Opened the evening prior at 7pm and double-decanted; the bottle was left at room temp with the cork pressed lightly back into the neck until service. The 2000 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and a slightly water rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous and showing some real power with a compelling combination of ripe and desiccated fruit: dark brambles, cassis, leather, dill, olives, spiced meat, tobacco and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and whoa is it ever delicious. This has to be one of the wines of the vintage. Drink now through 2040. — 4 days ago
Deep dark color and Nose. It still has life and should improve for the nex decade . — 7 days ago
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Strong nose with blue and red fruits.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate and easy drinking.
Showing raspberries, blueberries, black plums, cooked cherries, spices, light oak, licorice, tobacco, herbs, light earth, dried tomatoes, chocolates and black pepper.
Medium plus in finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This Gran Reserva from Rioja is always a good choice. Showing nice complexity with a smooth mouthfeel.
Rich and elegant with good balance.
Drinks very young right now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.
Needs an hour to open up, but good right out of the bottle too.
I've had many different vintages of this wine, and it always delivers. My favorite so far was the 2004.
14% alcohol by volume.
90 points.
$30. — 8 days ago
1971 vintage. Top shoulder fill. Used a Durand but fully saturated cork still required some clean up on aisle 7. Decanted and tasted after 5 minutes. Threw much much less sediment than expected. Decent color with a little browning. Tertiary nose gave way to similar flavors with it being very slightly brickish. In a holding steady phase where there is no shining light to chase after-everything is consolidated and filed away so you're tasting the interpretations of history. Instructive. 6.13.24. — 15 days ago
1986 vintage, Above average fill. Excellent cork with bottom quarter fully saturated. Decanted with respectable sed. Dark cherry skins color. Tasted after 15 mins. Light-medium body. Nose the usual aged/faintly cigar box intro. Flavors melded together nicely but ever so slightly tart. Delicate, long finish. Thinking the tartness would buff out after 45 minutes open but no chance to prove that theorem. 6.1.24. — a month ago
Tom Garland
2 hour decant(decent chunky sediment). A stunning dark crimson color with little bricking. On the nose: expressive perfumed notes of dark red fruit, creme de cassis, mushrooms, floral, touch of stewed meat and cigar box. Taste: velvety, classy, fresh wine with red fruit, minerals, herbal, earth, pencil lead and a nice peppery cedar/leather medium plus finish. Sure, maybe not the depth/concentration of a classic vintage, but I can sniff/sip this wine all night. YUM! Happy Father's day to me. — 12 days ago