James Pauls

8.9

Upon opening, VERY bitter and strong. Have to let this one open. Upon opening got pretty good. Similar flavour to the previous rioja I’ve had many times that I love, but this is just more of it and much stronger and more flavourful. Not sure that I want that out of a wine, pretty sure I’m not willing to pay more for it. Not sure if I should attribute that to the wine or its age (oldest bottle I have yet tried).

Lighter and easier drinking reds are my preference at the moment. Maybe I will feel differently and prefer the stronger flavours once I am more seasoned into wines as I’ve become with scotch.

Definitely will return to this bottle if that becomes the case, otherwise prefer other favorites or to try new wines at the price.

It’s really not a bad wine. A lot of flavour and a lot going on.… I highly suspect I just am not able to fully appreciate what it is giving me at this point in my wine journey. — 5 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep ruby/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart black fruits: black cherry, plum, some cocoa, dry leaf tobacco, vanilla and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. The alcohol is medium. This is tart and tasty; young and built for age.

Initial conclusions: this could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend including Bordeaux varieties), Zinfandel (with a decent amount of Petite Sirah, Tempranillo or even Malbec from France, the US, Spain or Argentina. But I think the wood is playing a key role in the tannin here, meaning that I think it spends a lot of time on it. I don’t think it’s all American because it don’t get a bunch of coconut and dill…but this is probably a modern leaning Rioja. So that’s my call. This is Tempranillo from Spain, Rioja, Reserva level and younger, 2019. Boom. This is solid and reliable even though I don’t think it has the personality of Heredia or Pescina. Drink now through 2049. — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This is drinking beautifully. It was extremely elegant on the front & mid palate and only revealed its Tempranillo character softly on the long set. I would saying this is around its peak and best self. — a month ago

Chris Buggy

9.1

Vanilla! But once it calms down, good round tannins, good body, super smooth at this point, perfect for the obligatory Father’s Day steaks — a month ago

with Jennifer

Sarah Oettel

9.3

Added at Marc Fosh Restaurant in Mallorca. — 2 months ago

with Matt

Doug Powers

9.2

Sweet American oak, beautiful mature red-fruited Tempranillo, soft tannins, a little less acid than I remember in the 1980s/1990s vintages of this “regular” Pesquera Tinto, long, lingering finish, I’d guess this is mature and ready to drink!! — 3 months ago

with Jim and

Hamilton Schwartz

9.5

Wine.com 54.88
We96 ro95 — 10 days ago

Joel Lara

9.4

Upon opening, this seemed a bit disjointed, with muted fruit flavors and strong herbal notes. Decanting didn’t seem to help much, but day 2 it finally opened up nicely, with nice complexity and intensity on the palate. Cherry, raspberry, cassis, bay leaf, dried Italian herbs, anise, cloves, vanilla, cedar, earth, and balsamic notes all come through. Really tasty, but maybe a bit too intense. I can see this improving with a few more years of aging so the flavors coalesce and soften a bit more. — 18 days ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.4

Touch of over the hill but still OK. Lost color. More for the geeks and aficionados - than the casual wine drinker. So this review is for you guys. — a month ago

John Bratincevic

9.0

Good fruit, good acidity, clear pomegranate (including the white rind!). Solid 90! I should downgrade my last 90 this is better. Good deal! 😀😀 — 2 months ago

Christopher

9.0

New to wine. This was one of the first quality reds I was recommended. Should age well and has decent tannins. — 2 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

vintage 1995 | Well balanced, really beautifull — 2 months ago

Bobbi Jo Broxson

9.4

Really happy birthday to me! — 3 months ago

with Brian

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Deep Ruby red color with aromas of berry fruits, spice and herb notes. On the palate flavors of cherry and blackberry with notes of oak and black pepper notes. Fine soft tannins, nice balance with acidity, medium+ finish ending with fruit, vanilla, oak and slight earthy spice character. — 20 days ago

Jan A

9.0

Too advanced. Light, acidic — 11 days ago

Andy Stabile

9.1

At a night we were all having fun.
If I had to nitpick… a touch oaky for me.
Not the best red ever. But lovely — a month ago

Bill Morgan

9.0

Deep red nose tannins bite at the back of the mouth — a month ago

Jj Joe

9.5

What a surprise, good for korean foods and chicken too — a month ago

John Bratincevic

9.2

Always a good value and tasty! A little more balanced and less “mulled wine” than I recall from earlier vintages. — 2 months ago

Brian S

9.6

Amazing bottle. 10 years of bottle aging. — 3 months ago