3

What a terrific white Rioja this is! Bottled by Morrisons and produced by Baron de Ley, though I strongly suspect this is the ‘Tres Viñas’ Reserva that they themselves bottle.

Aromas of nectarine, honey, caramel and vanilla. There is an element of petrichor / wet gravel on the palate that adds a refreshing quality. Medium acidity. Very full bodied, but not rich - has a strong minerality. Incredibly well balanced and long. — 5 years ago

brando cox

8.9

All the right things. Cherry. Cassis. Blackberry. Balanced warm vanilla cherry crumble which good riojas are known for. A hint of undergrowth. 2013 drinking superbly in 2025. — 4 months ago

Peter Coulthard

8.9

NW. decent enough albeit lacked a bit of punch and depth for me. — 10 months ago

Dawn E.

9.1

I'm not sure about identifying this! Waiting for assistance, label is different! Great bottle, orange hue, lively acidity, nectarine, cantaloupe, cotton candy aromas, and cherries! Nice long sea spray on finish! Delicious! — 2 years ago