Chris England

9.6

A very limited production Ribera del Duero of 6,990 bottles in a great year @ €180-€265 that should age into a Vega Sicilia quality wine as a very intense big wine 😈 but well balanced 😉 I’d drink in 10-15 years but superb already 😁

📍 Viña Pedrosa Perez Pascuas Gran Selección 2010

🍝 Paired w/ Mrs Es homemade Cumberland peppered & sage pork sausage meat filled ravioli smothered in a chasseur mushroom sauce & Parmesan cheese 😍

🏵 96 points w/ 98+ potential

🍇 Tempranillo

💥 14.5% ABV

🍷 Deep blackened opaque ruby

👃 I had to peel these aromas from my nose as they overpowered it in chocolatey rich dark fruit goo in a porty style of spiced dark cherry, earthy dark plum, melted chocolate, herbs & smoke w/ raspberry liquorice, minerals, date compote, prune pie & soft oak

👄 Full bodied rich ripe smooth ultra silky gooey creamy melted black cherry & chocolate w/ raspberry, liquorice & cherry liqueur

🎯 Long Long Long (like never ending!) lingering dark cherry explosive punch in the teeth oozing through raspberry chocolate liquorice gloop
— 7 days ago

MaJ CappS

9.1

A nose of berry and alderwood

Tart berry, eucalyptus, tobacco, cedar, river stone, and hints of prune juice.
This finishes with licking kumquats off of a cigar box. That citrus acidity.

This was the perfect year for this part of Spain, and continues to make me glad I stored a few away..
— 5 days ago

Daniel Maquin

8.9

Red and black berries, leather, oak, vanilla on the nose. Very intense. The palate is muscular with a strong acid backbone, lots of width and texture too. The berries are well represented on the sides and the oaky thing is in here too. Not fully integrated yet. A great finish with vanilla and Forrest berries. Some pepper too. Very good wine that will even be better in a couple of years — 11 days ago

Chris England

9.6

Another beauty from @lariojaaltasa that I nabbed from @gabbymeetswine @vilaviniteca for €150 and it’s singing 😍 check Instagram for pics of cork & wine ⏩ This is at peak drinking 🕺

📍 La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva 1985

🏵 96 points

🍇 85% Tempranillo w/ Mazuelo & Graciano

🍷 Slight garnet clear ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Smokey charred oak in a damp cellar through mashed earthy cherry & old leather w/ balsamic, cocoa, herbs & vanilla expressed perfectly in a Zalto Burgundy glass

👄 Med body of super silky fine creamed cherry bathed in cocoa w/ red berry tones & light balsamic

🎯 A very long balsamic cherry cocoa linger that just goes on and on 😍 w/ a touch of dry oak as it dissipates into mocha
— 7 days ago

Amy Huson

8.9

The best offering at our local bar. Dark chocolate, prune, vanilla, potting soil, and tobacco aromas and flavors. Good acidity, tannins are medium with decent grip. Lacks elegance. I don’t think there is much more aging potential here, maybe 5 years max. 13.5% alcohol. Not bad, we enjoyed it with Manchego cheese and Jamón serrano. Nice, just not amazing! — 6 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

The bodega is located in the Carravacas estate (Laguardia) in the heart of the Rioja Alavesa. 100% Tempranillo and aged in 100% French Oak. Dark red with aromas of sweet Red berry fruits and beautiful floral spice. On the palate raspberry and blackberry flavors with vanilla spice and notes of cacao. Well balanced with lively acidity, soft tannins will only get better, lingering ending with sweet fruit and spice character. Nice! Tasting Sample! — 11 days ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

Served at The Bird as well during the meal. I had luck with these wines in the past. I think Termes is a better short term drinker than Numanthia is a long term holder. Lots of roasted black fruit on the front and middle, this one just doesn't have the finish or structure. Could this be in an odd place? Surely. Not really decanted for that long before serving, but the Sequel dispatched of it rather quickly both in flavor and complexity. The more I think about it, there is a 2 point difference in the 2 wines. — 6 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Vega Sicilia started purchasing vineyards in Toro in 1997 but didn’t release Pintia until ‘01 after perfecting their style. 100% Tinta de Toro, thick-skinned clone of Tempranillo, beautiful color, complex aromas of fruit & spice. Aged for 13 months in French & American oak. Intense aromas, notes of cedar & berry fruits. On the palate intense fresh dark berry fruit flavors with oak notes, well balanced with acidity. Complex tannins, lingering finish ending with elegant fruit finesse & touch of earthy tones. — 9 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Bright Ruby with fresh red fruit aromas and a touch of oak and spice. On the palate cherry and blueberry with pepper and cacao spice with lively acidity and good balance. Fine tannins, medium finish ending with oaky spice character. Nice! Good value! — 17 hours ago

Shay A

9.2

This was a saturated purple and black color in the decanter and I would have guessed maybe 3yrs old based on how tight this was even after 20-30mins. Underripe blackberry, cassis, currant, and plum on the nose. Chewy tannins...dark chocolate dusted dates, tobacco & graphite. No problem letting this go another 5-7 before it even hits a prime drinking window (in my opinion). — 13 days ago

with Dan and Mark