Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Crianza-style blend of Tempranillo (65%) and Garnacha (35%). Bright ruby color with a dark core. Aromas of plush red and black fruit, earth, tobacco and rose petals. Flavors of cooked red and black cherries, blackberries, currants, black licorice and sweet baking spices. Long earthy finish and medium-plus bodied. Grippy (yet dusty) tannins and a soft texture. Very light touch of oak. Bright, plush and fruit forward. Better the second day. Solid value. — 4 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2020 vintage. Last tasted 11.19.25 (9.1). Medium-heavy bod. Better spice components circulating/wafting about the assembled masses. I don't know what it is I like about you but I like it a lot. Less whole lotta oak, whole lotta oak. There's nothing more that I can say but on a day like today, I pass the time away and walk a quiet mile with you. 8.5.26. — 2 months 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 — 3 months ago

Anthony Pro

9.1

Happy Easter. — 6 months ago

Zach D

8.9

For 20$, a very good value. It is a simple wine, but delicious. Bright citrus, orange, preserved lemon, no rough edges, linear and without oak, alcohol is balanced. — 7 months ago

Stephen Dodson

9.1

Friday night dinner - drinking well now — 8 months ago

Ivan Peci

9.1

Marca blanca de rioja alta — 9 months ago

with Pedro and Carlos

Dawn E.

9.1

Sour cherries, blackberry, tea leaves, earth, and floral. Medium bodied and smooth.
Pretty yummy. Watching Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun. Go Fever! — 24 days ago

Veronica

9.0

This is a medium bodied, very drinkable wine. Deep cherry red colour. Some soft tobacco in a good way, pleasant fruit. Some character. Would also be good in the fall/winter (it’s summer now). — 2 months ago

Todd Scurci

9.1

#leons #abruzzo — 2 months ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.4

Rare beef on the immediate nose.

94 points — 5 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2021
Torre d’Orti – Veneto, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
A traditional Amarone crafted primarily from Corvina (with Corvinone), Rondinella, and a small percentage of Molinara, produced using the appassimento method (partially dried grapes). 17% ABV. A powerful expression leaning rustic rather than refined in this vintage.

Aromas & Flavors
Dried cherry, baked plum, subtle fig, light cocoa, faint walnut and restrained raisin tones. Tertiary notes present but not deeply layered.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and structured with elevated alcohol. Firm tannins and a slightly edgy texture. Lacks the seamless velvety integration expected from more polished Amarone examples.

Food Pairings
Braised meats, aged cheeses, wild boar ragù, mushroom-based dishes.

Verdict
Technically correct and gastronomic, but did not fully deliver the plush refinement and layered complexity often associated with top-tier Amarone. Better at the table than as a contemplative standalone pour.

🍷 Did You Know?
Corvina is the aromatic backbone of Amarone, responsible for cherry and spice notes, while Rondinella contributes color and structure. Balance during drying is crucial, integration is everything. — 7 months ago

romo

9.1

Quite a value, esp here. Crispy and firm. — 8 months ago

Dave Moench

9.1

Simons eating at the Bar very smoothe wine great with pasta — 16 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2022 vintage. Lean and mean currently with a thoroughly poor attitude and rejecting any and all authority figures. Needs a 2 year boot camp to set/improve on personal goals and to stop displacing. Could see this going 9.2 in 2028/2029. Pretty minimal oak treatment (for Muga) which gives this a fighting chance of future success. Price is nice. Just have to look past the constant insults and wait for that juvenile record to be expunged. 8.5.26. — 2 months ago

Nagib Nasr

9.1

Very nice wine but got overwhelmed with the Spanish food — 5 months ago

with Tripp

Kristen Grimes

9.5

Salty minerality on the nose with a hint of citrus, the palate is all minerals with crisp green apple and some lime acidity, but the weighty body keeps it balanced. Super yummy, which I don't usually say of an Italian wine! — 6 months ago

Todd Scurci

9.2

#frankies # — 8 months ago

with Annie

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, and the rest Graciano and Mazuelo, deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice and oak, aged in both French and American oak for 24 months. On the palate flavors of blackberry and currants with licorice, vanilla, tobacco and toasty oak tones. Soft full ripe tannins, wonderful balance, lively acidity on a long finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Very nice! — 8 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Bodegas Muga – Aro 2019
Rioja DOCa – Spain 🇪🇸

Overview
A prestige cuvée from Bodegas Muga, Aro represents one of the most refined modern expressions of Rioja. Crafted in small quantities from Tempranillo with a touch of Graciano, the 2019 vintage balances juicy fruit with structure, elegance, and longevity. (Educational note: Muga ferments with indigenous yeasts in oak vats and ages Aro in French oak, blending traditional Rioja methods with modern precision.)

Aromas & Flavors
Juicy red berries (raspberry, strawberry, and red plum) lead the way, framed by subtle blackberry and cassis. Layers of vanilla, cocoa, and spice from oak intertwine with floral and mineral notes.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with polished tannins. Decanted for 2 hours, it opened beautifully — long, elegant, and persistent, with a finish that shows both fruit purity and savory depth.

Food Pairings
Pairs well with roasted lamb, Iberian pork, or grilled steak. Also excellent with manchego cheese or mushroom-based dishes.

Verdict
A superb Rioja — juicy, refined, and complex. The 2019 Aro is a treat that shows both immediate charm and long-term potential. A true collector’s Rioja with class and depth. 🍷

Did You Know?
The name “Aro” is a nod to the hoops (aros) that bind the staves of Rioja’s traditional oak barrels, symbolizing craftsmanship and unity.

Collector’s Rarity 📌
Produced in limited quantities, Aro is one of Rioja’s most sought-after wines — a modern icon that rivals Spain’s greatest reds. — a year ago